Genus. Acræa, Fabr. Latr. God. Papilio (Heliconii), Fabr. Olim.
Acræa Cynthia. Alis oblongis integerrimis fuscis, fasciâ communi anticarumque macula apicali, albidis; posticis suprâ punctorum fulvorum serie posticâ. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Papilio (Hel.) Cynthius, Drury, App. vol. 3. Herbst. Pap. tab. 80. f. 1. 2.
Acræa Cynthia, Enc. Méth. ix. p. 234.
Habitat: Sierra Leone.
Upper Side. Antennæ brown. Eyes, thorax, and abdomen black. Anterior wings dark brown; a dark cream-coloured band rises at the middle of these wings, and crossing the posterior meets at the abdominal edges a little above the anus; a dark cream-coloured patch is also situated near the tips, and a narrow reddish line runs from the body to the disk. Posterior wings dark brown, having a row of five oblong lightish spots placed along the lower edges.
Under Side. Palpi grey. Breast and abdomen streaked and spotted with dark cream and black. Wings paler than on the upper side; the band and patch not so conspicuous as on the anterior ones; a row of marks, like acute angles, are placed along the edges of all the wings, the posterior ones having a cluster of ten small black spots placed near the body. Margins of the wings entire.
In Drury's manuscripts, which have come into my hands, it is stated that this insect was brought from Sierra Leone by Mr. Smeathman, and that "the original insect from which this figure was taken is destroyed, and was of a much livelier colour than those which I judge to be varieties of Cynthius."
PLATE XXXVIII.
