Genus. Biblis, Fabr. Latr. God. Papilio (Nymphal. Phal.), Drury.
Biblis Hiarbas. Alis dentatis, fuscis; fasciâ utrinque communi albâ, posticarum latiore, anticarum abbreviatâ. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Ph.) Hiarbas, Drury, App. vol. 3. Donovan Ins. India, pl. 3. fig. 3. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 128. No. 391.
Biblis Hiarba, Enc. Méth. ix. p. 824. 2.
Habitat: Sierra Leone (Drury). Cape of Good Hope (J. O. W.).
Upper Side. Antennæ, head, thorax, and abdomen black. Wings deep brown, almost black: a white bar rises on the anterior ones near the tips, and running parallel with the external edges crosses the posterior ones, and ends just below the abdomen, gradually widening. Posterior wings at the abdominal corners tipped with orange, and having a double row of narrow white crescents along the external edges; the anterior wings having only a single row.
Under Side. Palpi white. Breast and legs grey-brown. Abdomen yellowish. The white bar and row of crescents nearly as on the upper side, but all the brown parts are prettily spotted and variegated with red-brown spots of different shapes; the general colour of the wings being a greyish brown. Wings dentated.
Fabricius cites Drury's collection alone for this species, incorrectly giving India as its habitat. Drury had previously stated it to have been received from Sierra Leone. Donovan, relying upon the former rather than the latter, figured the insect in his "Epitome of the Insects of India."
NYMPHALIS SEMIRE.
Plate [XIV]. fig. 3, 4.