ACADEMY OP NATURAL SCIENCES. 87 



tion A. Levana was for a long time considered another species. But according 

 to my observations continued through several years, these species are not con- 

 fined to certain seasons, but are to be found throughout the dry season. If they 

 were alternating generations of the same insect the different forms would 

 be found only at certain seasons ; but such is not the case. 



M. montana is very variable but never approaches to the characters of the 

 other three species. The rest are as constaut as a species can be. and in a 

 long series of duplicates from different localities I do not find anything like an 

 intermediate form. 



The four species of this type agree in the following points : 



1. A row of dots between the first and second transverse lines of the hind- 

 wings, in the space that represents in these species the submarginal fascia. 

 This row is clearly visible on both sides. 



2. The marginal lunula between the fifth and sixth vein is perceptibly aug- 

 mented on both sides, and on the other side is frequently of lighter color and 

 always surrounded by a deeper shade. 



The most positive characters distinguishing the species is found on the disc 

 of the underside of forewings. 



1. M. montana, has the disc uniform fulvous the markings of the upper-side 

 shining through the coloration of the disc. 



2. 31. collina, has the disc orange color; markings very perceptible and 

 towards the exterior margin bordered by a series of black spots. 



3. M. campestris, has the disc with a yellow spot between the first and second 

 primary costa, and is bordered towards the exterior margin by an angular row 

 of yellow spots, which are themselves bordered at the inner side by deep black. 



4. M. pratensis, has the disc ochre yellow with irregularly diluted spots and 

 some black marks near the posterior margin. 



There are plenty of other points of difference, as may be seen by comparing 

 the diagnoses. But for recognition of any of the species it is sufficient to 

 examine the disc. The other differences are difficult to describe, as all those 

 who know by their own experience the difficulties of analyzing the complicated 

 markings of the underside of the hindwings in this group will testify. As to 

 the larval state of these insects nothing is known, and this want of facts regard- 

 ing their metamorphosis, is the more to be lamented as the natural affinities of 

 this type are by no means very clear or simple. It seems to constitute a kind 

 of intermediate group between the true Mclitcme and the Arctic type of 

 Argynnides. The eyes are more prominent than in the typical species of 

 Melitsea, and I find a similar couformation of the head in M. Tharos from the 

 Atlantic States. At the same time the underside of the hindwings of all these 

 species does not represent the well-defined alternate bands of the typical 

 Melitceae, but the intricate undulations and undefined lights and shadows of 

 the underside of the Arctic type of Argynnis. In fact M. montana ap- 

 proaches in this respect very closely to A. Aphirape. 



Type II. This type corresponds to the European type of M. Athalia, and 

 even in the differential characters of the four species known to me there is a 

 striking parallelism to those of four European species, so that each of them 



