CERTAIN EGYPTIAN URBICOLIDS. 269 



speed of flight B. zeUevi is little inferior — over short distances — to C. 

 viathias. It is as shy, if not shyer, pugnacioas, attacking its own or 

 other species which throng it on a coveted flower, and always seems to 

 rest towards evening on plants or bushes. It is distinctly " earlier to 

 bed" than C. mat/iias, much earlier than G. nostrotlaimis, and though 

 conspicuous when settled, from its golden powdered underside under 

 the vertical rays of the sun, is decidedly less visible toward evening 

 against a green or greenish-yellow background of leafage. 



In the collection of Egyptian Lepidoptera at the Ministry of Agri- 

 culture, Cairo, is a handsome Jiaoris, somewhat damaged, from Amrieh 

 or Amriya, in the Maryut Steppe. It looks like an all-black B. zdleri. 

 Can this be a form of Baoris [L^aniara) harbonica var. ImlU, Obth., 

 which, according to Dr. Reverdin, is decidedly close to B. zellevi in the 

 coniormation of the S genitalia. I have not seen typical B. {I'ai- 

 nara) borbonica figured, and my recollection of M. Oberthur's figure (by 

 M. Culot) of var. /udli is a trifle vague. Perhaps this Amrieh insect is 

 a local steppe race of the typical B. zelUri, which has lost the yellow 

 markings of the uppergide. B. zelleri, I may add, was over by the end 

 of September this year. 



3. (jret/eites jiostro'laiinis. — This species is still abundant as it has 

 been since the end of August. It is common all about Cairo, also near 

 Marg, and on the desert edge between Kassassm and Tel el Kebir, 

 though I have not yet taken it deep in the desert. 



So far, though on the look out for (t. hi'ebvrii, I have not certainly 

 taken it in Egypt. I have had my doubts about certain specimens, 

 but none that I have taken here seemed so black or so square winged 

 as lefebvrii as I know it from Beirut. However, Dr. Reverdin must 

 have the last word as regards my Egyptian Genenes. 



In this connection I should like to note that — 



(1) Fresh ^ G-. nostrodaiiins sometimes show very faint traces of 



(rt) three apico-costal spots, (h) of the two or more sub- 

 marginal pale spots on the uppersiile of the anteriors. 



(2) The upperside light markings on the anteriors of the fresh $ 



Cr. nDstrodaiiiiis are yellowish-cream and often yellow. They 

 seem to wear quickly to yellowish-white, and finally to white. 



(3) The upperside of $ G. nostrodannix is always brown with a 



yellowish mixture, in my experience. The tone ditters con- 

 siderably, but seems never to approach the depth of blackish- 

 brown so noticeable in G. lefebvi-ii. 

 G. nostrodainns is not easily caught when flying wildly around in 

 the sun, but given an attractive blossom, e.i/., Tamarisk flower, on 

 October 23rd, at Kassassin, nothing can be more easily captured. It 

 frequented these Tamarisk flowers with i 'hilailex tmc/iilus, a few Zizera 

 kamandra and Virac1i(da licia $ s, and could almost be taken with the 

 hands. 



I made the following notes of the behaviour oi & 3 and 2 G. 

 nostrodamns at Kassassin. 



(rt) 3 alights on a flower spike and runs up it towards 2 already 

 perched thereon. Then stops and proceeds to move his 

 wings, opening them about two-thirds of their full expanse, 

 and at times seemingly depressing and further expanding 

 the posterior wings. 

 {b) 2 flies about three yards and settles on a plant, S follows 

 suit and repeats the previous performance. 



