;i6 c-i"'>- 



In some respects this form is more distinct from koli/vanensia 

 than is Macaronius, for this hitter appears in reality only distinguishable 

 by the yellow- veined black spots in the anterior wings. 



Dr. Staudinger informs me that the insect was tolerably common 

 at Amasia, and all the individuals were of the form above indicated. 

 The pair before me are fully coloured and perfectly mature. 



I might add that the South Russian pupillatus, although allied, 

 has a good structural difference in the post-stigmatical area (setting 

 on one side the difference in markings), which is narrower, and with 

 the cellules less distinctly triseriate. 



It is, I think, evident that the gay species of the true genus 

 Ascalaphus are subject to local variation, parallel to that which is so 

 common in butterflies ; and, as in the latter, it is imprudent to multiply 

 species where there are no structural differences. For instance, 

 A. ictericus, corsicus, and siculus, may be only local forms of one and 

 the same ; the two latter are, I think, surely specificalh' identical. 



In conclusion, I take this opportunity of noting that a second 

 example ( $ ) of my A. syriacus is in my collection, and presents the 

 same differences from lacteus as does the type (J") in the British 

 Museum ; and, as an addition to the original diagnosis (Journ. Linn. 

 Soc, Zoology, xi, p. 274), it should be noticed that the posterior wings 

 of syriacus are narrower (less triangular) than in lacteus. This $ 

 is rather larger than the typical ^ . 



Lewisliam, London : 



23rrf May, 187fi. 



Diasemia literalis in South Wales. — On the 2nd inst., having business in the 

 hilly eastern part of the county, I started, after a drive of fifteen miles, for a walk 

 round the neighbouring country. A footpath from one main road to another lay 

 partly across an extensive pasture, the greater part being grass land with an abun- 

 dance of Lotus corniculatus and other wild flowers, but a portion of one side being 

 sufficiently marshy to support a full growth of rushes. The sun being hot, Thanaos 

 Tages and other common butterflies were flying in plenty ; the two pretty EuclidicB 

 sprang up from my feet to settle again at a short distance, and on the marshy ground 

 a few MelitcBa Artemis were flying lazily about, or settling on the buttercup flowers. 

 Not having seen the last named species alive for some years, it aroused a slight feeling 

 of vexation that I should have left my net at home under the impression that the 

 day's travelling would be quite enough for the day's length, without any collecting. 



Leaving this ground, and crossmg a rivulet, the footpath led across another 

 pasture, — dry and hilly, with the shortest possible herbage ; and here, when half-way 

 up- the slope, a small moth started from my feet, and settling again a yard or two 



