COLLECTING LEPIDOPTERA IN 1902. 838 



least the quantity was sufficient to afford an opportunity to note the 

 ti^reat variation in nuiubei- and size of the antemarginal row of spots 

 on the underside of the forewings. 8ix spots is regarded as the 

 normal number, but the following analysis of the Susa and Pesio 

 specimens may interest others besides myself. To take them in an 

 ascending scale they run thus : — 



Males. — One var. hlachieri, with only two spots, aiul these reduced to dots (I 

 do not mean that this makes vai\ hlachieri, but that this example has this 

 deficiency); five with four spots ; five with five spots; six with six spots ; three 

 with six on right, and five on left, wing ; four with seven, and of these specimens 

 one has a small but distinct basal spot on each upper wing. Kane says of this 

 species " no basal spots." 



Fkmales. — One with four spots; one with five spots; three with six spoils; 

 two with seven spots. 



It is at least curious that of three, having an unequal number of 

 spots right and left, they, nevertheless, agree in having the larger 

 number on the right, and the lesser on the left side. In every instance 

 where the spots decrease in number, they also appear to diminish in 

 size, and show a tendency to become obsolete. Thus, in the case of 

 the insect with only two spots, they are mere dots, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and (j, 

 according to the normal setting, being absent. In those specimens 

 credited with seven, it would perhaps be equally, or more, correct to say 

 that the sixth, or last nearest the inner margin, is double, like a colon, 

 which might be counted as one, but in these cases it is rather a double 

 dash, and not round. Certainly this is a long range of variation in 

 just over 30 specimens, and these not picked, but all that came to the 

 net. The iSusa lot are, as a whole, finer and larger than the set from 

 Pesio, but they differ much in size inter sc, as is the way with " blues." 

 The other Lycajnids observed were Poli/oiininitiisaridii, worn stragglers ; 

 I'Lcheina ar>/u.'> and \Si,v. aenidioii, ['oli/uiiiinatiis astrarc/ie type, /'. icarns, 

 I', bfllarijiiii, P. hylaa, a few ; and A"(iiii lades seniiuniiis, very numerous. 

 The most prominent butterfly at this time was L'aniastiiiis injienw.vjne ; 

 it was everywhere round the hotel, in the meadows, and also in the 

 woods by the side of the river. /'. apollo was not out, except one sad 

 example, which I found hopelessly intoxicated in the heart of a large 

 scarlet lily, and another of better morals. But abundant were the 

 common " whites," and also Eucldo'e caidaiiiines and Leptidia dnapis. 

 < 'olia.s edusa was seen once or twice. CaUa(ihr(/fi ndn was the only 

 " hairstreak," and very tine. Some shabby C'hri^sophanus riifauraeae 

 indicated that the first brood was over. C. phlacas was fairly common, 

 but no var. elens. (.'. dovilh was represented by var. (dpina, large, and I 

 may say here that, as Mr. Tutt has found, this variety is in my ex- 

 perience generally larger than the type, though Kane says " a smaller 

 mountain variety." Neiiwobitis laciua was scarce and small. Aijlaia 

 uiticae everywhere. Pi/raiiieis cardiii in last year's coat, but I wo mag- 

 nificent examples were taken which were so beautifully flushed with 

 pink that it is a temptation to label them var. /iinderu. Melifaea atkalia 

 had not yet shown in any quantity. After a fatiguing climb up the 

 sides of Mt. Besimauda (twice J essayed it, but having been wrongly 

 directed never I'eached the top) I took a short series of Melampias 

 epiphrun var. rasnujpe, the first I met on the continent. All the fol- 

 lowing were more or less plentiful : — Pai-arge viae) a, Coenonynipha 

 orrania, Spilot/ii/rus ahlKdiif. Sijrichthiis ctdt/ianii, espL'cially also 5. 



