86 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



are so perfect, that having seen them one hardly requires to see the 

 insects themselves, but human nature is so contradictory, that the 

 desire to see the actual specimens is really much increased. 



The Fascicule iv. bis is of larger size (4to), to accommodate many 

 excellent text figures of the African Saturniids of the] Banaea and 

 Xiiilaiirelin groups, in order to bring together figures of species that 

 at present are often rather inaccessible. 



It also contains a further portion of the "Notes" on the French 

 and Algerian Fauna, and deals with Anthocaris falloui, giving 

 photographs of the larvae on the foodplant [Capparia droseri folia), of 

 the foodplant as it grows, and of the country in which the insect 

 flies. M. Oberthiir says, " English Lepidopterists have already 

 published various photographic views of their hunting grounds. 

 Further, they have reproduced, by photography, the scenes of butterfly 

 life. I find it an excellent idea, and will endeavour- to follow the 

 good example given by our brethren across the Channel." — T.A.C. 



What is Polyommatus ariana, Moore ? 



By GEOEGE WHEELER, M.A., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



[Note : — The following paper was originally written for Tutt's British 

 Lepidoptera, but Mr. Tutt finally decided that, in a case where there 

 was such disagreement between the original description, the original 

 figure, and the type-specimen, the original description must hold good, 

 on the ground that this could not have been altered, while the label 

 on the type specimen might possibly have been changed, and the 

 figure might have been a bad reproduction ; consequently, since the 

 original description applied in his opinion more closely to what I have 

 called the eros-iovxn., ariana was not fully dealt with under icarns in 

 the British Lepidoptera. Mr. Tutt was, however, very unwilling that 

 the paper should not appear, and wrote to ask for it for the Knt. 

 Record, to which of course I readily agreed ; but as this account of 

 ariana will now be published entirely on my own responsibility, I feel 

 justified in adding the final paragraph, which would not have been 

 written for the British Lepidoptera, which rightly and naturally 

 reflected the author's judgment, when he differed from those who 

 supplied facts rather than inferences.] 



There is great difficulty in treating ariana, Moore, in consequence 

 of the fact, that at least two species have been labelled by him with 

 this name. Six specimens, (three ^ s, three 2 s), from the Moore 

 coll. bearing this name are in the British Museum, the rest are in the 

 possession of Dr. Chapman, who, by examination of the genitalia, has 

 pronounced the one form to be icarns and the other eros. Even with- 

 out granting that identity of genitalia (especially in a group in which 

 so much resemblance exists) necessarily involves identitj' of species, it 

 is at least clear that Moore has called two species by this name, one of 

 which belongs to the icarns group (and is probably, from other con- 

 siderations, to be regarded as a form of icarns), and the other belongs 

 to the eros group, though its actual identity with eros appears to me 

 more doubtful. 



Moore's original description {Pro. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1865, p. 504) 

 runs as follows : " Pobjominatns ariana, n. sp. (pi. xxxi., fig. 2). Male. — 

 Upperside brilliant blue ; anterior margin of hindwing black, inner 



