190 THK entomologist's record. 



I have never, to my recollection, seen a British specimen of N. 

 plcmtai/Tins with entirely black hind-wings, a condition which 

 frequently occurs in the American A\ iwtmsa, found in mountainous 

 districts and previously referred to. 



To return for a moment. The coloration of N. plantagijiis is a 

 deep velvety black with paler markings. In the males, these are 

 usually of a rich cream colour in the fore- wings, bright yellow in the 

 hind-wings, whilst a rich orange shade runs along the costa of the 

 fore-wings, and reminds one of the somewhat similar red one in 

 Euthcinonia rmsula. In the females, the fore-wdngs are as in the 

 males, but the hind-wings are usually of a more orange tint. But a 

 well-known form is found in the Alps, in Scandinavia, in the Scotch 

 Highlands, and probably throughout all the highest latitudes and 

 altitudes of its extensive range. This form varies as much in the 

 proportion of black and pale markings as the yellow form, but has 

 the pale parts of the fore-wings of a delicate cream colour, of the hind- 

 wdngs white. This is known as ab. hnaidta, Schiff., and Staudinger 

 diagnoses it as " alis posterioribus albis, nigromaculatis," i.e., with 

 the hind-wings white, black-spotted. Some of the more extreme 

 forms, in which the dark streaks in the centre of the hind-wings are 

 almost obsolete, are most striking (ab. alha-ohsulcta, PI. V., fig. 1), 

 but although the greater number conform more or less to the typical 

 form in the distribution of the markings, others have the black spread 

 over the wings to the same extent as is often prevalent in the yellow 

 forms, and then = ab. alha-malrnnalU (PI. V., fig. 2). The aberration 

 /lofijnta is not at all uncommon in the Scotch Highlands, and Mr. W. 

 Reid, of Pitcaple, who has done so much for Scotch entomology, gives a 

 most interesting account of its occurrence in Aberdeenshire {Knt. Hecord, 

 vol. iii., pp. 67-58). I have received it also from the Dundee and 

 Perthshire collectors. Mr. Newnham records it as not uncommon in 

 Shropshire {Ent. Itcc, vii., p. 185, etc.). 



Matronalls is Freyer's name for that aberration of the species with 

 almost entirely black hind-wings, i.e., the form in which the pale- 

 yellow colour of the type is restricted to a narrow, irregular band, or 

 to a few spots parallel to tiie outer margin [ri<h', Pi. V., fig. 2). This 

 form is rare in Scotland. I possess specimens given to me by the 

 Dundee and Aberdeenshire collectors, and also a specimen received 

 from the Darlington men. 



Rare as these extreme forms are in Britain, they become more or 

 less abundant at high elevations on the Continent. In fact, we should 

 not be far out were we to call the species in some localities poly- 

 morphic. With regard to this polymorphic tendency, it may be well 

 to quote Zetterstedt, who writes : — " T'he colour and markings of this 

 species vary almost infinitely, and of 50 specimens which 1 have 

 before me, scarcely two are alike. ]5esides the principal difierences 

 in colour — white, yellow and tawny — the markings vary also in form 

 and number, especially in the hind-wings. In the white aberration — 

 hospita, the posterior wings very often have only a few black spots, 

 placed chiefly on the outer margin. In the yellow forms the hind- 

 wings are very often black from the base to beyond the middle, then 

 fulvous, with a few black spots scattered within the margin. Never- 

 theless, it is impossible to consider these different varieties, occurring 

 together, as distinct species" [Insevta rMjijianica, ]). d'60). The first 



