154 [December, 



I take the present opportunity of drawing attention to the variety 

 of Melifcea Artemis wliicli occurs in Ireland. It differs widely from 

 any which ia found either in England, Scotland, or, I believe, else- 

 where in Europe. The Artemis of Scotland appears to me to be the 

 Alpine variety Merope, which Stan dinger describes as "AJpina, mijior, 

 " obsctirior.'" Boisduval says of its larva that "it approaches in ap- 

 " pearance the larva of CyntMa in having yellow spots on the back, 

 " but bears no resemblance to the larva of Artemis.''' Perhaps Scotch 

 collectors will observe the larva of their Artemis, and report the result. 



In the Irish Artemis the fulvous spots on the upper surface are 

 largely replaced by white or cream coloured blotches, giving the 

 insect at first sight the apppearance of Melifcea Cyntlda, ^■, it is 

 larger than English, and very much larger than Scotch specimens of 

 Artemis, the wings of the female frequently exceeding 23- inches in 1 

 expanse. 



Mr. Doubleday, who has reared the Irish insect, says that he did 

 not observe any difference between its larva and that of the English 

 Arte7nis ; and although I am aware that the various varieties of 

 Artemis run into one another, and that descriptions of them are only 

 referable to one particular stage of the variation, I consider the Irish 

 form so unusually distinct, that I venture to propose for it the name 

 of hibernica.* 



MELITiEA ASTEMIS, Var. HIBEENICA. 



(J . Aim superne nigrce, anticce maciilis seriatim dispositis fulvis ad marginem 

 posiicum, aliisque in medio plurimis albis vel stratnineo-alhidig ad marginem interiorem 

 coalescentihus, lituram formantibus, posticce fascid laid fulvd secus marginem posticum 

 (^exaynplarum typicorum maculis fulvis margine postico nigra angusto ohsitis in varietate 

 vel indiscretissiinis vel nullis) ornatce : suhths pallide-fulvw, signaturd simili at in- 

 discretd. 



5 , AloB anticce fulvm, seriebus macularum albarum vel stra/mineo-albidarum 

 duabus, interdum confluentibue fasciasque formantibus, fascid exteriore trans alas 

 posticas productd, notatce ; posticce ut in typicis, sed maculis stramineo-albidis nee 

 fulvis ornatai. 



Alarum expansio $ 1 unc. 4 lin, — 1 unc. 8 lin. ; 9 2 unc. — 2 unc. 3 lin. 



Larva a larvis M. Artemidis Angliam incolentibus haud discrepat. 



Habitat in paludosis Hibemice centralibus. 



* Copies of a coloured plate illustrating these forms may be obtained upon application to me 

 in accordance with the terms indicated on the slip inserted in the present No. of this Magazine. 

 Fig. 1 represents the English form of Arlemis : fig. 2 6 and $ of the Irish form (var. hibernica) 

 fig. 3 the Scotch form (var. Merope).— E. B. 



