INTRODUCTIOK. XV 



for instance, varying in dift'erent individuals by almost imperceptible 

 changes, from coppery-red to gold-colour, bronze, green of various 

 tints, bright blue, purple, violaceous and even intense metallic 

 black. The same may be remarked of all the Poecili, several of the 

 Carabi, Harpali, &c. ; and it may be added, that all metallic greens 

 have a tendency in some specimens to become blue, and vice versa. 

 Numberless similar examples might be adduced; but enough has 

 been said to show the slight dependence to be placed on colour 

 alone in the detection of species. Some very extraordinary discre- 

 pancies in the Lepidoptcra may, however, be pointed out. In this 

 Order, the chief distinguishing specific marks consist in the posi- 

 tion and number of the various coloured lines, fasciae, ocellated or 

 simple spots, &c. which adorn the wings ; yet such remarkable 

 changes often take place in their disposition, as to be tantamount to 

 a variation in colour : — e. g. Abraxas grossulariata, in its usual ap- 

 pearance, has the wings white, with spots and streaks of black, and 

 two orange fascise on the anterior ones, — one at the base, and the 

 other towards the posterior margin ; but specimens have occurred 

 totally suffused with black, with the usual black markings of a 

 darker hue, and the orange fasciae barely perceptible; others have 

 been found nearly of an immaculate white; while occasionally this 

 latter colour is totally obliterated, and a yellow or orange tint adorns 

 the wings. Of the latter description, I once saw an example, cap- 

 tured near Edinburgh, nearly of as brilliant an orange as Colias 

 Edusa, and but sparingly maculated with black. Arclia Caja offers 

 another conspicuous example : in this insect the usual sinuated 

 •white or cream-coloured strigse on the anterior wings sometimes 

 become changed to a deep fuscous, while the rest of the wing be- 

 comes of a paler colour than usual : and I possess a specimen in 

 which the anterior wings are white speckled with brown, instead 

 of being brown or black with sinuated white streaks. 



Among the more conspicuous changes of colour in this Order 

 may be mentioned that of Colias Edusa, which is usually of a bright 

 fulvous orange ; but specimens occur nearly of a pure white *. 

 Again, Melitaea Euphrosyne also varies from deep tawny to pale 

 luteous. Lycsena Phlseas is sometimes found of a clear glossy 

 white, in lieu of its brilliant fiery copper-colour. The well known 

 "illuminated females," as they are termed, of the Polyommati 

 may also be cited as examples of the variation of colour ; and 

 P. Argus has once been found of the exact colour of Hipparchia 

 Pamphilus, — pale fulvous ! And in conclusion, Anthrocera Hippo- 

 crepidis and Callimorpha Jacobaea? have each occurred with the 

 brilliant sanguineous markings on their anterior wings, and simi- 

 larly coloured posterior ones, converted into a clear pale luteous. 

 Sufficient, therefore, has been adduced to show the very little de- 



* A beautiful intermediate specimen is in the collection at the British 

 Museum. 



