ARGYNNIS I. 



brown or a mottled appearance. I have a curions exam^ile of tlii^ last, taken on 

 the Kanawha, where tlie whole surface is mottled, sometimes yellow i)revailing, 

 sometimes black. But in Diana the sexes are absolutely separated in color, and, on 

 the ujiper surface, as widely separated in markings. On j^art of the lower surfoce 

 there is a resemblance, but any other two species of Argynnis that may be selected 

 are nearer each other than are the two sexes of Diana. 



In the Sixth Edition of Lyell's Elements of Geology, figure 179, is repre- 

 sented a fossil butterlly (reproduced below) from the miocene beds of Croatia, taken 

 from Heer's Insektenfauna der Tertipc, &c., which bears a singular resemblance to 

 Diana male. It is called Vanessa Pluto in the text, but is plainly an Argynnis. 

 Even the colors of the insect were partially j^reserved. Heer himself calls attention 

 to the resemblance to Diana, though he inclines to think it still more resembles Va- 

 nessa Hedonia, Cramer, an Indian species. He says, "among butterflies of a simi- 

 lar coloration may be mentioned A. Diana, 

 Cramer. This luitterfly is black (dark 

 In-own?) and is furnished on the outer bor- 

 der with a row of yellow spots divided by 

 the ncrvures. These yellow spots reach 

 to the border and each one has two black 

 dots. Diana is decidedly larger. In size 

 and coloration the fossil agrees better with- 

 Iledonia, yet this point cannot be decided 

 with certainty until a specimen is found with the outer border completely pre- 

 sei'ved." "With the Pluto are found Dragon-flies "Avith speckled wings, like those 

 of the Southern States of North America." Lyell, page 245. And on page 25G, 

 "the insect founa of the age of the beds of Oeningen, (miocene,) like the plants, 

 are of a recent American type." 



Variations in size are of little moment in comparing sjiecies, as every sjiecies 

 furnishes individuals both much larger and much smaller than the average. Form 

 and markings are essential, and coloration in a less degree. In the present case, 

 taken in connection with the character of the fauna, I am apt to believe that our 

 superb Diana comes of a venerable antiquity, and is entitled to rank as the head 

 of this large and beautiful family. 



