ARGYNNIS XIV. 



In short, the species is remarkably silvered. The silver spots also are hea- 

 vily edged with black, quite contrary to what appears in Aglala. 



As to color, passing by the upper surface as of less consequence, though the 

 shades of fulvous are different in both sexes, in Aglaia, three fourths of the under 

 surface of the fore-wings is tinted with dull fulvous, the siibmarginal portions only 

 being ochraceous ; the secondaries are of a chrome-green mottled with ochraceous 

 from base to second row of silver spots, a7id the hand between this and outer row 

 is broad, ochraceous and not encroached on by the basal green color. 



In Edwardsii, deep fulvous covers half the cell of fore wings and that part of 

 the interspaces next below the cell, and the median nervures are narrowly bor- 

 dered with same color nearly to the margin ; the remainder of the cell and all 

 the upi^er intersjiaces being a bright bufi'. In the female the basal color is in- 

 tensified to & fiery red, covering the whole of the two inferior median interspaces. 

 In the male, the ground color is pale olivaceous mottlt^d with buff, with a very nar- 

 row buff' band, between the silvered rows. In the female the whole wing excejjt 

 the submarginal band is olivaceous upon a brown ground, giving a mottled aj^i^ear- 

 ance to the surface ; and at the margin and anterior to the marginal spots it is 

 wholly brown ; the sub-marginal band is of a brighter green, owing to the absence 

 there of the sub-color. 



These differences are specific and it is not necessary to look for others of 

 minor importance. 



On referring to Humphreys as cited, the very title of the species indicates the 

 peculiar color of the under surface of secondaries ; "A. Aglaia. The Dark Green 

 Fritillary." The descrijition reads. "The outer margin of the fore-wings in the 

 males is almost straight or scarcely perceptibly concave, whilst that of the females 

 is distincili/ rounded. Beneath, the hind wings are varied with green and yellow 

 with about seven silvery spots at the base, an irregular row of seven silver spots 

 beyond the middle of the wing and a row of seven submarginal. 



Two varieties are mentioned by Westwood and one is figured under the name 

 A. Charlotta, neither of which have any nearer approach to the American 

 species. 



Godart says of Aglaia, "The silver spots are usually small and round." 



I have thought it well to go thus into details as to the distinction between 

 Aglaia and Edimrdsii, as perhaps, and with as good reason, Nevadensis may be 

 pronounced a variety of Aglaia. 



For if Edwardsii is Aglaia, and there is not " the least difference exceiH in 

 name," we may as well deny specific characters altogether, or call all green forms 

 one species, all brown another and so on. 



The truth is, the sooner the theory of identity between the European and 

 North American fauna in this department is exploded the better. It is founded 

 on the merest modicum of fact, and leads its advocates into inconsistencies and 

 contradictions. Unquestionably, certain boreal and alpine butterfiies have passed 

 from one continent to the other in high latitudes, as have a few strong flying Va- 

 nessans and Goliades, but I believe the whole number common to the temperate 

 regions of both continents can be counted on one's fingers. 



