GRAPTA II. 



Note. — Comma was considered by Dr. Fitch as identical with the European 

 C album. He says, "This species is commou to both sides of the Atlantic. Dr. 

 Harris regarded our American insect as difl'erent from the Eurojjean and accord- 

 ingly named it Comma. He supposed the wings in the former to be more deejily 

 indented and that specimens from the two continents could be at once distinguished 

 by this mark. But how fallacious tliis character is will appear from the remark 

 of Mr. Westwood, Plumphreys' British Buttertlies, page 50, who observes, 'This 

 sjiecies is subject to an extraordinary A-ariation in the form of its wings. In some 

 S2:)ecimens the incision in the hind margin of the fore-wings is so deep that it forms 

 nearly a semi-circle, whilst in others it is scarcely more than a sextant, the other 

 indentations being equally varied.' Tlie American s^iecimens vary in same man- 

 ner. On comparing them on the one hand with the descriptions which European 

 authors give of G album, and on the other with the description which Dr. Harris 

 gives of Comma, every one must admit that of the two the former is plainly the 

 species to which our insect pertains." 



I have also been assureil by botli Dr. Staudinger and Air. AL'schler, since the 

 publication of my plate of Fauiuis. that, beyond all (picstion, Faunus is neither 

 more or less than C album. 



I thought it well therefore to enclose to Dr. Staudinger a male and female 

 Comma from AVest Virginia and a male /Sati/rus from the llucky Alountaius, with- 

 out names, for his determination. He rej^lies, 5th June, (1871) "As to the three 

 individuals of Grapta Faunus, which have arrived in recognisable condition, I do 

 not doubt for an instant that they are Grapta {Fapilio) C album, L., although a 

 very little modihed so that one might retain the name of Faunus as that of a race 

 or variety. The form of your hemisphere is distinguished principally by the hind 

 wings being a little less excised and by the border of the wings being blacker ; at 

 least to judge by these three individuals, {which alone I know apart from your fy- 

 iires). But this individual from the Focky JFjuntains is 7nore nnmisiahible, and 

 approaches our European and (Siberian form nearer than the two from West Vir- 

 ginia. I repeat that your fauna agrees marvellously with the European," (The 

 italics are mine.) 



Now Faunus on the one hand, and Comma and Satyrus on the otner, belong 

 to distinct sub-groups, the latter being allied to Interroyationis, and it becomes a 

 matter of interest to know that one European species exists so similar to both as 

 to deceive practiced observers. 



I have taken pains to bring together a number of specimens of the European 

 C album, many of which were sent me by Air. H. W. Bates, expressly to show the 

 widest variation, and I have consulted authors within my reach who describe and 

 figure the species and its larv^. It certainly is very variable, and bears a resem- 

 blance in its several phases to at least these three American species. Comma, 

 Faunus, and Satyrus, Edw., (the last not yet figui'ed, but brought from California 

 and Rocky Alouutains.) C album also exhibits several jihases that are not imitated 

 by any yet known American species. 



Some individuals are deeply incised and indented after the peculiar manner 

 of Faunus, and have much resemblance on both surfaces to that sjDecies. (This 



