64 LEPIDOPTERA. 



off to reddish-yellow or brownish-yellow, but with the 

 Bervures deeper in colour ; cilia purple-brown. Body, legs, 

 and leg-tufts chocolate-red or yellowish-brown. 



A'ariation in this species is very great. Some entomo- 

 logists profess to be able to separate some of the forms, 

 as a distinct species, under the name of hiccns, but for this 

 there is not, in my opinion, any ground. All the variations 

 in size, colour, and distinctness of the reniform stigma 

 interchange and shade imperceptibly into each other. On the 

 whole, the tendency toward orange colouring or darkening 

 of the stigma is perhaps more noticeable in the female, 

 and this sex often has a tendency toward soft browns in the 

 general colouring ; but in both sexes every possible gradation 

 seems to occur, from the deepest, darkest purple-red to dull 

 brown and pale yellow-brown. Sometimes the white reni- 

 form stigma is unusually large, and then the orbicular is 

 usually orange-coloured and more conspicuous than ordinary, 

 or the lines and nervures are darkened, and the appearance 

 of reticulation made conspicuous. One in the collection of 

 Mr. Gervase F. Mathew has all the fine lines, seven in 

 number, blackened, and the hind margin very dark, but the 

 stripe before it pale purple-grey ; this was obtained on the 

 Essex coast. Some, from other parts of the coast more 

 particularly, have the reniform stigma altered in shape or 

 partially dark coloured, the outer portion usually, and only 

 an oblique inner and lower portion white, or even only the 

 inner margin. One in Mr. Percy Bright's cabinet is almost 

 unicolorous. the stigmata only indicated by the faintest 

 outlines. Scottish specimens have the reniform stigma very 

 brilliantly white, in some cases divided by dark lines into 

 eight or nine separate dots. Specimens from Sutherlandshire 

 in Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher's collection are of a more than 

 ordinarily rich red, with beautifully rich orange-brown 

 stigmata. But its variations might be dwelt upon indefi- 

 nitely ! 



On the wing in August and September. 



