PARNASSIUS. By H. Stichel. 29 



average size, in both sexes purer white, with reduced marginal marivings, from the Tianshan, near Korla, 



and the Eastern Pamir (4000 m). Near Korla there occurs a by-form, ab. actinobolus Stfjr. (14e), in which actinobofus. 



the pure white ground-colour is not at all clouded, the su])inarginal spots being absent from both wings or 



faintly indicated. — superbus hn/if (nee siiprrha Gr.-Grffh.), on the contrary, is characterized by the blackish superbus. 



marginal markings being deeper in tint and more extended. Moreover, in this form the costal spots of the 



forewing are merged together to a large pafch bearing two red dots, the hindmarginal spot being large and 



strongly marked with red; ? more densely dusted with black. Transalai district, 3 — 4000 m. 



The group of varieties of P. jaquemontii Baisd. is the last of the series of species in which the jacque- 

 ?? bear carinate pouches *) and have usually a red basal spot on the hindwing. The true home of the species "iontii. 

 are the high mountain-passes of the North- Western Himalayas, the insect reaching there the Palaearctic area 

 (in Kashmir: Ladak) and appearing in a number of varieties.**) The type-specimen differs essentially from 

 nii-ius here figured, as follows: rather larger (length of forewing 34 nun), costal spots and hindmarginal one 

 of forewing proportionally larger, abundantly centred with red, submarginal macular band rather more sharply 

 marked, extending to hindmargin; ocelli of hindwing larger, with white pupil, the submarginal halfmoons 

 somewhat broader and the anterior ones more distinct, a red spot at anal angle, the black abdominal area 

 rather narrower, especially without tooth-Hke projection at apex of cell. — ab. nirius Moore (15b), from nirius. 

 Ladak and the Karakorum , is a transition to the following form , which must likewise be regarded as an 

 aberration. Of lesser size, the costal spots small , both or at least the anterior one being centred with red, 

 and the marginal markings somewhat reduced. — ab. rhodius Hour, has narrower but sharper marginal rhodius. 

 bands: the costal spots of forewing without red pupil, the hindmarginal spot also plain black; ocelli of hind- 

 wing small, as in nirius completely filled in with red. Likewise from Ladak. — himalayensis Elir. (15b) ///ma- 

 is extremely variable, being sometimes hardly distinguishable on the upperside from the previous forms, layensis. 

 there appearing also transitions towards tibetanm. Recognizable by the pale red spots on the underside of 

 the hindwing having no black borders or only thin vestigial ones. Upperside more or less abundantly dusted 

 with black; costal spots of forewing as a rule filled in with red and the hindmarginal spot bearing a red 

 pupil; ocelli of hindwing small, all red or with small white centre; anal spots always present, frequently 

 marked with red; submarginal bands of both wings well developed, that of hindwing consisting of rather 

 sharply marked black halfmoons or cap-like spots, which are more or less contiguous, being not rarely isol- 

 ated; usually a distinct red spot at the base. There occur singly individuals with entirely black costal and 

 hindmarginal spots on the forewing, the ground-colour being almost white, the submarginal markings red- 

 uced, the red basal spot missing on the hindwing, and the reduced ocelli of the hindwing being all red 

 strongly bordered with black: ab. impunctata Amf. The fringes of both forms chequered whitish and black, impundata. 

 being more rarely all whitish. The true home of liimalai/oisis are the central chains of the Himalayas 

 (frontier of Sikkim-Tibet), the insect, however, extending north-westwards as far as Kashmir, where it merges 

 into the previous subspecies. The jaquemontii -forms of the Himalayas occur from 3500 to 6000 m; they 

 have a fast continual flight, and are fond of hurrying incessantly hither and thither close to the frozen or 

 snow-covered ground. — A form very similar to nirius is chitralensis Moore, from Ghitral, North-East chitralensis. 

 Afghanistan. Costal spots of forewing small, hindmarginal spot vestigial, all black or centred with white, 

 the posterior ocellus reniform (individual character?), the black basal area projecting tooth-like on the disc 

 behind the cell. — A well distinguished form generally confounded with rhodius, being sold under this name 

 and contained as such in collections, is rubicundus Siich. (= vai'. magna St(/r. i. I.) (15a). Usually larger than rubicundus. 

 rliddins (length of forewing 32-34 nmi), ground-colour pure white, vitreous margin of forewing broad, submarginal 

 macular band mostly sharply marked, separated from the marginal band only bj^ a row of white halfmoons; costal 

 and hindmarginal spots large, as a rule filled in with red. Hindwing with grey vitreous margin, the submarginal 

 halfmoons mostly well developed, ocelli large, mostly all red, a distinct red spot at base, tiie black hindmarginal 

 area surrounding apex of cell. On the whole similar to actius, but recognizable by the rounded shape of the wings, 

 the peculiar marginal markings and lastly by the red basal spot, though the last character is not ahvays reliable. 

 — Here belongs ab. parcirubens Sclui/t:, having like ab. 7-liodius plain black costal spots, and ab. mutilata Sclni/tz, parcirubens 

 in which the submarginal row of spots is absent from the hindwing. Both aberrations occur also within the mutilata. 

 area of the next subspecies. Pamir, Transalai, Buchara, Fergana, and Sarafshan. — In the eastern 

 districts of Fergana (Alps of Osh) there flies again a somewhat smaller, but very inconstant, local form, 

 inclining towards rhodius and nirius and being likewise sold b}- dealers under the former name. This is 



*) 1'. jiirqiiemontii Bnisd. was originally the name for a composite species, i. e. the description was based on the sexes 

 of two different species, the 5 being described as having a non-carinate pouch. As the original (f' from Boisduval's collection 

 is preserved in the collection of Monsieur C.HARt.KS OnERTHfiR (Rennes), the identification of tliis (f is rendered certain, and we 

 know further that to this o^ belongs a $ with a carinate pouch. The composite species has later been dealt with in this waj' 

 that the name jacqueinontii was preserved for the species identified by means of the original cf, while the ? of the Boisduvalian 

 diagnosis, having a non-carinate pouch, together with the cf which has been recognized as belonging to this kind of ?, has 

 been separated under the designation of P. epaphus Oberth. 



*•) The variability of the species — at least partly — appears to be due to horodimorphism. For, as according to 

 statements of English explorers the occurrence of a second broad is establisiied in P. Iiardwickii , which insect is found nnder 

 the same conditions and in identical localities, we may assume that the same obtains also in the present case. 



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