96 EREBIA. By G. Eiffingee. 



melampus. E. melampus Fucssl. (= janthe Bbn., aetherius Esp., arete Bell.) (36 b). One of the commonest Erebias 



of the Alps. Other districts where it occurs are the P\-renees, the High Tatra and the western and southern 

 Carpathian Mts. The ground-colour is black-brown, the margin reddish grey, the antenna blackish above, 

 whitish grey beneath. The forewing has a russet macular band, interrupted by the veins, bearing in the 

 same 2—3, more rarely 4 black ocelli. On the hindwing there are before the distal margin 3 — 4 ovate 

 ferruginous spots which bear black dots. The underside is paler, more reddish grey, the band and spots 

 being distinct. The wings of the ? are more elongate, the ground-colour and band being lighter than in 

 sudetica. the cf. — On the Altvater in Silesia there occurs the form sudetica Stgr. (36b); it differs from the alpine 

 form in the distal band of the forewing being broader and ligliter and bearing regulary 4, sometimes even 

 5 black dots, and in the ferruginous yellow spots of the hindwing being larger and being more prominent 

 than in name-typical melmnpiis. — Egg elliptic, longitudinally ribbed, sulphur-yellow, becoming reddish grey 

 before emergence. Larva clay-colour before the last moult, then bright green, with dark dorsal line which 

 is finely bordered with light colour, and with indestinct lighter subdorsal lines which are edged with dark; 

 a lateral stripe light green, above the same the small orange stigmata. Reared on Poa annua. Pupa pale 

 yellowish grey, with darker markings; free on the ground. The buttertlies are on the wing in July and 

 August, flying often in great abundance on the grassy alpine meadows and occuring up to 2600 m, their 

 flight being low, slow and straight on. 



kefersteini. E. keferstclni Er. (36 b) is nearest to me/ampKs and of the same size. The central area inclusive of 



the cell is brown-red, the base and the costal, distal and hindmargins being black-brown. In the cf the 

 reddish yellow distal band, which is divided into 6 spots by the veins, contrasts in colour but slightly wath 

 the central area and proximally graduallj^ disappears in the latter. There are small black pupils in spots 2, 



3 and 4 counted from the costal side. The underside is lighter, more greyish brown, the markings being 

 as above. Among the few specimens examined there is one which essentially differs in markings: The fore- 

 wing is black-brown , being centrally but little dusted with brown ; the black dots are completely absent 

 from the band of both wings. In the ? the forewing is dark brown , the cell being more or less filled in 

 with red-brown. There are 4 — 5 black ocelli in the spots of the transverse band, and the hindwing bears 



4 red-l)rown ovate spots with black dots. — In the second half of July on the alpine meadows of the 

 mountains of Central Siberia. 



flavofasciata. E. flavofasciata Hci/iie (36 b). This interesting Erebia has only lately been tliscovered. Lieutenant- 



Colonel von NoLTE obtained the first specimens in July 1893 in the Alps of Tessin in the Campolungo-Pass 

 near Fusio. Later the species has also been found, in a but slightly different form, at Pontresina in the 

 upper Engadine. In shape and size like catn^iojjc, but nearer mclampioi in pattern. Ground-colour dark brown, 

 as in most Erebias , the ? being distinctly paler. The narrow russet-brown tlistal band of the forewing is 

 separated by the veins into 5 — 6 rounded or ovate spots which bear small black dots; the spots in cellules 

 4 and 5 are generally somewhat elongate and bear a stronger black dot than the others. The hindwing 

 above bears before the outer margin 4 russet-yellow rounded spots with black dots. In tlie ? these spots 

 are larger and have stronger black dots. The underside of the forewing greyish brown, the more yellow- 

 brown distal band not separated into spots as above but continuous, also somewhat broader. The black 

 dots contrast sharply. The central area has a feebly red-brown tint which gradually fades away proximally. 

 The hindwing beneath is brownish grey; there is, before the outer margin and parallel with the same, a 

 rather large straw-yellow l)and, which extends from the costal margin to near the anal angle. In this band 

 there is a row of 5 — 6 black dots of almost even size, being shifted a little distad. The ? beneath is lighter 

 thiemei. and brighter in colour than the cf. — The form thiemei Baiiel (36 c) from the Engadine is darker than 

 specimens from Tessin. The distal band of the forewing is separated into isolated spots of different sizes. 

 The number of these small spots , which have but feeble black dots , varies, the spots being sometimes ob- 

 solescent. Otherwise but little different from the name-typical form. — The butterflies occur on steep 

 grassy and rocky slopes. 



eripfiyle. E. eriphyle Frr. (36 c). This Erebia which is verj' close to int'/anipus was formerly considered to be 



only a variety of the latter, but is constantly different. The distal band of the forewing is more or less 

 reddish brown, sometimes brown-yellow, being separated by the veins into several elongate, distally rounded 

 spots. The number of these spots is variable, there being usually 5, sometimes only 3—4. The 2 spots 

 placed close to the outer margin bear small black dots. On the hindwing there are 3 — 4 red-brown or 

 brownish spots of which the one near the median vein in cellule 4 is placed a little more basad, being 

 always larger and more elongate, while in mrluwpuii it is never larger than the other spots of the hindwing. 

 The shape and position of this spot and the absence of black centres are tlie main characters of eriphyle, 

 which moreover is distinctly larger than itwhimpHs. Beneath the band of the forewing is lighter than above, 

 being ochre-yellow in many specimens ; the spots of the hindwing are of the same colour, being much more 

 prominent than above. In the ? the ground-colour paler, the underside yellowish brown, band and spots 

 less distinct than in o^. The distal margin of the (f somewhat paler than the ground, brownish grey in the ?. 

 Antenna black-brown above, white-grey beneath. — An inhabitant of the Alps, prefers limestime, aud occurs 



