100 EREBIA. By G. Eiffinger. 



obscura. hindwing are white or bordered with white. — In ab. obscura Rdtzer (36 h) the brown-red spots of both 

 wings are strongly reduced; otherwise Hke the narae-typical form; in the Simplon district and the Carinthian 

 caradjae. Alps. — In the Alps of Grau])unden there occurs a small form, caradjae ( 'afiiscli, with small dull red-brown 

 spots, which are occasionally but very faintly indicated. — Egg oval, pale yellow, dirty red before emergence. 

 The larva, which appears in 12 daj^s, is yellowish grey before the last moult, and green when adult, 

 with a white-edged dark dorsal line and dark-bordered light subdorsal line. On the 4. segment there com- 

 mences above the leg a thin black-brown line which is widened to a dot at each joint between the rings. 

 Head yellowish gre\-, Avith red mouth. Reared on Poa annua (Liedmanx). Pupa yellow, with brown back 

 and black e^yes ; free on the ground. The butterflies from the middle of June into August ; the ?? have a 

 low straight flight, flapping the wings very regularly. The ?$ are at first so awkward that they can 

 sometimes be taken up with the fingers from the grass. 



medusa. E. medusa F. (= hgea Esp., themistocles de Lochc, medea Bkh.) (35 f). In the reddish yellow 



macular distal band there are two larger white-centred black ocelli near the apex placed close together, 

 being sometimes united. The ocelli which are situated in the other spots — usually 3 — are smaller, 

 being often reprented by blind black dots. The hindwing has 3 — 4 reddish yellow separated spots bearing 

 white-centred black oceUi. The somewhat lighter underside has the same pattern as the upper. Modi- 

 fications as regards the number of the ocelli and reddish yellow spots occur frequently. Central Europe, 

 from Northern Germany and Belgium southward to Soutli France, Central Italy and the Balcan, eastwards 

 psodea. to the Amur, flying also in the plains. — In the form psodea Hhn. {^^ eumenis Frr) (35 f) the macular 

 band is somewhat hghter and broader; the ocelli, especially in the band of the hindwing, are larger and 

 bear a more conspicuous white pupil. In South Hungary, the Balcan , Caucasus , and Western Siberia : is 

 procopiani. said to occur occasionallj- in Central Europe as aberration. — procopiani Horrnuz., with blind ocelli, is a 

 hippomednsa. smaller form from the Bukowina. — hippomedusa (>■ (35 g) is still smaller; occurs in the alpine regions, 

 polaris the macular band being reduced and the ocelli smaller. — polaris ^tr/r. (35 g) is but little larger than the 

 preceeding form, the macular band being obsolescent on the hindwing beneath. Lapland, Finmark, Norwaj\ — 



uralensis. uralensis St(/r. (= medusa Er.) (35 g), with less ocelli, otherwise but little different hom ]>ohn-is, forming 

 a transition towards the latter, the underside of the hindwing being different. In the Southern Ural, the 



sitbalpina. Kirghizsteppe and the adjacent districts of Siberia. — subalpina Gump}). Beneath like mi'chmt, but deep 

 black above, the forewing bearing ferruginous red black-dotted spots; in the Bavarian Alps, up to 3000 ft. — 



transiens. transiens Riihl-Hiijne (= medusa \ar. Stgr) comes nearer psodea ; the ocelli are larger and more numerous 

 than in medusa ; the hindwing beneath more or less dusted with grey in the ? ; East Siberia. — Larva liglit 

 green, with light-edged dark dorsal line, a light line above the stigmata, a white line above the legs, and 

 2 black ocelli on the head. It feeds on various grasses, as Panicum sanguinale, Millium effusum, etc., 

 hibernates and changes the end of April into a light grey pupa, which lies on the ground in a loose web, 

 the butterfly appearing in 4 weeks. The species is on the wing from the end of May to early July, 

 occurring in the woods in meadows and on grassy roads, in road-ditches, etc., the flight being slow but 

 irregular and probing. The cfcf are very abundant, while the ?? remain at rest, appearing but towards 

 the end of the period of flight. 



oeme. E. oeme Hhii. (35 g). Variable in size, usualh' somewhat smaller than medusa, the wings more 



elongate. On tiie forewing there is near the apex a russet -yellow, sometimes divided spot which bears 

 two white-centred ])lack ocelli. The hindwing lias distally 2 — 4 white-centred ocelh which are edged with 

 russet -yellow. LTnderside grey-brown, markings as above. The ?, which is usually somewhat larger, is 

 lighter, the ocelli being larger and more prominent than in the cf ; the hindwing beneath yellowish grey. 

 Widely distributed over the Alps, but sporadic, occurring especially on limestone, being usually not rare 



lugens. on the flight-places. — ab. lugens Slgr. is a smaller form in which the forewing is uniformly black-brown 

 above ; on the underside the ocelli below the costa are always separated. In the Gadmen \'alley in Western 



spodia. Switzerland. — spodia Stgr. (35 g) is mostly somewhat larger than oeme, the fore- and hindwings have a 

 complete distal band, the ocelli are larger and conspicuously centred with white. Transitions towards name- 

 typical oeme are not rare. This is the form of the Eastern Alps and the Balcan. — Egg (of the form 

 spodia) round, glabrous, glossy white. Larva similar to the larva of medusa in shape and markings, not 

 being green however, but pale clayish, with brownish longitudinal lines; each ring is crossed by a transverse 

 line composed of 4 black united spots; above the legs a chocolate-brown side-stripe. On Luzula-species. 

 Pupa pale j'cllow, the sheaths of the eyes, tongue and wings edged with brown (Rogenhofer). The 

 butterfly in June and July. 



stygne. E. Stygnc 0. (= pirene Hbi).) (35 g). Upperside of both wings dark black-brown. The forewing 



has before the distal margin a russet-brown band which is broad anteriorly, strongly tapering behind, and 

 bears in its upper portion 2 white-centred black ocelli; towards the hindmargin an additional, somewhat 

 smaller ocellus is visible. The hindwing has 3 — 4 white-centred ocelli which are edged with brown. The 

 underside of the forewing is in cT and ? but little hghter than the upper, the distal band being broader. 



