200 



VANESSA. By H. Stichkl. 



subapical spots are nearly prolonged to streaks, there being below them an additional, smaller, white spot; 

 on the other hand the posterior portion of the marginal band is widened and produced along the veins, there 

 being no line of pale dots at the margin. Ground-colour of the upperside pale rosy red. On the underside 

 the markings are also visibly reduced, on the hindwing only the middle ocelli are distinct, the marginal line 

 and the bluish lunules near it are absent. South Russia (Ekaterinoslaw). In specimens from South Russia, 

 as well as from the Balkan Peninsula, there is apparently a general inclination of the black median band of the 

 wiskotti. forewing towards reduction in width, ab. wiskotti Stdfss. has been artificially produced by treatment with 

 cold; sooty all over, the red ground-colour remaining distinct only around the middle cell-spot; the white costal 

 spot is occasionally dusted with grey. On the hindwing a small spot at the apex of the cell and the margin 

 elymi. remain reddish. Beneath the markings are diffuse and dull. al). elymi Ramb. about correspond to 

 aialanta ab. klemensiewiczi. The median band, except the first spot in the cell, is absent, the costal spot has 

 entirely disappeared in the black apical area, the dark marginal band is widened, the white submarginal spots 

 are elongate and more numerous behind ; ground-colour dull pink. On the hindwing the rounded spots are absent, 

 the other distal spots are indicated only by a widening of the black vein-streaks, the costal area is darkened, 

 and the distal area bears a row of whitish smears. The markings of the underside are similarly simplified and 

 diffuse. Occasionally in nature (Strassburg, South France, Catalonia), also artificially produced in extreme 

 specimens as well as transitions towards the main form. — This species, too, does not vary much geographically. 

 A northern form, which is ontliewiiole ligiiter in colour, the ground-colour being yellowish red, has been named 

 pallida, pallida Schoijen. Arctic Scandinavia. — The specimens from Eastern Asia are larger on an average, with the 

 ground-colour reddish ochreous yellow. They are further characterized by the strong reduction in size of the 

 rounded submarginal spots of the hindwing, of which the anterior ones are either absent or are at least quite 

 japonica. isolated in the ground-colour. These differences justify the separation as a subspecies, which we call japonica 

 siibsp. nov. (62d). Japan; Eastern China (Tsintau). — The egg of cardiii is green, elongate, reticulate. The 

 larva is grey or blackish, with yellow stripes, spots and dots, and short paler thorns; in leaves of the food- 

 plant spun together, especially on thistles and nettles: Carduus crispusL., Cirsium arvense L., Urtica dioica L., 

 but has also been found on Anchusa officijialis L. (Alkanet), Lappa officinalis All. (Burdock), Echium vulgare 

 L. (Viper-grass), Artemisia vulgaris L. (Mugwort), Filago arvensis W. (Cudweed). Apart from the two local 

 races which bear special names, the species is cosmopolitan, being absent only in South America. It is ])arti- 

 cularly abundant in the subtropical countries of the Eastern Hemisphere, but occurs also in the Aew \A'orld, 

 where it extends southward to the West Indian Islands. In Europe there are 2 broods. In the tropics the 

 . broods are not sharply separated, the larvae being found all through the year wlien and wlierever there is food, 

 according as they emerge from the eggs. In the warm countries the species is more an inhabitant of higher 

 altitudes, the larva being found in India on Gnaphalium indicum, Zornia diphylia, and a species of Blumea 

 (Moore, D.widson). It has an iiregular fast flight, loves to bask on the bare ground and stones, and shows 

 a decided propensity for migrating. Frequently enormous swarms have been observed, especially in warm 

 districts, the specimens all flying in one direction. This phenomenon is said to stand in connection' witli the 

 instinct of self-preservation. In some years, namely, the enormous numbers of caterpillars of the February 

 brood devour all food in large districts, and the bulUrflies emerging. in May emigrate together. 



virginiensis. P. virginiensis Drurij (— huntera F.) (62d). Similar to the preceding species, but the wings proportionally 



shorter, the apex of the forewing being liroader and slightly angulate. Ground-colour light red, sometimes 

 with a pale yellowish tint, the irregular black markings being quite similar to those of cardui, and the forewing 

 bearing a white costal spot and several subapical ones; moreover there appears a white spot in the red colour 

 within the cell and another in the centre of the distal marginal area. Hindwing with an elbowed blackish median 

 band and in the distal area 4 spots, of which tiie first and last resemble an ocellus, bearing a blue centre. 

 Underside of the forewing rosy-red, the markings on the whole as above; hindwing with a white median band 

 and in the dark basal area white transverse lines, which partly form ovate markings, in the distal area 2 pale 

 ocelli on a dark ground. — The true home of this butterfly is North America, but the insect has repeatedly 

 been found on the Canaries, where it appears to be indigenous. 



8. Genus: Vanessa F. 



This genus is closely related to the preceding one, and contains the species commonly known as 

 "Tortoiseshells" and others which differ much in colour and markings. Head broad; eyes hairy; palpi rather 

 long, porrect, the hairs sparsely intermixed with longer bristles; antennae about half the length of the forewing, 

 clubbed. Forewing a right-angled triangle, the costal margin strongly arched basally, the apex obliquely 

 truncate, the distal margin more strongly angulate at the 1. radial and more feebly at the lower median; sub- 

 costal 5-branched, 2 branches before the apex of the cell; upper discocellular very short, the 2. joining the 



