22^ MELlTAEA. By Dr. A. Seitz. 



magna, regular and apparently less variable, from Hungary, and magna Stgr. i. I. (66i) with the ground of a brilliant fiery 

 helvetica, yellowish red and the markings deep black but thin, from South Spain. — helvetica Riihl, from Graubtinden 



(Bergiin), has the spots of the median band of the hindwing enlarged to streaks, the median band of the hindvving 

 iierica. Ijeneath being silvery white. — iberica Sigr. (67a) is considerably hghter above, especially in the centre, being 



more pale or orange-yellow, and some of the dark markings are obsolete; one of the largest forms. Castilia. 



hertha. — In a northern aberration, ab. herthaQuens., the forewing beneath bears brown longitudinal stripes; Scandinavia. 



orientalis. — A number of other races fly in Asia, where the species extends to the coast of the Pacific: orietitalis Men. 



(67a), from Kamtchatka, appears more variegated above, on account of the contrast between the lighter and 



darker bands; the median band of the underside is almost white and somewhat wider; the insect, moreover, 



ambigiia. is small and inconspicuous, in accordance with the northern climate. In ab. ambigua Men. the pale band of 



latefascia. the hindwing beneath is pure silvery white; likewise from North-East Asia, very likely among the preceding. 



— In latefascia Fixs. (66i) also the white median band is widened, but much more so than in the previous; one 

 niphona. of tlie largest known forms of athalia; Corea. — niphona Btlr. (= mandschurica Fixs.) (67a), though above 



similar in colour and markings to nymotypical athalia, is much larger, the submarginal band of the underside 



being deep russet-brown and below the costa not interrupted. In southern Amurland, Corea and Japan. — 

 kenteana. kenteana Stgr. i. I. (67a) is a somewhat doubtful form from Kentei. All the specimens from Central Asia which 



belong here have been considered to be either aurelia, athalia or parthenie; most of them presumably belong to 



athalia, the more western parthenie, at least in its nymotypical form, not extending into Asia. ■ — The form 

 alatauka. alatauica Stgr. (67b), which Staudinger places under parthenie, appears to me to belong rather to the group 



aiirelia-athalia than to parthenie according to its facies, especially the outline of the wings; from the Alatau. 



It is rather dull ochreous, the black markings have a yellow sheen and therefore are not prominent. 



The forms of athalia are mo^ numerous in individuals in Central and East Europe, for instance in South 

 Germany, Austria, Eastern France and Switzerland; they are the commonest Melitaeas in these countries, being 

 indeed among the most abundant butterflies. The eggs are deposited in clusters; they resemble exactly those 

 of M. aurelia, being glossy pale yellow, globular with the micropylar pole conical (Gillmer). Larva black, 

 with transverse rows of white dots and on the sides small yellowish warts; the fleshy tubercles are yellowish 

 brown with pale tip and dark hah's; head black. From August until May, in the southern districts again in 

 June, on Plantago, Melampyrum silvaticum and nemorosum. Pupa pearl-grey, spotted with black, the ab- 

 domen above bearing rows of small tubercles with yellow bases. The butterflies are numerous at the edges 

 of woods and on wide grassy roads, being much less restricted to meadows than aurelia and parthenie; they 

 are on the wing in May and June and again in August. 



dejone. M. dejone Hbn. (^= beata Car.) (67b). In spite of its great similarity to athalia, this South-West European 



form is considered specifically distinct, particularly, it seems, because the wings are more elongate and there 

 occur in South France and Spain also forms of athalia with which dejone is not identical. In markings more 

 resembling athalia, in colour more parthenie. In the ? the reddish yellow median band of the upperside is 

 somewhat paler, so that there are two contrasting tints of reddish yellow. The underside nearly as in parthenie, 

 the light bands of the hindwing as in parthenie not silvery and not diAdded by a black line. The individuals 

 even from the same place differ so much that one might be inclined to place some with parthenie and others with 

 athalia. Perhaps the insect will in future be proved to be a local or seasonal form of one of the allied species. 

 Only on the Iberian Peninsula, in ttie opposite districts of Africa and the adjacent parts of South France. — ■ 

 berisali. OberthCr cefers to this species a form from Berisal in Valais, berisali Riihl (= berisalensis Fav. ^ Wullschl.) 

 (66i), which appears to be rather restricted as regards occurrence. The forewing being remarkably pointed 

 and the markings of the hindwing beneath very peculiar, OberthCr believes it possible that berisali is a distinct 

 species. The russet bands of the hindwing beneath are very bright in colour and heavily edged with black, 

 the $ bearing heavy black lunules before the fringe'in the light marginal band. The forewing beneath is 

 nevadensis. very vivid reddish yellow, being much variegated with black in the apical area. — nevadensis Oberth., from the 

 southern slope of the Sierra Nevada (Lanjaron), is paler on both sides, the black transverse lines are more 

 strongly curved and the dark basal area of the wings is not interrupted by the ground-colour. — The larva 

 of dejone is dark brown, with white dots and dirty yellow spines with black hairs; head black. Until June 

 on Linaria. The butterfly in June and again from the end July onward; at higher altitudes perhaps in one 

 brood only. 



parthenie. M.'parthenie Brk. (=: parthenoides Kej.) (67a). Above very similar to athalia, especially in pattern, but 



the black markings much thinner, yellowish red the prevalent colour. While in aurelia and athalia the yellowish 

 red spots may be said to be united to bands, parthenie has orange bands of almost even width and traversed 

 by thin black veins; the median band especially is very broad, the spots composing it being almost twice as 

 long as wide, which is hardly ever the case in European athalia. The underside likewise resembles athalia in 



