ARGYNNIS. By Dr. A. Sbitz. 231 



arctic Region, in the North- Western Himalayas, there occur several more forms of t^iis widely distribute species, 



for instance sipora Moore (68b); forewing above and beneath as in arsilaclie, the black markings abundant and sipora. 



rather prominent ; the spots in the middle of the forewing thinner and sparser in the cj, the base on the contrary 



very black, so much so in the $ that on the hindwing only the outer marginal area is not black; from Kashmir. 



— baralacha Moore (68b) differs from sipora mainly in the sparse markings of both sides; the base of the wings baralacha. 



is hardly blackened in the cj and the hindwing beneath is almost unicolorous on account of the various colours 



being weak and diffuse; likewise in the North- Western Himalayas. There occur all intergradations between 



these two forms. — The larva paler or darker brown, with a dark dorsal line bordered by light spots, in front 



of the spines of each segment velvety black spots; the dorsal spines yellowish, the lateral ones whitish, between 



the latter yellowish tubercles; head black with yellowish brown eye-spots; prolegs reddish brown. From July 



until June on Violaceae. Pupa greyish brown, with blackish markings. The butterflies are not rare in most 



places where they occur, the alpine forms often appearing even in abundance. Fresh (^^ are very fiery red 



when on the wing, almost like Melitaea didyma (J<J. They rush close along the ground in a straight and very 



fast flight rapidly moving the wings up and down, and love to bask with wide-spread wings on warm stones. 



They visit flowers of all kinds, especially Composites and Calamint. The habits of the arsilache of the northern 



moors and of the small high-alpine pales differ in several points. 



» 



A. chariclea Schneid. (68c). Shape of wings somewhat less irregular than in pales, the apex of the hind- diaridea. 

 wing less distinctly angulate. Markings more distinct above, ground-colour not so fiery red, in the $ often 

 darkened by black dusting. The hindwing beneath is characteristic, bearing instead of a median band .3 irregular 

 light yellow spots on a bright cinnamon-red ground variegated with whitish yellow; marginal spots white with 

 a greasy gloss and not distinctly silvery. In the high North, Scandinavia, Lapponia, North Russia, in July 

 and August, usually not plentiful. — The arctic form arctica Zett., from Greenland and nothernmost Siberia arctica. 

 (Nova Semblia) extends perhaps farthest north of all the butterfhes; differs from the nymotypical form in 

 the darkened upperside. — The species is circumpolar, and aberrations have been found in the Old World 

 (ab. kolaensis) as well as the New (ab. obscurata, boisduvali); these latter will be dealt with in Vol. V of this 

 work. Nothing is known of the early stages. The butterfly is on the wing in July and August, flying only 

 at noon, with preference at the foot of rocks which are especially well warmed by the sun; it becomes at once 

 lethargic when struck by the cold wind. 



A. freija Thnbg. (— lapponica Esp., tuUia 0., freya Godt.) (68c). Upperside almost exactly as in dia, freija. 

 the size also being the same. The hindwing beneath resembles that of chariclea, but is more variegated, with 

 a distinct silvery white band between the central and marginal areas; a large rhomboidal silver-spot in the 

 centre of the costa and rather long silver-spots at the margin. From Esthonia and Livonia northward, in 

 northern Scandinavia, Russia and Siberia, in Amurland and Dauria, also in arctic America, ab. obscura Schoy. obscura. 

 is dusted with dark, while ab. pallida Elw. (68c), which is the prevalent form in certain localities in Asia, is pallida. 

 paler above and especially on tlie underside. — The distribution of this species is very remarkable: wiiile 

 it is absolutely confined to the arctic zone in Europe, extending hardly below 60", its boundary is more 

 southward in Eastern Asia, somewhere between 50" and 60", the insect going in North America even as far 

 south as the 40" (Colorado). The larva — if correctly identified — is stout, greyish violet, with yellowish 

 green spines bearing black hairs, the head and spirales black, the prolegs reddish brown (Sandberg). The 

 butterfly occurs in May and early June on peat-moors and swampy meadows, in Eastern Asia in damp larch- 

 woods; rather plentiful in some places. 



A. polaris Bsd. (71e). Similar to the preceding species, but more variable, the hindwing beneath more polaris. 

 variegated, the black median band of the forewing above heavy, deep black, deeply sinuous proximally. In 

 the marginal area regular rows of submarginal spots. The forewing beneath almost as distinctly marked 

 with black as above, but paler. On the hindwing beneath the ground is marked with mother-of-pearl in the 

 basal area and the narrow band which separates the central from the marginal area bears silvery teeth. — 

 In Norway, Finland, Lapponia, in July and August. 



A. frigga Thnbg. (68e). Above pale reddish yellow, the black markings in the central and marginal frigga. 

 areas very straight, being parallel with the distal margin. The under surface is very characteristic on account 

 of the broad cinnamon margin of the forewing and the but little variegated hindwing, only the paler distal 

 margin of the latter somewhat contrasting with the cinnamon basal area. The median band, like the ground 

 dusted with cinnamon, is but slightly prominent, only an irregularly rhomboidal pale spot before the middle 



