ON THE VARIATION OF ARGYROPHINGA ANTIPODUM. 37 



taken on heathy bogs in one or two localities in Dorset, teste 

 Rev. 0. P. Cambridge (Entom. xx. 396) ; it has also been 

 recorded from Woolmer Forest. The larva appears to be 

 unknown on the Continent, as well as in England; at least I 

 cannot find any published description. 



SOME NOTES UPON THE VARIATION OF 



ARGYROPHINGA ANTIPODUM, Doubleday. 



By W. W. Smith. 



In every country the law of variation operates with greater^ 

 effect among particular groups and on certain species of Lepi- 

 doptera than others; hoiv or why such should obtain has of late 

 years presented a grand subject for original research to entomolo- 

 gists. In New Zealand, variation is constant to a greater or less 

 degree among many species of both Macro- and Micro-Lepidop- 

 tera, and in some species is more marked than others. The 

 case of Argyrophinga antipodum exhibits a striking instance of 

 extreme variation among the few endemic species of New Zealand 

 Rhopalocera. 



For many years past while out collecting, I have been in the 

 habit of netting great numbers of this butterfly, selecting the 

 more marked forms, and liberating the remainder, on the grassy 

 uplands and plains, still clothed in their native tussock grass 

 [Poa austndis). This butterfly in its season is generally numerous, 

 and owing to its slow and somewhat laboured flight is easily 

 captured. Among the specimens I have taken are some remark- 

 able varieties, exhibiting all the phases or stages of variation to 

 which a single species could be subject. Many individuals of 

 both sexes diifer considerably from each other in their ground 

 colouring, the colours of the neuration, and in the number of 

 ocelli. The typical colour of the male is given by Mr. A. G. 

 Butler as " dark greyish brown, paler at base ;" in my specimens 

 every shade of brown is developed, while some are partially 

 melanic forms. Among the females there is also considerable 

 distinction, the general colouring varying from whitish yellow 

 to rich dark orange. In a typical specimen the hind wings are 

 crossed with three small ocelli, the centre one in the male being 

 slightly the largest ; among them are several having a broad 

 blackish band crossing the wing from the inner to the outer 

 margin, and enclosing four distinct ocelli. Others have the three 

 ocelli umch enlarged and coalescent, while a number possess only 

 two or one ocelli, and in one specimen (a male) they are 

 obsolete on all the wings. I lately sent a group of these varied 

 forms to the Welhngtou Museum, where no doubt they can at 

 any time be inspected by entomologists. 



