THE ATHALIA GROUP OF THE GENUS MELITA. 57 
for a paper by Capper in the ‘ Tijdschrift voor Kntomologie,’ 
vol. xii. pl. ii. fig. 8, the upper side of which is definitely nava- 
rina, but the under side is nearly normal, except that the elbowed 
line is again represented by a series of black dashes. Fig. 4 on 
the same plate represents a transitional female, showing on the 
upper side two rows of fulvous spots on the fore wing, and part 
of a third row on the hind wing. The under side is like that of 
the male, except that the black dashes representing the elbowed 
line are shorter. 
ab. aphea, Hubner, ‘Sammlung,’ vol.i. pl. 147, figs. 738, 739, 
probably represents an aberrant form of this species, but in the 
absence of date and locality it is impossible to speak with con- 
fidence. Most authors have, however, accepted it as such with- 
out question. The following is a description :— 
Un. s. f. w.: Outer subterminal coalescing with border; inner 
subterminal very fine ; elbowed line very broad, almost reaching the 
inner subterminal; the basal suffusion forms two large. black spots, 
one above the median nervure reaching to the inner basal line, and 
another below it joining the marginal blotch ; beyond the outer basal 
line is a black blotch followed by yet another surrounded by a thin 
line of the ground colour, which expands into a bar towards the inner 
margin. 
Up. s. h. w.: Has a broad black border, followed by a narrow 
lunular line of the ground colour, edged with an equally narrow 
lunular line of black representing the outer line; the basal suffusion 
extends to the inner line, but shows just within the latter a row 
and part of a second row of very small spots of the ground colour ; 
the light basal spot is prolonged into a scimitar-shaped curve up to 
the costa. 
Un. s. f. w.: Has black Iunules almost filling the usual terminal 
lunules, whose arrangement rather suggests parthenie. This peculi- 
arity is exaggerated on the hind wing. The elbowed line is repre- 
sented by large elongated spots, and the basal band of the hind wing 
is completely invaded by the dark inner band; otherwise the under 
side is fairly normal. 
This must not be confounded with Freyer’s aphea, ‘ Neuere 
Beitrage,’ vii. p. 169, pl. 696, fig. 1 (1858), which appears to be 
a form of parthenie which one meets with occasionally in the 
Rhone Valley, and doubtless elsewhere. Its sole distinction, 
which, however, produces a very remarkable facies, is the great 
breadth of the elbowed line, and the unusual size of the marginal 
blotch on the upper side. 
This form brings us by a natural sequence, though somewhat 
out of chronological order, to the corresponding form of athalia, 
var. mehadiensis, Gerhardt, ‘ Berliner Entomologischer Zeit- 
schrift,’ vol. xxvi. p. 126 (1882). Itis described as follows* :— 
* A very beautiful aberration of athalia, striking in consequence of its 
pronounced markings; from Viertlau, Mehadia (Hungary) ; rather larger 
than ordinary athalia ; the black band crossing the middle of the fore wing 
