138 NYMPHALIDyE. NYMPIIALIN/E. ARGYNNIS. 



silver spots below divided by the internal nervure. A small round silver spot towards the 

 base of the first median interspace, a discal series of three silver spots increasing from 

 the first median to the submedian interspace, a twice curved discal series of small dark 

 spots with silver pupils and outer fulvous ring, a very prominent marginal series of sub- 

 trianfjular spots, of whicti the first, fourth and seventh are smallest, the intermediate pairs 

 of spots about twice the size. Cilia pale fulvous. The margin bears two fine dark ferruginous 

 lines, and all the silver spots are more or less defined with black. Female similarly marked, 

 but the dark basal ground-colour of the uppei^side distinctly greenish. 



"Moore seems to have followed Gray, who followed Doubleday, in separating the 

 Himalayan form from the European one [under the name of A. isiven], I cannot find that any 

 description of it has been published ; and I agree with Kollar in saying that it is identical 

 with A. latkonia, though a large series of specimens seem somewhat larger and darker than a 

 series from various parts of Europe." (^Elwes, I.e.) There are slight differences in the markings 

 of the hindwing on the underside, European specimens being more uniform, but in my opinion 

 these differences are not sufficient to constitute a separate species, especially as it is not 

 known if they are confined to Himalayan specimens. 



This is one of the commonest Himalayan species of Arq-ynnis, occurring in Simla almost 

 throughout the year. It occurs as far west as Kashmir, thence eastwards to Sikkim, where, 

 however, it occurs plentifully in native territory only, but has occasionally been taken in the 

 station of Darjiling. Colonel Lang writes of it: "Very abundant in the North- West 

 Himalayas, 5, coo to 8,000 feet. At all seasons of the year, even in winter, when snow lies 

 deep on sheltered slopes, this insect may be seen on open sunny sites." 



430- Argynnis ^emiaata, Butler. 



A. gcmmcUa, Butler, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., fifth series, vol. vii, p. 32, n. i, pi. iv, fig. i {i53i) ; 

 id., Elwss, 1. c, p. 467 ; idem, id., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1882, p. 404, pi. xxv, figs. 6, male ; 7, female. 



Habitat : Eastern Himalayas. 



Expanse : i -45 to i -93 inches. 



Description : Upperside " fulvous, with the body and basal third of the wings shining 

 coppery brown ; wings with three transverse series of black spots, the first bi-angulated in 

 zig-zag fashion on the foreiuing, and simply angulated on the hindiving ; this series is placed 

 just beyond the middle of the wings ; the second and third series united at their costal 

 extremities near the apex [of foreiaiitg^ ; a nearly marginal interrupted black line. Forcwing 

 with thick black discoidal markings, much as in A. cashjnirensis l = A. /\'n/o/n]; a subcostal, 

 ill-defined, blackish, triangular spot between the first and second series. Underside, foreivitig 

 paler than above, with smaller black spots, the basal area not brown, but uniform with the rest 

 of the ground-colour, the costa ochreous towards the apex, and the outer margin and cilia 

 spotted with the same colour ; an oblique apical chestnut-red stripe, margined internally 

 by a conspicuous spot and a minute dot of silver, and bounded externally by an abbreviated 

 submarginal series of six oval silver spots, which decrease in size at both extremities of the 

 series ; the first two visible spots of the second series of the upperside greyish green, 

 Hindiuing somewhat like that of A. niyrina (but altogether brighter and prettier, with the 

 central silver spot more as in A. lathonia), bright ferruginous, varied with patches of ochreous, 

 the basal half occupied by about fifteen silver spots and streaks of various sizes and shapes, 

 the two middle ones united and passing through a post-median arched series of sagittate 

 silver spots ; a marginal series of large triangular spots, abdominal margin and the base of 

 the costal margin silver ; all these markings are slenderly edged with black ; a discal series 

 of dull green rounded spots with silver pupils. Cilia bright ochreous spotted with ferruginous : 

 body htXosM ochraceous." (Duller, 1. c.) A. myrina, Cramer, occurs in North America. 



Until lately /^.^^/////w/^? was considered to be a very rare species. Two examples taken 

 by Major Charlton have been in the British Museum since 1852, which were captured some- 

 where between Nepal and Tliibet ; Dr. Lidderdale has also recently obtained a specimen. 

 Its habitat is probably restricted to the higher elevations. 



