NOTES ON THE GENUS LYC^NA. 7 



and seventh of the central series unite and form a thick curved 

 bar. The intermediate stages in the development of this variety 

 are, in my opinion, clearly shown in other Ventnor specimens. 

 Thus in four examples the sixth spot of central row and the 

 lower basal spot are elongated ; the internal edge of the former 

 and the external edge of the latter approximating. Representing 

 the next step are specimens in which the sixth central and lower 

 basal spots are united, whilst below them and in close proximity 

 is the seventh spot on one side and an extra basal spot on the 

 other. These two last sometimes coalesce with the compound 

 spot of the second stage, and form the aberration figured ; or 

 they may show a tendency, as exemplified by another specimen, 

 to effect an independent junction below the united basal and 

 sixth central spots. On the hind wings the first spots of the 

 basal and central series are generally well separated, but I have 

 seen specimens of corydon in which they are united. Among the 

 individuals in my collection I have no representative of this 

 aberration, but in one or two examples the spots referred to are 

 contiguous, and in others the initial spot of central row is 

 elongated, as shown in left wing of fig. 4, Plate I. Among some 

 under side varieties of corydon, sent me from Folkestone, are two 

 examples, male and female, in each of which the third basal and 

 two last spots of central series on hind wings are united and 

 form a curved bar. In the arrangement of the other ocelli these 

 specimens are identical. Plate I., fig. 10, represents the female. 



At Ventnor the confluent aberration was more frequently met 

 with than either of the other varietal forms, while at Eastbourne 

 the increscent variety was in the ascendant ; but in the latter 

 locality the dominant varietal form was in greater proportion to 

 the normal type than at Ventnor. At neither place were examples 

 of the obsolete form often obtained beyond the second stage.* 

 Placed by itself such an example as that represented, Plate I., 

 fig. 1, would probably be considered as lusus natune, but when 

 connected by intermediate forms with the normal type there can 

 be no doubt that it is a naturally developed form. If aberrations 

 from a given type were accidental, is it probable that any two 

 individuals, even, would exhibit exactly the same degree of 

 variation ? Or to consider the question in another way : If an 



* That in which both basal ocelli of fore wings are absent. 



