NOTKS ON Tim GENUS LYC.ENA. 51 



quite convey a correct idea of the remarkable colour of this 

 specimen. From its under-side markings and the ill-defined 

 broad border on upper surface, I should say that it is a variety 

 of corydon. A female example from the same locality has 

 discoidal spots set in pale rings on all the wings, and is in other 

 respects identical with certain Ventnor specimens. It is seen, 

 then, that although typical male corydon are easily separated 

 from normal male hellargus, varieties of the one are not so 

 readily distinguished from varieties of the other. The females, 

 however, do not appear to vary to the same extent as their 

 consorts ; but even in our dealings with normal forms, female 

 corydon are not always clearly separable from female hellargus. 



As regards the larva of corydon, its distinctness from that of 

 hellargus is not well defined. There are several descriptions of 

 the larva of both species available, but Mr. Hellins' differential 

 synopsis is perhaps the most convenient for reference. Whilst 

 engaged in observing and describing the various stages of 

 hellargus larvae, Mr. Hellins had some plants of Iliiypocrepis 

 comosa sent him from Hampshire, upon one of which he found 

 (June 8th) a half-grown larva, which subsequently passed into 

 pupa, and on the 13th of July produced a specimen of corydon. 

 Mr. Buckler, who figured this larva and that of hellargus, and 

 Mr. Hellins, who described the latter and critically compared it 

 with the former, were unable to find any material difference 

 between them. The only points of difference were tint of ground 

 and colour of hairs. Thus Mr. Hellins says : — " Adonis 

 {hellargus) has its ground colour deeper green, with the hairs or 

 bristles black ; while corydon has the ground colour of a lighter 

 brighter green (a green with more yellow in its composition), and 

 the hairs light brown."* 



Distribution. — L. corydon occurs in chalk and limestone 

 districts throughout Central and Southern Europe, also in 

 Western Asia. On the Continent there appears to be two 

 broods annually, but in England, so far as I know, there is but 

 one emergence of the imago each year, and this, as a rule, occurs 

 a few weeks in advance of the second flight of hellargus. On our 

 South Downs corydon is generally well out, some time between 

 the middle and end of July, and continues on the wing well into 

 August ; but at Ventnor in 1879, and again in 1883, the only 

 * ' Larvtc of British Butterflies and Moths,' vol. i., p. 110. 



