rOLYOMMATUS GORDIUS IN DEVONSHIHt:. 173 



the generative organs, the peculiar structure of which is now 

 found to he of great importance in the determination of nearly 

 allied species among various insects, but which it is very difficult 

 to describe without the aid of figures. Two thick blunt processes, 

 which project forwards, are placed between the roots of the 

 forceps, each of which has a small rounded eminence on its 

 extremity. Beneath and behind these, occupying a central 

 position, is an elongated tapering organ extending nearly to the 

 joints of the claws of the claspers, which is flanked on each side 

 by a flattened hairy process with a dilated extremity. These 

 organs are of a pink colour. 



The legs are rather paler than those of the female ; the fore 

 coxse are pink. 



The wings are proportionably longer tlian in the female, and 

 less nigrescent. Mr. Inchbald tells me that when they are first 

 expanded, " a ruddy tinge is observable throughout the wing." 

 This is less conspicuous in the female. 



K. H. Meade. 



1, Mount Eoyd, Bradford, June 15, 1887. 



REPORTED OCCURRENCE OF POLYOMMATUS GORDIUS 

 IN DEVONSHIRE. 



Mr. F. G. Johnson, a pupil at the Rev. T. Cross's, The Old 

 House, Blundells School, Tiverton, Devonshire, writes under date 

 of May 25th : — " I caught at Tiverton, in July last year (1886), a 

 copper butterfly, which has since been examined at the Natural 

 History Museum, and is pronounced to be the variet}^ hipponoce 

 of Pohjommatus gordius.'" 



Dr. Ijang, in ' Butterflies of Europe,' plate xxi., fig. 2, portrays 

 male and female of the typical gordius, which is a very conspicuous 

 insect, expanding from I'lG to 1'40 in. The habitat is given, 

 "Valleys in Switzerland and the Tyrol, South-Western Europe, 

 and Sicily." He does not mention this variety. 



Upon enquiry we are informed that Mr. Johnson is beyond 

 doubt as to bond fides. It would nevertheless be most desirable 

 to try to find other specimens before accepting this butterfly as a 

 British species. 



John T. Carrixgton. 

 Westminster, S.W., .June 15, 1887. 



