DISTRIBUTION OF THE BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 271 



of greater antiquity than those whose distribution is less 

 extensive. Species, therefore, which are inhabitants of both the 

 old and new worlds may justly be considered to be of greater 

 antiquity than species which are confined to Europe. It is pro- 

 bable, in fact, that the less wide the distribution, the younger 

 the species, unless we have direct or indirect evidence to show 

 that it is a species which is dying out, and which situated in some 

 happy spot, where the struggle for existence is less intense, leads 

 a peaceful and undisturbed life. Such a spot may be found in 

 some of the oceanic islands, but scarcely in Europe, where only 

 the species best fitted to survive have passed safely through the 

 ups and downs of the eventful Glacial Period. 



To begin with the species of restricted distribution. 



Facile lyrinceps amongst these would be the now extinct 

 Lyccena dispar, whicii seems to have been confined to England, 

 though its var. Rutilus inhabits Central and East Europe and 

 North and West Asia. 



Next in order come Sibylla, Epijjhroii, Galathea, Typlion, 

 Lucina, and Corydon, all of which seem to be confined to Europe 

 proper, and in most cases to Central Europe, none of them 

 except Typhon (which is arctic) ranging very far north, though 

 possibly one or two reach Asia Minor. 



The next lot occur in Europe and in North and West (or 

 North or West) Asia, and include Sinapis, Cratcegi, Polychloros, 

 Cinxia, Adippe, Iris, Semele, Mthiops, Megcera, Hyperanthus, 

 Avion, Minima, Betidce, Quercus, Pruni, W-alhnm, Tages, and 

 Palcemon. 



The thirty-nine species which remain have a wider range. 



Of these at least seven — Machaon, Hyale, Edusa, Lathonia, 

 Icarus, Astrarche, and Phlceas — reach the Himalaya, and two 

 others, Brassicce and Argiolus, have representative forms there. 

 Three at least reach Japan, namely, Hyale, Edusa, and lo. 



A rather large number occur on the south side of the 

 Mediterranean, and are recorded from North Africa, viz., 

 Machaon, Daplidice, Rapes, BrassiccB, Hyale, Edusa, Rhamni, 

 Atalanta, Antiopa, Aurinia, Lathonia, Mgeria, Janira, Pampkilus, 

 Argiolus, Bellargiis, Icarus, Astrarche, Phlceas, Rubi, Actteon, and 

 Thaumas. 



One — Hyale — occurs in South Africa, where Edusa is repre- 

 sented by the closely allied species Electra. 



