108 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



SOME BEITISH FORMS OF MELIT.EA AUKINIA. 



By Percy E. Freke, F.E.S. 



(Concluded from p. 89.) 



Var. artemis (Fab.). — In this form the whole of the ground 

 colour is from pale fulvous to brownish fulvous, with the excep- 

 tion of the outer row of (semilunar) spots on the hind wings, 

 which are lighter. The dark markings which form the boundary 

 lines, reticulations, and base of the wing, are scarcely so much 

 developed perhaps as in the type, certainly not more so. The 

 chief variation of the pure form seems to be in the more brown 

 or red tint of the fulvous, although (except in East Kent) varia- 

 tion towards the colouring of the type is common, first showing 

 in an ochreous tendency of the first band of the fore wings, from 

 which every graduation up to the type {aurinia) may be found. 



In its most pronounced form I believe this variety occurs in 

 eastern England (Kent), south-west England, and South Wales, 

 especially the first, where I have found it less inclined to vary 

 from its local type than those from other localities. I have, 

 however, no specimens from northern England, Scotland, or 

 Ireland that I could refer to it. 



Var. prcBclara, Kane. — Mr. Kane, in treating of this species 

 ('Entomologist,' 1893), describes this variety as having "the 

 red and central pale series very vivid in colour, and the black 

 reticulations darker than the type. Ground colour black, 

 strongly and broadly marked, defining the colour blotches 

 sharply, but not reducing them in colour or size. These are of 

 a brilliant terra cotta tint, but the central transverse series 

 (double on the fore wing) are of bright straw colour." 



In comparison with the type, the most striking characters 

 of the variety are, that the ochreous colouring is now a pale 

 straw colour, which contrasts very strongly with the blacker tone 

 of the dark markings. The fulvous red is also perhaps somewhat 

 brighter. This is the prevalent form in Ireland. All my Irish 

 specimens, from several localities, are, with very few exceptions, 

 more or less stamped with the characters of this form. One or 

 two individuals from Kildare alone could be said to be really of 

 the aurinia type. The highest development of this variety 

 which I have are from Westmeath, many of them being 

 extremely strong contrasts of bkck and whitish-straw colour, 

 even the space between the costal margin and the costal nervure 

 being sometimes very light. 



Mr. Tutt, in his * British Butterflies,' says, " We have 

 specimens labelled Delamere Forest." I have never myself 

 seen any English specimens that could be referred to this form. 

 Its variation seems to be towards the type on one side and 

 towards var. scotica on the other. It is the direct opposite of 



