IN SEARCH OF RUSSIAN BUTTERFLIES. 278 
Everes alcetas.—A large form of this species, expanding about 
33 mm., was not uncommon on the outskirts of the “ Tschapurnik 
Wald,” and also on the railway banks, from May 20th. 
Scolitantides baton—Common at Ialta, less so at Novorossisk, 
and widely distributed at Sarepta; in all cases the examples are the 
type form, without any approach to var. panoptes. 
S. pylaon.—This Eastern species was fairly common on the banks 
and in the cuttings of the railway, but at first I experienced con- 
siderable difficulty in distinguishing it, especially on the wing, from 
the much more abundant Plebeius argyrognomon, with which it flew. 
It had probably been out a week or ten days before we arrived at 
Sarepta; after the first two days it got rare, and the examples 
seen were all more or less defective, although odd ones were picked 
up whenever we collected in its localities until May 27th. In 
the series I obtained there is not any noticeable variation in the 
females, but there is a good deal in the males. S. pylaon was first 
described by Fischer de Waldheim (the female only). Herrich-Schaffer, 
who next dealt with it in ‘Schmetterlinge von EHuropa,’ figures both 
sexes; of the male, fig. 333 illustrates a form without black spots on 
the hind margins of the inferiors, upper side, but with two red 
lunules at the anal angle of each; this form, therefore, which was not 
uncommon at Sarepta, it would appear, in accordance with the law 
of priority, is the type. The other forms obtained include one 
figured by Herrich-Schiiffer (fig. 339), which shows a row of black 
spots on the upper side of the inferiors on the outer margin; this 
form I propose to call ab. nigro-puncta, n. ab. The other form I 
obtained is entirely without black spots or red lunules on the upper 
side of the inferiors, for this I propose the name of ab. zmmacu- 
lata, n. ab. 
Plebeius argyrognomon.—Abundant at Sarepta and in good 
condition at the date of our arrival. An interesting form; the males 
of a deeper blue than the Western specimens which I possess; both 
sexes have the orange bands on the under side very prominent, in 
this respect resembling the Hungarian form; the species continued 
in good condition for several days. 
P. argus (@gon).—The most abundant Lycznid seen at Sarepta— 
swarming everywhere. The first examples which were flying at the 
date of our arrival were small and dull-coloured, but those that 
emerged in June were much larger, with whiter under sides. 
Polyommatus astrarche—Only seen at Novorossisk where I 
captured a few very typical specimens of the southern low level race. 
P, wicarus.—Common everywhere we collected, especially at 
Sarepta. A large form; the females entirely without blue on the 
upper side. I kept a very careful look-out for P. thersiies, without 
success, and I am convinced that this recently recognised species does 
not occur in any locality in which we collected, although its food- 
plant, sainfoin, grows freely at Sarepta. 
P. eroides.—One example, a very fresh male of this beautiful 
species, or form of P. eros, was taken by me on June 12th at the top 
of a cross valley in the hills which are opposite to Sarepta. It was 
a very windy day, and I feel sure that the butterfly had been blown 
ENTOM.—OCTOBER, 1914. Z 
