IN SEARCH OF RUSSIAN BUTTERFLIES. 295 
M. didyma.—Common but somewhat local at Sarepta; most 
abundant on the railway banks, but odd specimens were taken in 
various other places; a remarkably fine and variable series was 
secured. The Russian Steppe form is usually what is known as var. 
neera, and the majority of my specimens come near to this form, but 
there are numerous aberrations from it. All the examples from 
Sarepta are much larger than those taken in Mid-Europe; my largest 
example, a female, expands 60 mm. as against 50 mm., the expanse 
of my largest Mid-European female. In var. neera the colour of the 
male is even more fiery than the type, the females also are very red, 
in one or two examples quite as red as the male. The only specimen 
seen at Novorossisk is a male, very typical in size and markings. 
M. didyma was first seen at Sarepta on May 21st, and it continued 
in good condition until the end of our stay. 
M. trivia—tIn the greatest abundance in clearings in the 
“ Tschapurnik Wald,” and not uncommon in all localities at Sarepta 
in which there was any wood. The specimens are mostly var. 
fascelis; some, however, are typical; the size of all is considerably in 
excess of those I have from Hungary, females ranging up to 50 mm. 
expanse. First seen on May 21st, when it was just commencing to 
emerge. 
Brenthis dia.—-Locally common at Novorossisk. 
B. daphne-—Common locally in woods at Sarepta; the form is 
somewhat larger, and the orange-ground colour deeper than in 
Central European specimens; it comes very near var. epidaphne, 
Frihs. <A larva which got into my net accidentally at the 
“Tschapurnik Wald” proved to be this species. I fed it upon 
Spiraea filipendula, a common plant in the Sarepta woods; this larva 
pupated on June Ist, and the imago emerged on June 15th. The 
following is a short account I made of the larva in the last stage :— 
Down the centre of the dorsal area is a broad white stripe; the sub- 
dorsal area is pale lemon yellow, with longitudinal dark lines, the 
spiracles are black. The pupa is light brown, with two golden 
pointed excrescences on each segment, the venation of the wings 
shows dark through the pupal skin. The pupa suspended itself from 
the top of the cage in which it was kept. 
B. euphrosyne.—I feel pretty certain I saw this species at 
Novorossisk, but could not secure a specimen to make sure. At 
Sarepta it was rare, and, so far as I know, confined to the 
“Tschapurnik Wald,’ and nearly over at the date our visit com- 
menced ; probably it had been common earlier in the season. The 
form is a very striking one, with very pale under sides, and the 
silver markings on the margin of the inferiors are brighter and more 
prominent than in the type; it approaches var. orphanus, Frihs., 
from East Siberia. 
Issoria lathonia.—Novorossisk and Sarepta, not common. 
Argynnis niobe.—A remarkably fine race was abundant in all the 
woods at Sarepta from May 22nd onwards. This form has been 
described and figured by Seitz as var. kuhimanni; it is larger and of 
a much brighter red on the upper surfaces, and more variegated on 
the under sides than Central European A. niobe; the predominant 
form of under side is var. erts, but some of the females have the 
