40 



VARIATIONS IN THE COLOR OF 

 LEPIDOPTERA. 



BY 



J. JENNER WEIR, Esq., F.L S., F.Z.S., 



22kd NOVEMBER, 18S2. 



In no order of insects has so much importance been attached 

 by entomologists to the mere coloring of the species as in the 

 Lepidoptera. 



The reason of this is not far to seek, for the wings of Butter- 

 flies and Moths are as a rule larger in proportion to the size of 

 the body than is the case in any other order of insects, and further 

 the markings of the great majority are singularly invariable speci- 

 fically, and the same character of markings obtains often over the 

 whole of the genus and even family to which the species belongs. 



Many of the species of butterflies are so coiistant in their 

 markings and coloration that a variety or even slight aberration 

 is rarely to be found. The common peacock butterfly, Vamssa 

 lo, is remarkably invariable in color and markings ; thousands 

 might be taken before the most trifling deviation from the normal 

 type could be found. This is true also of the Red Admiral, Pyra- 

 meis Atalanta, the Painted Lady, Pyiameis Cardui, and numerous 

 other species. 



On the other hand, particularly amongst the motlis, some 

 species are so truly polymorphic that it would be difficult to decide 

 which coloration was the typical or normal one, scarcely two speci- 

 mens being found to be absolutely similar. 



Two of the CidaricB, for instance, viz., C. russata, and G. 

 immanata, are veiy unstable in their colors, and Peronea cristana 

 has even a wider range of variation. 



Within the limits of the word variety, as used amongst 

 lepidopterists, several widely different conditions of variations of 

 color are embraced, and it is the object of this paper to classify 

 these conditions, and to give greater precision to the use of the 

 word. 



Variations in the color of lepidoptera either from the nonnal 

 type, or in the case of polymorphic species, from each other, may 

 be placed under at least twelve different classes, and this diagi-am 



