ARGYNNI8. By Dr. Th, Lehmakn. 405 



charactei'istics seem subject to variation, \\p here refrain from separating the BrottJiii, but rather subordinate 

 them to Argynnis as a special subgroup). 



As already mentioned above, we find in America most Argi/nnis in the northern part of the Continent 

 which has a more or less severe winter-climate; and here it is the mount;i.inous AA'est which has produced 

 by far the grea.ter number of species. It is just tliese western species that, on account of their frequently 

 very close similarity, offer great difficulties. Regarding this Streaker writes (Catal. p. IIS): ""The Argynnis 

 of the western mountains and Pacific slope are, besides the ('olias. undoubtedly aniong all the daj--butter- 

 flies of North America the most difficult to determine, being in the most extraordinary manner subject to 

 variation. Thus the species nionficola Behr and zerene Bsd. which had been regarded by Boisdlta'al as identical, 

 form such endless varieties that it seems impossible to determine to which they belong". Sctdder who tried to 

 distinguish the closely allied species by means of tJieir sexual organs, had to give it up, finding neither tliese 

 nor the androconia sufficiently reliable. 



The American Argynnis are butterflies of medium or large size; the coloimng is generally fulvous with 

 more or less distinct, black markings consisting of undulate lines and round or sagittate spots, all of which 

 are as a rule somewhat feebly repeated on the under surface of the forewing. Characteristic of the under sur- 

 face are the silvery spots which are, especia.lly on the hindwings, in nearly all the species more or less di- 

 stinct, although greatly subject to variation, disappearing even completely in some individuals; as a rule 

 they are also found, although to a much lesser extent, on the apex of the forewings, which altogether rather 

 closely agrees with the hindwings, both in colouring and markings. Also the black markings are rather variable, 

 in as much as the spots and bands may replace the fulvous ground-colour to such an extent that the 

 wings appear almost black. Besides such Melanisms there occur also cases of Albinism, in which the black 

 markings of the upper surface appear almost whitish. 



On the whole the sexes do not differ greatly from one another, chiefly in the S6 having the ground- 

 colour of the upper surface more brillant and more broadly fulvous, whereas the $$ have the black markings 

 heavier and the ground-colour paler. But in some specie^ the $$ differ quite considerably from the oo 

 {idalia, leto, nitocris, cybele, diana. nokotnis): indeed in the latter two the typical ground-colour can not at all 

 be distinguished any longer, a phenomenon which, whether justly or wrongly shall not be discussed — has 

 by some authors been explained by Tertiary Mimicry. Aside from these characteristics, the (J^? of the true 

 Argynnids may nearly always be easily told by the tertiary sexual organs consisting of long tufts of hair placed 

 above the subcostal vein on the hindwing. 



'&■ 



Head large, eyes naked, very laj'ge and prominent; palpi distented, heavily clothed with hair, with 

 the exception of the last joint which is very small and pointed. Antennae moderately long, hardly measuring 

 half the length of the costa, with well defined, flattened, pear-shaped clubs. Abdomen not reaching the anal 

 angle. Legs strong, the middle and hind tibiae armed with si^ines. The wings are strong, the hindwings as 

 a rule more or less denticulate. Subcostal five-branched, the third nervule always nearer the fourth than the 

 second. In the Jq the second subcostal nervule coalesces with the subcostal stem for some little distance. 

 The cell of both wings is closed by a fine discocellular which on the forewing invariably joins the median 

 vein beyond the origin of the second median nervule, but on the hindwing precisely at that place. The hind- 

 wing has a well-defined, incurved precostal nervule. 



Of the former stages of the American Argynnis we have but an imj)erfect knowledge. The eggs 

 are conoidal, truncated, slightly depressed at the apex, rounded at the base ; ornamented on the sides by straight 

 or slightly undulate, raised ridges connected with each other by smaller raised cross-ridges. 



The caterpillar is cylindrical, stout and short, covered at the back with 4 roM's of moderately long 

 fleshy spines, and with oire row on each side ; those on the first segment generally somewhat longer than the 

 rest; the sides of the venter covered with fine tubercles. In colour they are mostly black or brown, more 

 or less spotted with red or yellow. All of the American species, so far as known, feed on violets only at night, 

 holding themselves concealed in day-time. They hibernate when young, sometimes even before the first moult, 

 feeding up in early spring, pupating after completing 5 moults. Pupa angular, with several rows of short, 

 pointed projections; thorax strongly prominent, deeply incised behijid. Head occasionally armed with blunt 

 horns, otherwise more rounded. 



Many species are, whereever they occur, rather common; preferring meadows bordered by woods, clea- 

 rings in the forest, and grassy, flower-covered slopes. Their flight is rapid, whirring, that of some of the larger 

 species floating. They visit flowers of all kinds, in preference the blossoms of thistles. Rubus, Asclepiadeae 

 etc.; most of them are not difficult to capture, especially in the earlier morning hours, becoming much more 

 shy in the hotter afternoon. 



