424 ARGYNNIS. By Dr. Th. Lehmann. 



iarquinius. slightly silvered. Expanse: 1,4 — 1,5". — tarquinius Curt, refers to specimens from British Colombia and far- 

 ther north, differing but little from the main form in their smaller size. 



polaris. A. polaris Bsd. (87 f, Vol. I, pi. 71 e) resembles the preceding species, but is more variable. Upper 



surface dull fulvous, the markings on the inner half of both wings broadly diffuse, almost obscured by the dark 

 shading of the basal area. The median area defined outwardly by an irregular heavy undulate band. The sub- 

 mart^inal row of spots regular and very distinct; the marginal border marked by black spots at the end 

 of the veins separated by streaks of the light ground-colour. On the under surface the forewings are rather 

 paler fulvous, with the markings almost as distinct as above; the marginal area with a series of yellowish- 

 white streaks placed vertically to the termcn. Hindwing deep ferruginous, the bands and spots whitish, 

 with a faint nacreous lustre in the basal half, standing out clearly from the ground, polaris which also oc- 

 curs in Europe, goes among all Argynnis farthest north. In America we find it from Labrador to Greenland 

 (to 81" 52' N. Lat.), in Alaska about to Latitude 70", whereas in Europe Latitude 71 is its northern limit. The 

 Greenland form of which a number of specimens was collected by the second Norwegian Arctic Expedition 

 amerieana. of the "Frani" (1898 — 1902) on Ellesmere Land, in June and July, described as v. americana Strand, varies 

 considerably in size (from 1,4 — 1,8"). From the Lapland form it differs, according to its author, on the under 

 surface of the hindwings by the following characteristics: Norwegian specimens have in the median band the 

 white spot in cell 7 more deeply notched on the inside and produced to two sharper points; in the terminal 

 area the pale dash on rib 4 generally is more distinct, and the hindmost of the white basal spots (in cell 1 c) 

 is longer and sharply pointed outwardly, whereas in Greenland specimens it appears bluntly rounded or cut 

 off straight across. Finally the pale streak in the outer interspace seems more distinct in the EuroiJean form. 

 Specimens received by Prof. Seitz from north-eastern Alaska (69" 40' N. Lat.) do not differ appreciably from 

 the Palaearctic form. 



irigga. A. frigga Thunhg. (Vol. I, pi. 68 c) rather closely resembles polaris above. Pale fulvous, the marldngs 



heavy, rather diffuse ; the black marginal lunules are confluent, forming a narrow, diffuse band, parallel with 

 which is a row of submarginal spots. ForeA^ings at the base and the hindA\"ings on the inner t\\ o thirds heavily 

 shaded with fuscous. Under surface characterized by the broadly cinnamon-brown apex and termen of the fore- 

 wings which are otherwse pale fulvous, spotted with yellow at the apex of the cell. Hindwings cinnamon-or 

 rusty-brown, the outer third laved with purplish-grey, especially at the outer angle; the median band dusted 

 with brown, frequently only indicated by a few darkish, irregular spots standing out more or less prominently 

 from the ground-colour. On the costa near the base a large, very conspicuous whitish rhombic spot. 

 $ but slightly different from <^ in that the spots on the under surface of the hindwings are lighter and more 

 sharply defined. Expanse: 1,6 — ^2,0". jrigga xa, like the two preceding siDecies, a circumpolar, rather variable 

 species, occurring as well in Europe (Finland) and Siberia as far as Nova j a Semi j a as in Boreal America, advanc- 

 ing in the western Hemisphere southward about to Lat. 40° (in Colorado). Several varieties have been descri- 

 saga. bed: saga Stgr., the most southern form, extending from Colorado where it is rather scarce, to Lat. 63°, and from 

 the Rocky Mountains eastward to Labrador. It differs from the main form in having the pale whitish or yellow- 

 ish portions of the underside of the hindwings partially obscured, the large spot at the costa excepted Avhich 

 improba. remains white even in the still darker var. improba. — improba Btlr. is a much smaller, purely arctic form, 

 found in America and in the farthest North of Siberia (M.\rkham), advancing both in the Eeast and West of the 

 American Continent to 68" N. Lat. (Richardson). From the main form it deviates in having the ground- 

 colour much darker, the markings more diffuse, the median band brighter yellowish, dusted with reddish-brown, 

 and the costal spot on the under surface of the hindwings faintly tinged with bluisli. A 9 from Baffins- 

 land, in the Tring Museum, oidy measures 1,4"; — another $ received by Prof. Seitz from north-eastern 

 alaskensvs. Alaska (69" 40' N. Lat., 141" W. Long.) = fa. alaskensis fa. nov. (87 c) is distinguished by its larger size (2,0"), 

 and the much lighter, pale yellowish-fulvous colouring especially of the forewings; the latter have the median 

 band broad, somewhat diffuse, but the base but slightly obscured and the postdiscal row of dots relatively 

 insignificant. On the other hand the hindwings have the inner t\\o thirds almost wholly deep grey-fuscous, 

 with the exception of 3 small transcellular spots of the ground-colour, but the markings of the outer margin 

 rather feeble. The under surface is on the whole somewhat paler than in the allied forms, the markings of the 

 hindwings are more sharply defined, the pale median band of spots lik'^wise distinct, dusted with reddish- 

 brown, very much as in saga, and margined distaUy by a broad, unconnnonly dark band of cinnamon-brown 

 colour. Otherwise the underside does not differ from that of normal specimens. 



hellona. A. btWotia F. (87 f) is, in contradistinction to the last-mentioned forms, a purely American species. 



The forewings have the termen angled and bluntly produced under the apex. Upper surface fulvous, the black 

 markings of the basal half more or less confluent, in the outer half less developed. Under surface of forewings 

 pale fulvous, shaded with purplish-brown at the apex and on the termen. Hindwings rusty-brown, the basal half 



