426 ARGYNNIS. By Dr. Th. Lehmann. 



and only for a moment, it is scared by the least disturbance, and even the most careful approach of the 

 collector seems sufficient to drive it to precipitate flight, astarte seems to occupy among the American Argyn- 

 nis a rather isolated position, having no closer affuiities except with A. umphilochus, elatus, erda of the Amur 

 Region (cf. Vol. 1, p. 2.S3). It is a most constant species which varies neither individually nor sexually to 

 any extent. 



youngi. A. youngi Holl. $ above pale fulvous; the basal area of the forewings as far as the middle of the 



cell, that of the hindwmgs to its apex and to the tornus dusky greyish-brown. On the forewings the space 

 between the spot in the middle of the cell and the K-shaped spot at its end, as well as the space surroun- 

 dmg the submarginal row of spots uncommonly pale, nearly white. Hindwing with broadly black median band 

 which near the origin of the second median nervule gradually shades into the deep blackish-fuscous basal colour. 

 Beyond the apex of the cell, between the median band and the dark basal area two strongly faded quadrate 

 spots. Fringe white, on the veins fidvous. Under surface of the forewings uniformly pale fulvous witli 

 the markings rather slight. Hiiidwings in the inner half reddish ochreous. the median band only indicated 

 by a faint pale streak: every spot margined by a delicate reddish line. From the origin of the 3. me- 

 dian nervule to the inner margin behind the median band a browii shade. Outer half very pale ochreous, 

 almost whitish, with the discal and submarginal I'ows of spots lint faintly indicated. Along the costa a 

 regular fme silvery line. None of the spots are silvered, only the upper one in the median band, which is 

 shaped like an hour-glass, is sligthly silvered where it touches the silvery line. Abdomen and antennae 

 blackish above, reddish underneath, legs evenly fulvous. Expanse: 1,2". Only 1 9 known, which was cap- 

 tured by Young in north-eastern Alaska between Forty Mile and Mission Creeks. 



The now following species belong to a rather isolated group of South American Argynnis, which, 

 being entirely separated from their allies hi North America, are confined to the temperate regioji of Western 

 South America. Great uncertainly prevails as yet as to the synonymy of the forms belonging here; and it 

 is probable that the greater number of the species established by Boisdxjval, Reed, Blanchard e. a., 

 may be synonymous or varieties of one and the same species. 



cytheris. A. cytheris Drury (= cytheris Reed, siga Hbn., lathonioides Blanch., dexamene Bsd.) (87 f). A most 



variable species rangmg from Fireland to Northern Chile, and distinguished by the most highly developed 

 sexual Dimorphism, both as to the shape of the wings and to the colouring and markings of the under surface 

 of the hindwings. Therefore it is not to be wondered at that not only the forms which vary in colouring 

 and markuags, but also the different sexes were repeatedly described as separate species. In shape it resembles 

 A. lathonia; the forewings, especially of the ^, are distinctly and bluntly projected below the apex, and 

 both wings are strongly denticulate; this appears less conspicuous in the ,^^, but both sexes are distinguished 

 by having on the hindwings the costal margin strongly concave. The upperside of the (^ varies from dull 

 brown to fiery fulvous, with the basal area but slightly obscured, the black markings of the forewings mode- 

 ratelj' heavy and sharp. Both wings \\\\h two terminal lines, the outer exceedingly fine, the inner one ra- 

 ther strong, broadly confluescent in their ujiper portion. The median band of the hindwings is composed 

 of small, isolated, crescent-shaped streaks, the marginal niarkings mostly greatly reduced. The under surface 

 of the forewings pale cinnamon-red, with the black markings less distmct than above, and, especiall}'- in 

 the apical area, almost obsolete. Apex deep cinnamon-red, only with a very distinct white costal streak. 

 The colouring of the under surface of the hindwings is generally a more or less uniform deep red-or cinnamon- 

 brown, shadmg outwardly into a peculiar brownish-pink and being faintly suffused with yellowish at the 

 anal margin. The black markings of the upper surface are very faintly repeated underneath in the inner 

 half. In the middle of the wing a curved longitudinal streak of whitish or brownish-yellow follows the upper 

 median nervule toward the termen; in addition a small pale yellowi.sh- white cross-bar on the costal margin 

 close to its extremity. The length of the median streak varies greatly, it being not seldom quite short and 

 rudimentary. Some (JcJ from Ushuaia (Fireland) have the under surface of the hindwings much paler, brow- 

 nish-yellow, with a dark postmedian transverse band above which there are two, below 3 obsolete 

 spots obscurely margined with fuscous. These ^^ represent in the less monotonous markings of the under 

 surface a sort of transition to the much more varied underside of the $$. These have the forewings 

 strongly mcurved below the apex, and both wings distinctly denticulate, the basal area very faintly obscu- 

 red with fuscous. Forewings with the markuigs moderately heavy; the median band composed of isolated 

 spots, the postdiscal spots relatively large and very regular, preceded at the costa by a white angular spot. The 

 black terminal lines broadly confluent, joining at the apex the submarginal and postdiscal rows of spots. 

 On the hindwing the markings much slighter, especially in the basal half; the median band bareh' indica- 

 ted by very fine, curved striae. The submarginal spots on both wings are rhombic, distinctly separated from one 

 another and the terminal border. On the under surface the forewings resemble those of the (J, light cin- 

 namon-red, much paler towards the termen, with the black markings rather diffuse, and obsolete in tiie apical 

 area. Apex grey-fuscous, with a white dash on the costa and a clouding of ferruginous which also appears 

 on the outer border at the middle. On the under surface the colour of the hindwing is greatly subject to varia- 



