853 



and six light bars running from fore- to hindmargin in unvarying 

 width. At the same time it may be observed that the six dark 

 bars of proserpina correspond to the seven brown areas of caja, 

 and that the condition in Uchenigera, where seven light and seven 

 dark bars occur (those near the outer margin being incomplete) 

 leads to the supposition that in proserpina and caja the most proxi- 

 mal light bar, i. e. the one near the wing-root is absent. 



Let us apply to the study of the pattern on the upper side of 

 the forewings 'm^Arctia caja the usual methods of investigation, scil. : 



1. Comparison of the condition of the colour-markings in ditfeient 

 specimens, especially in varieties and aberrations. 



2. Comparison with the pattern of the underside. 



3. ,, ,, ,, ,, on upper- and underside of the 



hindwing. 



4. ,, ,, ,, ,, of other Arctiids. 



5. ,, ,, ,, ,, of allied families. 



These all of them lead to the same conclusion Smolian came to, 

 scil : that the basis of this pattern are seven transverse dark bars, 

 but at the same time clear indications are seen, that these bars 

 owe their origin to the, coalescence of spots, instead of having 

 secondarily dissolved into series of spots, as was Smolian's view. 



Equally convincing are the proofs that originally the patterns 

 on fore- and hind wings, as well as on upper- and underside, were 

 identical ; the strong contrast in this regard existing between .the 

 two wingpairs, especially at the superior surface, therefore being a 

 consequence of secondary modification. In the same way the study 

 of the underside clearly proves, that although the original similarity, 

 both in pattern and in hues, between fore- and hindwing, has better 

 maintained itself than on the upper surface, yet its colour-markings 

 have suffered a reduction, which in many cases has only left 

 the discoidal spot, sometimes accompanied by a few markings at 

 the front- and outer margins. With respect to this existence of 

 special wing-areas, in which the darker pigment accumulates by 

 preference, and maintains itself to the very last, the Arctiids behave 

 in correspondence to general rules, which can be laid down for all 

 Heterocera, may be even for all Lepidoptera and other winged 

 Insect-classes. 



According to my view the arguments, leading to the above named 

 conclusion, can only be discussed with the aid of numerous coloured 

 illustrations and detailed descriptions, but this seems to me rather 

 unnecessary, it being sufficient to point to such forms as Rhyparia 

 purpurata, in which the upper surface of the forewings has preserved 



