204 



XYMI'HALTD.l 



within ten or twelve degrees north of the equator: it is certainly found in the Polynesian Islands; and, although the 

 specimens from Australia offer some constant differences, they can hardly be considered to form a distinct species. 



The specimens from the northern parts of America are precisely like those from the Cape of Good Hope ; those 

 from the Himmalaya range resemble those of Europe in being rather less brightly coloured than the American 

 specimens. This butterfly is rare, in some years, in England, in others it appears in vast numbers. I have never, 

 however, seen it so plentiful in Europe as I have in the United States, especially in Ohio, where I have seen literally 

 tens of thousands on the thistles by the road sides. 



Pyr. Atalanta has a less wide range, but is found throughout Europe and the northern parts of America : but the 

 American specimens always present a slight difference, as pointed out by Mr. Stephens ; the white spot near the costa 

 of the anterior wings always going slightly beyond the second discoidal nervule in the European specimens, but not in 

 the American. This species is replaced in more southern latitudes by Pyr. Callirhoe', which has a range from Teneriffc 

 to China. In New Zealand it is represented by the beautiful Pyr. Gonerilla, and in the Sandwich Islands by the 

 fine species figured. Pyr. Dejeanii supplies its place in Java, as Pyr. Itea does in Australia. 



In the New World, as Pyr. Cardui becomes rare, its place is supplied by Pyr. Huntera, and further south by an 

 allied species, and by Pyr. Carye, which seems to extend to the southernmost parts of the New World. 



I have dwelt particularly on the geographical distribution of this genus, so poor in species, yet so universally 

 distributed, presenting two distinct sections, species of which are known to coexist in almost every part of the world 

 except the southern parts of Africa and America ; never, except in Australia, presenting more than two species in 

 the same district, and those generally of different sections. Thus, Pyr. Cardui has for its compatriot in Europe and 

 North America Pyr. Atalanta ; further south, in the Old World, Pyr. Callirhoe; in Java, Pyr. Dejeanii; in Australia, 

 Pyr. Itea, and an undeseribed species, of which I have only seen the fragment in the collection of the British Museum ; 

 in New Zealand, Pyr. Itea and Pyr. Gonerilla; in the Sandwich Islands, Pyr. Tammeamea. At the Cape of Good 

 Hope and Sierra Leone it seems to be the only species of the genus. As it dies out, if I may use the expression, in 

 the equatorial and southern parts of America, it is replaced first by one species, then by another, and if these species 

 coexist, one is sure to be rare, for this coexistence is only found on the very limits of their respective territories. 



I hope to be excused this repetition of facts. The geographical distribution of species is a most important branch 

 of enquiry in Natural History, as yet too much neglected, and too much in its infancy, for us to venture to draw 

 general conclusions from the facts we possess, for new facts are continually pouring in to disturb or overturn our 

 generalisations. At present we can only carefully collect and register facts, from which, at some future time, to deduce 

 our theories. Let us accurately record facts, but guard carefully against the error of making a theory, and seeking for 

 facts, or semblances of facts, to support it. 



PYRAMEIS. 



Section I. Paronychia distinctly bilaciniate. 



1. Pyr. Atalanta Hiibn. Fere. bek. Schmetl. 33. (181 fi). 



P. At. Linn. Syst. Xai. a. 779. a. 175. (1 ; 

 Fab. Ent. Syst. in. i. IIS. n. 362. (1703). 

 Hiibn. Summl. Europ. Stinnett. P<i]>. t. 75, 76. 

 (1800'). 

 Van. At. Godt. Em: M. ix. 320. n. 54. (1810). 

 Europe generally, N". America from Hudson's Bay 

 to Mexico. B. M. 



2. l'vn. Caiaibhoe Hiibn. Yens. bek. Sehmett. 33. (1816). 



Hamadryas dec. Cal. Hiibn. Samml. Exot. Sehmett. 



(1806-16). 

 P. Atalanta Cram. t. 84. f. E. F. (1775 ). 

 Van. Vulcania Godt. Enc. M. ix. 320. n 



(181()). 

 Teneriffe, Madeira. X. India. 1!. ,\I. 



.'!. l'vn. Tammeamea. 



Van. Tamm. Eschscholta, m Kotzebue, Reise, &c. 



t. 5. f. 8. a. b. ( I 



Pyr. Conklia Doubleday \ Hevntson, '. 25. 1'. 3. 

 (1847). 

 Sandwich Islands. B. M. 



4. Pyr. Gonerilla. 



P. Gon. Fab. Ent. Syst. 1<)8. n. 537. (1775). 

 Fab. Ent. Syst. in. i. 103. n. 317. (1793). 

 Donovan, Ins. of New Holland (1805). 

 Van. Gon. Godt. Em: M. ix. 321. n. 50'. (1819). 

 New Zealand. B. M. 



5. Pyr. Dejeanii. 



Van. Dej. Godt. Enc. M. ix. Suppl. 821. n. 55, 

 56. (1823). 

 Boisd. Sp. Gen. i. t. 10. f. 2. (1836). 

 Java. B. M. 



(). Pyr. Itea. 



P. It. Fab. Ent. Syst. 498. n. 23S. (1775). 

 Fab. Ent. Syst. m. i. 100. n. 318. (17.03). 

 Donovan, Ins. of Neu //■tl/uinl (1S05). 

 Australia, New Zealand. B. M. 



