272 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



Nemeophila Flantaginis, L., variations. 



Ab. HO SPIT A Schif. 



(Plate IX, fig. 'ii.) 



Ab. GEOMETKICA, Grotf. 



(Plate IX, fig. 3 S.) 



Of all species comprised in the genera of tlie Arctiidce, none present, 

 perhaps, variations to the extent exhibited by the present, either in the 

 old or new world. In the ordinary form the primaries are black, with 

 very pale yellowish marks, the secondaries yellow, of a deeper tint, with 

 black marginal, sub-marginal, and basal marks. It was redescnbed by 

 G. and R. in 187/J under the name of Cichorii* from a Californian exam- 

 ple. Their type I have examined— it and another Californian form nearly 

 like ab. Matronalis, which they also described as new, naming it C'aes- 

 ]jitis,\ are undoubtedly only Plantaginis. Of Cichorii, the authors 

 founded its distinctness mainly on the fact of its having totally black 

 fringes to the wings. In direct refutation of such an assumption is the 

 fact that five European examples now before me have all fringes en- 

 tirely black ; another has them partly black and partly yellow. 



Another form has the ground of the wings white. This is the ab. 

 Hospita, Schif., figured on the accompanying Plate IX, from one of a 

 number of examples taken by Mr. Th. Mead in Colorado some years 

 since ; these agree with the examples of the white abberration from 

 Europe in every respect ; I can find no difference. To this form is also 

 allied the Petrosat of Walker. 



In juxtaposition to these albinous examples are a number of melanos, 

 also from Colorado, in which' the primaries are black, with some white 

 bars or spots, and tlie secondaries entirely black, witli or without a small 

 white spot not very far from the anal angle. This form was first de- 

 scribed by Grote as a Zygcenid.l and placed in a new genus [Eupsychoma), 

 which he created for its reception. 



But there can be no doubt that all these Colorado forms are but varia- 

 tions of the one very variable species Plantaginis. I have seen interme- 

 diate examples of all those above alluded to from both continents The 

 most extreme of the black examples are American (from Colorado). I 

 have seen none from Europe with such totally black secondaries, though 

 some come very near. Of the $ form, with red hind wings, I have seen 

 no American examples, though I have little doubt but that they will in 

 time be found to occur here. The variation in color in different exam- 

 ples of the same species in the Arctiidce is beyond all precedent, and in 

 some instances, as in those above alluded to, as well as others I am about 

 to mention, has led to the describing of many of these varieties as dis- 

 tinct species. The three different forms, with their endless variations, 

 comprised in Stretch's genus Leptarctia, i. e. L. Lena and Decia, Bdl., and 



*Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, I, p. 338, t. vi (1S08). 



fTrans. Am. Ent. Soc , I, p. 337, t vi (1868). 



tCat. B. M., Ill, p. H26 (185.5). 



'i,Eupsychonia Geoinetrica, Grote. Proc. Ent. Soc, Phil., IV, p. 318/t. II (1865). 



