forms of Jajmnese Butterflies. 491 



high up in the Asamayama district, hamigera being con- 

 fined to the foot of the range. 



Polyommatus Phlmis. — This insect is very strongly 

 affected by temperature ; the first brood, which appears 

 in March, is very brightly coloured ; the latter summer 

 broods, in the male, are almost black. 



Lyccena Argiolus. — The late broods are generally larger 

 than the first, which appears very early in the year. 

 The females are in summer especially large and dark ; 

 two forms, however, then appear, one dark, and a much 

 brighter form. 



Lyccena Argia and Japomca are, I believe, identical. 

 Japonica appears late in the autumn, and again in the 

 spring ; it is then replaced by Argia in summer. 



In conclusion I would remark that neither size, shape, 

 nor colour can be relied upon as sufficient guides for 

 specific distinction, and that temperature has a great 

 evolutionary effect in the character of insects, but this 

 has hitherto been greatly obscured owing to the mis- 

 directed zeal of various entomologists who have hastened 

 to describe insects as new species without sufficient in- 

 vestigation. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1882. PART III. (SEPT.) 3 S 



