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XXII. A revision of the fienus Argynnis. By Henry J. 

 Elwes, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



[Read September 4th, 1889.] 



The genus Argynnis is one that I should consider as 

 highly typical of the palsearctic region, in every part of 

 which it is found ; and usually as a genus dominant 

 hoth in number of species and individuals. Though 

 not quite strictly confined to the region, yet there are 

 good reasons for considering the little group which occurs 

 in Chili as aberrant, and only two species inhabit tropical 

 regions. In the Old World the only subregions which seem 

 deficient in Argynnides are the Mediterraneo-Persic and 

 the Mongolian, whilst in North America the distribution 

 of the genus is confined to those parts which have a 

 severe winter climate, and it is in consequence absent in 

 the Gulf States and Texas, and scarce in the more arid 

 regions of New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. 



The difficulties in this genus are not so great as in 

 Colias and Erehia, except in the species inhabiting the 

 Eocky Mountain and Pacific States of North America, 

 which run into each other in a most extraordinary manner. 

 Most of the European species, though closely allied to 

 each other, are very fairly distinct, and I have only 

 marked one species out of America as doubtful. 



I regret to have to differ so often from Mr. W. H. 

 Edwards, who has done so much to make the butterflies 

 of his country known to science ; but though his later 

 views, as expressed in such papers as he has written on 

 Pieris najn and its vars., ' Papilio,' vol. i., p. 86, and 

 on Lyccsna pseud-an/iolus, give evidence of a correct 

 appreciation of the variation of species, he has in his 

 earlier years created a great number of synonyms which 

 I am sure he will one day regret. 



I intended to have published this paper some years 

 ago, but was stopped by the difficulty of understanding 

 the American species. But having last year had the 



TRANS, ENT. SOC. LOND. 1880. PATIT IV. (dEC.) 2 P 



