114 Dr. F. A. Dixey on the phylogenetic 



'Entomologist' (Vol. xxii. (1889) p. 218; and Plate 

 VIII., fig. 8), Mr. South figures and describes a variety 

 of V. io, in which III. 10 and III. 11 remain distinct as 

 simple black blue-centred spots, like the same spots in 

 P. gonerilla, — this again confirming the account of the 

 homology of the ocellus just given. The condition is 

 represented in fig. 36.* Whether other materials enter 

 into the composition of the central area of the ocellus 

 in V. io I do not feel certain, but the appearance of 

 the three blue constituents, especially the doubling of 

 the middle one, would suggest that perhaps the sub- 

 marginal blue-centred band IV. (cf. V. urticce) may have 

 helped in its formation. I am, however, unable to 

 bring forward any facts in support of this suggestion. 



The blue centres to the spots of this series are not 

 confined to the genera Pyrameis and Vanessa, but occur 

 also in the allied genera Grapta and Eurema. In 

 Grapta c-aureum not only are the spots in the hind wing 

 blue-centred, but III. 7 and 8 (the former being rudi- 

 mentary) in the fore wing are blue-centred as well. It 

 will be remembered that this feature enabled us to 

 decide upon the true position of the central black spots 

 in the fore wings of Grapta generally, and so also of 

 V. polychloros and V. urticce. In E. dione, III. 13 and 

 14 have distinct blue centres. 



It appears then, to summarise the foregoing, that the 

 present series (III.) has a history broadly corresponding 

 with that of the previously considered (IV.), existing in 

 its more generalised condition among the Argynnids, 

 and in a form specialised by alteration and partial 

 suppression in the Vanessids. Unlike the blue centres 

 of series IV., which we saw to have a continuous history 

 from the original ground colour of the Argj^nnids, the 

 blue centres of the present series would appear not 

 to be traceable further back than to the common 

 ancestor of Vanessa, Pyrameis, Eurema and Grapta. 

 They represent an added feature. 



5. The dark area between B and C. — On the costa of 

 the fore wing of P. atalanta, internal to the white band 

 which I have called C, and external to the red band the 

 costal termination of which I have marked as B, we find 



* Taken, by kind permission of Mr. South, from the ' Entomo- 

 logist,' loc, cit. 



