116 Dr. F. A. Dixey on the phylogeiietic 



investigation of this series, nor so far as the Argynnids 

 are concerned does the least doubt arise with reference 

 to the identification of series II., which occurs throughout 

 the group just as universally as series III. and IV., and 

 is traceable through both fore and hind wings with equal 

 certainty * (fig. 37) • 



Nor, again, is there any room for doubt as to the 

 presence of series II. in the hind wing of the genus 

 Pyrameis ; a comparison of Pyrameis cardui, huntera, 

 or myrinna, with any Argynnis being conclusive on this 

 point ; though here the tendency towards fusion of the 

 spots into a band is still more strongly marked than in 

 Argynnis. The marginal region of the dark base of the 

 hind wing in F. urtica and V. polychloros similarly 

 results from the fusion of series II. ; and the same 

 feature is readily recognised in V. io, forming the dark 

 crescentic border of the basal portion of the hind wing 

 adjacent to the ocellus. In Argynnis sagana ? , the 

 homologous feature is the dark portion of the hind wing 

 just internal to the broad cream-coloured band ; in all 

 probability corresponding with the similar character in 

 A. iris and ilia, L. sihylla, &c. The presence of the 

 three series, II., III., and IV., in the hind wing in an 

 almost unmodified condition gives this region in P. 

 cardui a great resemblance to the same in the Argynnids 

 (c/. figs. 38, 39). 



But with regard to the remainder of the series in the 

 upper wing, considerable difficulty attends at present 

 any attempt to bring the Vanessa and Argynnid types 

 into harmony with each other ; and though some of the 

 steps in the reasoning that follows will not be disputed, 

 the argument as a whole is somewhat doubtful, and 

 must not be taken for more than it is worth. 



The three black spots in the hinder portion of the fore 

 wing in V. urtic(S are, as we have seen, certainly identical 



"■'= It is observable with regard to series II., as compared with 

 III. aud IV. in the Argynnids, that the spots of whicli it is com- 

 posed (1) take a more zig-zag course across the wing, falHng less 

 easily into a regular series ; (2) are themselves less circumscribed, 

 often occupying the whole vertical space between two adjacent 

 nervules, and thus tending, especially in the hind wmg, to form a 

 sinuous band rather than a chain of spots. In A. diana $ II. is 

 present in its entirety, though not easily distinguishable from the 

 general gi'ound colour. 



