126 Dr. F. A. Dixey on the 'phylogenetic 



by him on the pupal and imagmal wing-patterns of 

 V. urticcB and P. cardui, with the view of gaining some 

 information on the question of their phylogeny. He 

 iinds that the wings in the pupal condition show a 

 colour-pattern which differs in several respects from 

 that finally assumed, and that the costal band and 

 white spots in P. cardui (my C and D) are survivals of 

 this primitive pattern. The series D in P. cardui origi- 

 nally extended as far as the interspace between the 1st 

 and 2nd median nervules (my 8th interspace). He 

 notices the occurrence of a variety of P. cardui possessing 

 a fifth white spot (my D e), and also speaks of a variety 

 of P. atalanta with a small white spot in the middle of 

 the red band, not seeming to be aware that this spot 

 (my D ^) is normally present in the female. Having 

 drawn attention to the corresponding five white spots in 

 V. to, he points out that the under side shows the rest 

 of the primitive pattern as seven white dots in the dark 

 ground colour ; and that the under surface of the hind 

 wing also possesses minute black dots representing spots 

 which have disappeared from the upper surface, unless 

 the ocellus results from the combination of the two 

 anterior of them.* The fore wing in V. polychloros may 

 also show the primitive row of light-coloured spots ; the 

 first two being united into a crescent shape, as in other 

 Vanessas. This crescent, he proceeds (my Da), is the 

 sole relic of the primitive row of spots in V. urticce, 

 G. c-album and V. antiopa ; in the last-named, however, 

 the next spot (D (3) takes part in the crescent as well. 

 The series is also present in A. levana and prorsa 

 {op. cit., pp. 238 — 240). The author points out that 

 the development of the wing-pattern in V. urticce con- 

 tirms the conclusions derived from the same in P. cardui 

 and from the imaginal forms cited. He describes the 

 primitive pattern in the pupa of V. urticce as possessing 



" V. Bemmelen does not clearly distinguish between series III. 

 and IV., and I am not certain as to the identification of his dots 

 on the under surface of the hind wing. Of the two series, IV. is 

 by far the more easily recognisable on the under siu'face of the 

 hind wing in V. io, being represented by large crescent-shaped 

 spots, some of which may even have blue scales in their centres. 

 As I have shown above (p. 113), the ocellus of the hind wing 

 includes three not hvo members of series III., and the fourth is 

 represented by a rudiment (tig. 85, III. 18), of which V. Bemmelen 

 makes no mention. 



