Erebia lefebvrei and Lycxna 'pyrenaica. SI 5 



At first I thought there was some ground for rcgardiug 

 orhitulus, var. oberthilri, as also a distinct species, but a 

 larger number of specimens showed this not to be so. 

 The round head of the clasp in orhitulas (PI. XII, Arolla 

 specimen) and the more beak-shaped one of ohertJmri (Lac 

 de Gaube specimen, PI. XIII) are the result probably of 

 slightly different orientations of the specimens on the slides, 

 as other specimens show beaked heads in Swiss specimens 

 and round-headed ones for the Pyrenees, 



It is also the case that in a considerable series I find 

 little difference in the wing characters of the imagines, 

 and examples from the Simplon are as large as the largest 

 oberthilri. Simplon 35 "0 mm. Oberihuri 34'0 mm. 



M. Oberthiir has said nearly all there is to say as to the 

 distinctness of ^j//re7irtzca and orbitulus; it is but fair to 

 say that M. Pierret, sixty years ago, was equally definite 

 in correction of M. Boisduval, he said nothing about E. 

 lefebvrei being a good species, because he saw no reason to 

 suppose any one could entertain any other opinion ; and 

 such a question would probably never have arisen but 

 for German objections to French forms being considered 

 good species. 



M. Pierret says orbitulus of the Pyrenees is quite like that 

 of the Alps. M. Oberthiir says they are larger and more 

 robust. Looking at my series of both, I come to the 

 apparently absurd conclusion that both are right. Except 

 the Simplon specimens, M. Oberthiir's dictum is correct. 

 Including these, there is no orbitulus from the Pyrenees 

 that cannot be very fairly matched by one from the Alps. 

 Yet in the mass they look different, apart from size. 

 Again excepting the Simplon specimens, the Alpine form 

 has the base of the wings blue, the margins dark, and the 

 one grades insensibly into the other. The Pyreuasan 

 specimens have the centre of the wings blue, with a broad 

 dark margin tolerably Avell defined generally on the hind- 

 wings, rarely marked on the fore-wings. This refers to 

 the mass of specimens but each group has individuals 

 more or less of the other type. They are then somewhat 

 distinct races, but neither has any specimens that cannot 

 be very nearly matched from the other race. The Simplon 

 race are, however, var. oberthilri quite as much as those 

 from the Pyrenees. It is also the case that the Alpine 

 specimens, besides being smaller than oberthilri, have 

 some very small specimens, one as small as 22'0 mm. 



