2 Mr. H. J. Elwes' additional notes 



principal points on which he dwells are the variability of 

 all the characters which have been relied on for the dis- 

 crimination of the species. Among them he includes the 

 patch of thicker and darker scales at the base of the hind 

 wing in the male, which, however, in my opinion, is one 

 of the most certain and constant characters by which the 

 species may be classified. He arranges the species 

 into four groups, defined in the same way as my groups, 

 by the presence or absence of spots on the dark border 

 of the wings in one or both sexes. He arranges the 

 species, however, in an unnatural and incorrect manner, 

 miiting some which are undoubtedly distinct, as Myrmi- 

 done, Eogene, and Hecla, and separating others which are 

 certainly identical, as Lesbia and Pyrrhothea, describing 

 one species, C. Anricillius, in such a manner that it is 

 impossible to say what it may be ; and, as no plate, 

 exact locality, or specific characters are given, I think 

 the name should be ignored. 



Alpheraky's paper is principally a criticism of Kefer- 

 stein's, but also gives some valuable notes on the 

 Russian and Siberian forms, and is a valuable contri- 

 bution to the literature of the subject. He strongly 

 denies most of Keferstein's conclusions, especially his 

 statement that the basal patch on the hind wing is 

 a variable character, and therefore not to be relied on 

 as a certain guide in distinguishing the species. He 

 states that, after a careful examination of very many 

 specimens, he finds the patch constantly present in 

 C. Edusa, Electra, Olga, and others, and that, though 

 its colour may vary, and sometimes, when of the same 

 shade as the rest of the hind wing, escape the notice of 

 the careless observer, yet that its form remains ever the 

 same. I exhibit to-day a series of specimens of several 

 species in order to show how far Alpheraky's views on 

 this question are correct. I agree with him for the 

 most part, but it is necessary to set the specimens in an 

 unnatural manner in order to show the patch clearly, 

 and I must say that I find it much more variable in size 

 and appearance, when closely examined, than he seems 

 to have done. 



Alpheraky's observations show that, though he may 

 be perhaps rather too much inclined to the separation of 

 species, yet he is only led to do so by observed facts, 

 and in general he proves himself a careful and scientific 

 observer. 



