a week's collecting in unst. 197 



Butterflies,' vol. ii., — Lijcana, plate ii., fig. 17. I am ignorant 

 as to the time of the year they were taken. 



Mr. Kane, who takes such an intelligent interest in the 

 variation of insects, has just sent me two specimens of 

 L. argiolus taken by himself. The first, at Vichy, in May, is on 

 the upper side almost identical with that figured by Edwards, 

 vol. ii., — Lycana, plate ii., fig. 4, — as L. marginata; the fringes 

 of the secondary wings are in the European specimen spotless, 

 and in the American slightly spotted. The other specimen, so 

 kindly sent, is a most remarkable butterfly. It was taken either 

 late in March or early in April ; and should have a narrow black 

 border to agree with the North European spring form ; but the 

 insect has nearly as broad borders to the fore and hind wings as 

 the Eussian specimens above described, and I should have deemed 

 it a typical specimen of the summer emergence. Mr. Kane writes 

 that the Provencal specimens he has seen are all remarkable for 

 the breadth of the apical and marginal borders. 



I venture to think that this Southern European form is the 

 result of the warmth of the climate at Hyeres, where it was 

 captured. In so sunny a district the caterpillars may feed 

 almost all the year round, and never remain long in the pupa 

 state. An insect much resembling this specimen is figured by 

 Edwards, vol. ii., — Lyccena, ii., fig. 21, — as L. piasus. This sub- 

 species, as I remarked before, has, according to Edwards, two 

 generations not differing from each other. 



If I be right in this conjecture the parallel between the 

 American and European species is completed in the southern 

 varieties in each continent. The conclusion is forced upon me 

 that, if L. p>seudargiolus varies from L. lucia to L. piasus, 

 then all the forms of L. pseudargiolus are but races of 

 L. argiolus, Linn. 



Chirbury, Beckenham, Kent, August 17, 1884. 



A WEEK'S COLLECTING IN UNST. 



By Charles A. Briggs. 



Leaving London from Euston Station by the limited mail on 

 the 6th July, the next day found Mr. E. G. Meek and myself at 

 Aberdeen, somewhat the worse for wear. Here a few hours 



