52 COLOUR-PATTERNS. [iNTBOD. 



black. To recapitulate, the two anterior and the left posterior wing resemble generally, 

 though not entirely, the aberration, while the right posterior wing is nearly normal. 

 A specimen is described from Ekaterinoslav, S. Russia, which resembles this 

 aberration in wanting the black transverse band and in the disposition of the apical 

 white spots. A trace of the white costal bar remains on the costal border. On the 

 underside of this specimen the ocelli were placed in a pale rose-coloured band. 

 (Name proposed, aberration, inornata). Bramsox, K. L., Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 

 S. 6, vi. 1886, p. 284. 



Besides the rare aberration " var. Elymi" there is a variety sometimes found in 

 Europe, which in Australia is so constant and definite that it has been regarded as 

 a species. The following may be quoted respecting its occurrence in Australia, 

 where it is common : 



" There is in abundance about Melbourne and in many other parts of Australia 

 a Cynthia with the general appearance and habit of G. cardui, so closely represented 

 that every entomologist I know refers it to that species. The Australian species 

 differs from the European one constantly, however, in having the centres of the 

 three lower round spots on the posterior wings bright blue, and having two other 

 blue spots on the posterior angles of the same wings, the corresponding parts of 

 the European form being black." For this form the name C. kershawi is proposed. 

 M'Cot, F., Ann. and May. of Nat. Hist., Ser. 4, i. 1868, p. 76. See also Olliff, 

 A. S., Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. W., Ser. 2, in. p. 1251. The notices of its occurrence 

 in Europe are as follows. In 1884 Mr Jenner Weir exhibited a specimen of P. 

 cardui, taken in the New Forest. Three of the five black spots in the disk of the 

 upper side of the hind-wings had blue pupils ; he pointed out that the specimen 

 thus approached the Australian form, P. kershawi. Proc. Ent. Soc, 1884, 

 p. xxvii. 



Olliff, loc. cit., states that he has taken a specimen having these blue 

 markings at Katwijk, in Holland. 



In the case given, the evidence certainly suggests that these 

 various forms of aberration are grouped round a normal form of 

 aberration, just as the individuals of the type are grouped round 

 its normal. 



One example of a similar discontinuity in a melanic varia- 

 tion may profitably be given. I have taken this opportunity 

 of referring to such a case, as the general evidence of melanic 

 variations goes on the whole to shew that they are not commonly 

 discontinuous, and further evidence on this point would be most 

 valuable. To appreciate the evidence Butler's coloured plate 

 should be referred to. 



Terias. A well-marked group of butterflies of this genus allied to 

 T. hecabe, is found in Japan. It contains forms of great diversity in 

 amount of black border which occurs on the outer margins of the fore- 

 and hind-wings. The remainder of the wings is lemon-yellow. The 

 black border may be confined to the tip of the fore-wings, or may there 

 occupy a considerable area and be extended along the whole outer 

 margin of both wings. The form with the least black is called T. man- 

 ihirina, that with the most, is called T. mariesii, and the intermediate 

 form is called T. anemone. Upwards of 150 specimens, all from Nikko, 

 were examined; these ranged between the two extremes, and were 

 found to form a continuous series. Butler states that "the absence of 

 six of them, referable only to two gradations, would at once leave the 

 three species as sharply defined as any in the genus." 



[In the case of these butterflies, there are thus three groupsof va net ies, 

 two extreme groups and one mean group ; intermediates between these 



