i 4 RHOPALOCERA NI MONICA. 



35- Thecla japonica, Murray. (PI. 4, fig- 7*, 7 B > 7c, 70.) 



T.fasciata. Janson. 

 T. regina. Butler. 



Localities Yokohama, Aama-yama, Nikko, Yezo. 



Time of appearance on tlie plains, May to July; on the mountains, July and August. 



36. Thecla orientalis, Murray. (PI. 4, fig.'SA, SB.) 



Localities Yokohama, Nikko, Asama-yama, Yezo. 

 Time of appearance Exactly the same as the preceding species. 



37- Thecla saphirina, Stdgr, (Pi. 4. fig. QA, 93.) 



Locality Yezo. 



These four form another very distinct group. The males of all four are a most vivid iridescent green. 

 The females of two, T. orientalis and T. sapharina are dull brown. The female of T. smaragdina has, 

 in all the specimens I have seen, a patch of yellowish brown on the fore-wing, while the female of T. 

 japonica is polymorphic and very variable. One polymorphic form of the latter is entirely brown, 

 another has a large patch of shining blue on the fore-wing, a third has a yellowish brown patch on the 

 fore-wing, whilst a fourth has both the blue and yellowish brown ; specimens showing a mixture, in 

 every degree of variation, can often be found. Coloration of the female, however, depends greatly 

 upon temperature, as the further north we go, or the greater altitude the specimens are obtained 

 at, the more blue they will, as a rule, exhibit. Mr. Butler has been led from this cause into naming a 

 boreal form, as a distinct species ; a very uncalled for proceeding, only tending to produce further con- 

 fusion, in an already complicated group. T. otientalis has also a boreal form, with smaller and 

 sharper outline, which so far has escaped the lust of this insatiable 'species maker.' The males 

 of T. japonica are very pugnacious; the Alder is their favourite tree, and they sit on its leaves waiting 

 for any passing rival. With regard to T. smaragdina, I was of opinion that it might possibly be a 

 hybrid, but I now think this can hardly be the case, although I have had as yet, no means of testing 

 the point by breeding: but if it be not a hybrid, we have here another case of 'duality ' between it and 

 T. japonica. The best proof that T. smaragdina is probably not a hybrid, is that it is neve'r found about 

 Yokohama, where both T. oriental's and T. japonica are abundant. The normal form of the females of 

 all the four species retains the ancestral dull color, but in T. japonica there are abnormal forms, particu- 

 larly boreal, having many degrees of bright colciration, although perfectly distinct from the color 

 of the male, which is green, the female being blue. This last species is therefore evidently in a state of 

 transition. The females of the Dipsas group have attained the same amount of coloration as the males. 

 The females of Thecla japonica are undergoing the same process, although the 'species maker ' has done 

 his worst to obscure this important fact. 



