77 



1829, "I have recently obtained specimens of what seems to be a new species 

 of Polyommatus, intermediate between Agesiis and Artaxerxes, and which I 

 propose calling Salmacis" These were taken in Castle Eden Dene, by G. 

 Wailes, Esq. Mr. Waiies, concerning this, writes to the first volume of the 

 "Entomological Magazine" published in 1833, "I entirely coincide with 

 Mr. Stephens in considering this a distinct species. I must, however, state 

 that Mr. Stephens' description, in his invaluable Illustrations (Haust. Vol. III. 

 p. 235), is not quite correct; for I have observed, out of about 150 specimens 

 that the variety with the black spot forms two-thirds of the whole ; and that 

 neither sex possesses exclusively either the white or black spot, though the 

 majority of the former variety are males. It appears to be confined to the 

 sea banks, and I have never seen it above half-a-mile from the coast/' 



In the same volume amongst the " Observations on the influence of locality, 

 time of apearances, &c., on species and varieties of Butterflies, by J . C. Dale, 

 Esq., M.A., F.L.S., &c." is the following, " Polyommatus salmacis is inter- 

 mediate between Agesiis and Arlaxerxes, in Scotland none of the Agestis are 

 be found, they are all Artaxerxes ; in the south none of the Artaxerxes are 

 to be found, they are all Agestis. At Newcastle, they appear to be mules or 

 hybrids, between the two species, partaking in some degree of the character 

 of both ; some of the varieties have a black spot inside the white one, or the 

 upper surface of the first wings." 



This appears to have drawn forth from the pen of Mr. Edward Newman, 

 in the second volume of the same publication, p. 516, the following, "Prom 

 examining specimens of Polyommatus agestis from different localities, I have 

 arrived at a conclusion which will not, I fear be coincided with by many of 

 our Lepidopterists. On the South Downs of Sussex and Kent, Agestis 

 assumes what may be called the typical form. I have taken it at Eamsgate, 

 Dover, Hythe, Hastings, Brighton, Eye, Worthing, Little Hampton, Chiches- 

 ter, Portsmouth, in the Isle of Wight, in Dorsetshire, in Somersetshire, and 

 throughout this range it is very similar ; then going upwards, I have met 

 with it at Worcester, Birmingham, and Shrewsbury : here an evident change 

 has taken place, the band of rust coloured spots has become less bright; at 

 Manchester, these spots have left the upper wing entirely ; at Castle Eden 

 Dene, they are scarcely to be traced, and a black spot in the centre of the 

 upper wing becomes fringed with white, in some specimens it is quite white ; 

 the butterfly then changes its name to Salmacis. We proceed further north- 

 ward, and the black pupil leaves the eyes on the underside, until at Edin- 

 burgh they are quite gone ; then it is called Artaxerxes. The conclusion 

 I arrive at is this, that Agestis, Salmacis, and Artaxerxes are but one species. 



Mr, Dale, in the " Naturalist/' Vol. I., page 16, says, " I have observed a 



