On the Seasonal Dimorphism of Butter/lies. 49 



no change since that epoch, for Bryonice from 

 Lapland is identical with the Alpine form, 3 whilst 

 E. Simp Ionia does not appear to occur in Polar 

 countries. 



Very interesting also is the case of Polyommatus 

 Phlczas, Linn., one of our commonest Lyccznidce, 

 which has a very wide distribution, extending from 

 Lapland to Spain and Sicily. 4 If we compare 

 specimens of this beautiful copper-coloured but- 

 terfly from Lapland with those from Germany, no 

 constant difference can be detected ; the insect 

 has, however, but one annual generation in Lapland, 

 whilst in Germany it is double-brooded ; but the 

 winter and summer generations resemble each 

 other completely, and specimens which had been 

 caught in spring on the Ligurian coast were likewise 

 similarly coloured to those from Sardinia. (Fig. 2 1 , 

 Plate II.). According to these facts we might 



8 According to a written communication from Dr. Staudinger, 

 the female Bryonice from Lapland are never so dusky as is 

 commonly the case in the Alps, but they often have, on the 

 other hand, a yellow instead of a white ground-colour. In the 

 Alps, yellow specimens are not uncommon, and in the Jura 

 are even the rule. 



4 [According to W. F. Kirby (Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lepidop.j, 

 the species is almost cosmopolitan, occurring, as well as 

 throughout Europe, in Northern India (var. Timeus), Shanghai 

 (var. C/imensts), Abyssinia (var. Pseudophlceas')^ Massachusetts 

 (var. Americana), and California (var. Hypophlceas). In a long 

 series from Northern India, in my own collection, all the 

 specimens are extremely dark, the males being almost black. 

 R.M.] 



*E 



