241 



THE ATHALIA GROUP OF THE GENUS MELITMA. 

 By Rev. George Wheeler, M.A., F.E.S. 



(Continued from p. 13.) 



G.W. 



The neuration of this group, and, indeed, of the whole 

 genus, presents far more points of difference than could have 

 been expected, and it has involved a prolonged study of the 

 other two groups, as well as considerable excursions into the 

 Argynnids and Brenthids. The accompanying diagram has 

 been taken from var, herisalensis, and is drawn just twice the 

 size of the original wing. I have, however, added, in dotted 

 lines, the obsolete portions of nervure iii in the fore wing, and 

 the nervure v in both wings, though these are quite invisible 

 when the wing is flattened and mounted on card, as well as the 

 indication of the cross nervule between iii 2 and iii 3 in the hind 

 wing, though this is never present in herisalensis, because I shall 

 have occasion to refer to them in treating of certain other 

 species. I have used throughout the German nomenclature of 

 Hoffmann, Spuler, and others, because all my notes had been 

 made in this notation, and it can present no difficulty if accom- 

 panied by a diagram ; and it has, moreover, the advantage of 

 indicating the origin of the branch nervures, as may be seen 

 from the neuration of the pupal wing. 



With' regard to the colour and texture of the nervures, it may 

 be said generally that in the exclusively northern or mountain 

 species they are much darker and coarser than in the others. 

 This is peculiarly the case in those of another group — cijnthia, 

 iduna, and merope, but both the colour and texture of these is 

 approached by varia and (making due allowance for its small 



