IN SEATICH OF RUSSIAN BUTTERFLIES. 295 



M. didyma. — Common but somewhat local at Sarepta ; most 

 abundant on the railway banks, but odd specimens were taken in 

 various other places ; a remarkablj^ fine and variable series was 

 secured. The Eussian Steppe form is usually what is known as var. 

 neera, and the majority of my specimens come near to this form, but 

 there are numerous aberrations from it. All the examples from 

 Sarepta are much larger than those taken in Mid-Europe ; my largest 

 example, a female, expands 60 mm. as against 50 mm., the expanse 

 of my largest Mid-European female. In var. neera the colour of the 

 male is even more fiery than the type, the females also are very red, 

 in one or two examples quite as red as the male. The only specimen 

 seen at Novorossisk is a male, very typical in size and markings, 

 ill. didyma was first seen at Sarepta on May 21st, and it continued 

 in good condition until the end of our stay. 



M. trivia. — In the greatest abundance in clearings in the 

 " Tschapurnik Wald," and not uncommon in all localities at Sarepta 

 in which there was any wood. The specimens are mostly var. 

 fascelis ; some, however, are typical ; the size of all is considerably in 

 excess of those I have from Hungary, females ranging up to 50 mm. 

 expanse. First seen on May 21st, when it was just commencing to 

 emerge. 



Brenthis dia. — Locally common at Novorossisk. 



B. daphne. — Common locally in woods at Sarepta ; the form is 

 somewhat larger, and the orange-ground colour deeper than in 

 Central European specimens ; it comes very near var. ejndaj^hne, 

 Friihs. A larva which got into my net accidentally at the 

 "Tschapurnik Wald" proved to be this species. I fed it upon 

 Spiraea filipendula, a common plant in the Sarepta woods ; this larva 

 pupated on June 1st, and the imago emerged on June 15th. The 

 following is a short account I made of the larva in the last stage : — 

 Down the centre of the dorsal area is a broad white stripe ; the sub- 

 dorsal area is pale lemon yellow, with longitudinal dark lines, the 

 spiracles are black. The pupa is light brown, with two golden 

 pointed excrescences on each segment, the venation of the wings 

 shows dark through the pupal skin. The pupa suspended itself from 

 the top of the cage in which it was kept. 



B. eitj^hrosyne. — I feel pretty certain I saw this species at 

 Novorossisk, but could not secure a specimen to make sure. At 

 Sarepta it was rare, and, so far as I know, confined to the 

 " Tschapurnik Wald," and nearly over at the date our visit com- 

 menced ; probably it had been common earlier in the season. The 

 form is a very striking one, with very pale under sides, and the 

 silver markings on the margin of the inferiors are brighter and more 

 prominent than in the type; it approaches var. orphanus, Friihs., 

 from East Siberia. 



Issoria lathonia. — Novorossisk and Sarepta, not common. 



Argyuuis niohe. — A remarkably fine race was abundant in all the 

 woods at Sarepta from May 22nd onwards. This form has been 

 described and figured by Seitz as var. k^ihlmanni ; it is larger and of 

 a much brighter red on the upper surfaces, and more variegated on 

 the undersides than Central European A. niohe; the predominant 

 form of under side is var. eris, but some of the females have the 



