Butterflies of the Genus Precis. 197, 
described form was a seasonal phase of another I have been 
able to establish the fact by the discovery of the intermediate 
phase. I am therefore certain that my study of this inter- 
esting genus will prove useful to lepidopterists. 
As regards the species or subspecies which I have kept 
separate, I do not propose to make any dogmatic statement. 
I believe that the various forms of the P. orithya group are 
constant in certain characters, slight though the differences 
may sometimes be; but whether they be regarded as species 
or local forms is a matter for individual judgment. I never 
could define the exact amount of constant difference which 
was necessary to distinguish a local form from a species. At 
the same time in the forms of P. erigone which I have named, 
the differences being mostly indicated by tint, [ think all will 
be agreed that they are no more than local modifications, even 
if they prove to be absolutely constant, as | think they 
will. On the other hand, the named forms of P. almana are 
certainly not constant. 
1. Precis villida. 
Papilio villida, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. ii. p. 35 (1787). 
Papilio velleda, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. 3, p. 91 (1793). 
Junonia vellida, Kirby, Cat. Diurn. Lep. p. 188 (1871). 
Vanessa calybe, Godart, Ene. Méth. ix. p. 317 (1819). 
Cynthia hampstediensis, Stephens, Ill. Brit. Ent. i. p. 48, pl. v. figs. 3, 4 
(1827). 
Wet phase.—Gilbert, Ellice, and Navigator Islands, and 
Viti Levu. B. M. 
Intermediate wet.—Aneiteum, Vaté, Ovalau, Mango, New 
Treland, New Guinea, Tasmania, Port Darwin. B. M. 
Intermediate dry.—Java, Christmas Island, Roebuck Bay, 
Sydney, Moreton Bay, Champion Bay, ‘’oowoomba, Port 
Darwin. 3B. M. 
Dry phase.—Condillac Island, near Lord Howe’s Island, 
Tasmania, Queensland. 
The wettest development of the species is found in the 
Ellice Islands and the driest in Tasmania. 
2. Precis vestina. 
Junonia vestina, Felder, Reise der Noy., Lep. iii. p. 898 (1867). 
Bolivia and Ecuador (Coll. Hewitson); Peru. B. M. 
So far as I have been able to judge this is an insect only 
having a dry-season phase; at any rate, all the examples 
which I have seen represent that phase, even when obtained 
during the rainy season ; there is, however, a variation in the 
Ann. &: Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol. viii. 15 
