THE SWISS SPECIES OF THE GENUS HESPERIA. 127 
to transitional variation than in any other species of the group. They 
are also remarkable in that they are the only species of the B. group in 
which the reducta aberrations occur really commonly. The most 
usual form of the median band is one with only a slight projection 
towards the base of the wing from the central spot, while the formation 
ef the other spots comprising the band, varies in an almost endless 
manner. Consequently aberrational forms occur which are slightly 
like onopordt, fritillum, carlinae, and armoricanus. Such forms might 
oceasionally be difficult to identify, were it not for the basal spots. By 
these one can, almost always, distinguish malvae and malvoides from 
any other Huropean species at a glance. In malvae and malvoides the 
basal spots (hindwing. underside) are very small, and approximate in 
size and character the spots located near the hind margin of their 
wing; while, in the other species of both groups, the basal spots are 
large, and approximate in size and character. to the spots of the 
median band. . 
When Dr. Reverdin published his acconnt of malvae and malvotdes, 
he noted that at that time no specimen of malvae had been found 
among those he examined from the Canton Valais. Now I cannot say 
that I have taken malcae in the Valais, but I have no doubt it can be 
taken there. It is common round Bex, and in many places between 
that place and Villeneuve, and in this stretch of country there can be 
little doubt that it occurs on both sides of the Rhone. Ii flies in places - 
actually on the right bank, and as conditions on both sides are the 
same, there is but little cause to suppose malvae to be restricted to the — 
side of the Canton Vaud. But even if malvae is, in the future, found 
in this part of the Canton Valais, there is no doubt it is absent from 
the rest of it. The chain of mountains, which as it were crosses the 
Rhone Valley at St. Maurice, appears to have barred malrae from the 
plain of the valley above that place. It occurs along the hillside on 
the north side of the valley, almost as far as Lavey les Bains; being 
quite abundant in spots through the wood, but never descending to the 
flat of the valley. 
Malvae is on the wing in late April or early May, according to the 
altitude ; but it is not by any means over before malvotdes emerges, as 
one often hears it said to be. Any day during the first fortnight of 
May the collector could take both species on the same day, in the 
Rhone Valley, if he wished to do so. 
Malvae varies considerably. The ab. taras is well known and widely 
distributed, it needs no further comment. Another marked aberration 
of malvae is the ab. bilineata, Rev. In this form, described by Prof. 
Reverdin, from two gs from Asia Minor, the two last spots of the 
discoidal series, next the inner margin, forewing upperside, are united 
to the two basal spots; forming two parallel white lines along the 
inner margin of the wing. These spots, in forms transitional to ab. 
taras, are often found united into a single blotch of white; usually, 
however, taking in one or more of the upper white spots of the dis- 
coidal series as well. Such aberrations are common; but the ab. 
bilineata, in which the confluent spots form two separate white lines, 
is somewhat rare. Only one Kuvopean specimen was known to Prof. 
Reverdin at the time he named it. I have a fine example, 
which I took in the neighbourhood of Caux. It is the only Swiss 
specimen I have seen or heard of. 
