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BUTTERFLIES OF MESOPOTAMIA. 57 
colcur especially prevalent across the disc of the wing, bordering the zig-zag 
transverse line. 
This whiteness or paleness is the most conspicuous feature of the specimens : 
they are mostly rather worn.” 
S. parisatis parisatis, Koll. 
28 specimens from Paitak, the Takigerra pass and Karind Gorge, from 
mid July to mid September; and one ab. from Harir mid July 1918. 
Capt. Riley notes:—‘ These all belong to the typical form of the species, 
which was described from Farsistan, the S. E. end of the mountain system 
which divides the Persian plateau from Mesopotamia and the Persian 
Gulf. It is characterized by its generally small size, the somewhat inde- 
finite inner margin of the white marginal border of the forewing and the 
rather strong development of the common white band of the underside. 
The general tone of the underside is very grey and white.” 
LeCerf (Ann. d’Hist. Nat. 1913) has overhauled this species excellently 
and set right agreat deal of confusion. The only point which still seems to 
need investigation is the locality of his type-specimens of S. parisatis var. 
parcis, which he describes from Nepal (Tola). It is the B.M. forms from 
Upper Kumaun, Kangra, Kalapani near Abbottabad, Mandi, Mussoorie, 
Murree and Urni, but not from further East, nor can I find any record of its 
having been obtained further Hast.” 
Common in N. W. Persia from 2,500 to 6,000 ft. settled in large numbers 
in holes in the side of a limestone cliff, and at water on the road and on 
stones around springs. In the open they had to be approached cautiously, 
but a sweep of the net into the fluttering crowd in a large hole in a rock 
secured about a dozen at once. An aberration taken at Harir, 16th July 
1918, has :— 
Underside transverse fascia absent from forewing replaced by a dusky 
black band on hindwing. 
Localities. —_N. W. Persia—Paitak, 2,500 ft. at the foot of the Takigerra 
Pass; by the Greeco-Persian arch in the pass, August 7-8th; and the 
Karind valley 5,300 to 6,000 ft. mid July to 19th September 1918; Kur- 
distan, Suwarra, July 1919. 
S. circe, L. 
A fine famale, taken by Capt. T. P. Aldworth at Suwarra (5,400) early 
July 1919. 
S. briseis, L., sub-sp. magna, Stgr., Seitz. I. p. 124. 51 specimens. 
3 Upperside forewing ground colour sooty brown with a cream white discal 
band broken up into spots by the dark veins. Apical cream patch divided 
by a black spot and the band containing in the third interspace another spot. 
Costa and terminal margin dingy cream; two dark blotches divided by 
discoidal cell. 
Q differs in being larger, with larger eyespots, and with underside usually 
reddish stone-colour. The hindwing being almost uniformly so. 
2 dimorph (pirata, Hb.) with dull chestnut instead of cream bands, other- 
wise like the normal form of the 9. 
Very common at 6,000 ft. in N. W. Persia, from about the middle of June 
to end of September. On 27th June 1919 a male in fresh state was taken at 
Kizil Robat in Mesopotamia, the strong wind blowing at the time having pro- 
bably carried it from the direction of the Persian hills. At Suleimanyeh in 
S. Kurdistan a worn male was taken on September Ist, 1919 ; and on September 
21st (1918) a worn female was taken at Harir at 5,800 feet in the Karind valley, 
8 
