BUTVUERFLIES OF MESOPOTAMIA, 61 
Common about stony ground and at flowering mint by water at 5,300 to 
6,000 ft. in the Karind Valley, N. W. Persia. Among stones in the open 
it is rather wary, but when settled at mint is easily caught. Taken from 
mid July to mid September 1918. There being only 2 males to 24 females 
taken seems to indicate that the season was rather late for this species. 
Limenitis rivularis, Scop. (=camilla, Auctt.; drusilla. ) 
Of 9 2,89 examined, taken in the Karind Valley 5,800-6,000 ft. from 
13th July to 12th August 1918. Capt. Riley notes :—LeCerf only gives var, 
reducta, Stgr. from Persia. These specimens are by no means referable to 
that form, which is represented in the B. M. by 2 7, from Hadschyabad 
(Haberhauer), 1 4, “ Caucasus”? (Lederer) and 1 g Derband (Christoph). 
They are not separable from the European form unless perhaps by an 
average reduction of the red markings of:the underside.” 
In perfect condition in mid July ; common in August, and fond of settling 
on projecting boughs about eight feet from the ground, in a glade, now and 
again sailing about between the trees and often returning to the leaf it 
had left. Many settled on stones by a spring on August 12th at Karind 
Gorge. Onetaken 9th September at flowering mint, and one seen 19th 
September 1918. Taken also by Capt. Aldworth at Suwarra, Kurdistan, 
July 1919. 
Genus ARGYNNIS, Fab. 
A. maia, Cr. (pandora, Schiff ) 
Seitz. 1-7lce. (pandora ) 
This very handsome fritillary is common in the Karind Valley and at Ker- 
manshah in Persia. At 6,000 ft. in a beautiful gorge said by some to be the 
garden of Omar Khayyam, numbers were, in July 1918, sailing about the wal- 
nut-trees and, with the “Jersey Tiger’? moth (Callimorpha quadripunctata 
=hera) greatly enhanced the beauty of its surroundings. Very common in 
mid-July, it was rather less so in August, and a few only were seen there on 
19th September. 
Both sexes are fond of resting suspended with closed wings on the underside 
of walnut-leaves on the sunny side of the trees. As one strolled 
beneath the trees they sailed away to sport with others, three and four 
together in a glade or about the cascades in the gorge below. Within an 
hour twenty in fresh condition were taken settled on the underside of 
leaves. They settled also among the pale green young foliage of apricot trees, 
and at thistles. Pairs were seen mated in mid-July. Males were observed at 
thistles on the open hillside at Kermanshah at the end of August, and Major 
Broughton, who also took it there, found it common in September 1918, in 
gardens flying round willows and fruit-trees. When settled on the underside 
of leaves of walnut and apricot, with the sunshine coming through the leaves 
they were very inconspicuous, only the green and silver being visible, particu- 
larly with the wings seen edge-ways from below. A large wild viola grew in 
the glades in the gorge, but no fritillaries were seen about these plants. 
Localities—N. Persia, Karind Valley 5,300-6,000 feet; Kermanshah. 
Occurs in South Europe and Asia Minor. According to Kirby the larva feeds 
on the wild heartsease. 
The habits of this species in Macedonia are mentioned by Mr. H. Mace in 
the Entomologist, Vol. LIII, p. 64. 
