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JOURNAL OF VARIATION. 
Orr ON NS oN Ome g January 157TH, 1918. 
Lepidopterology.—Two new European Lycenids. 
By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.E.S. 
In the 14th volume (Fascicule) of Etudes de Lépidoptérologie com- 
parée, M. Oberthiir enquires whether in such times as these one ought 
to continue the pursuit of science ; the difficulties are great, but he says 
time goes on all the same, age advances, for how long can he continue 
to work? To publish scientific works is to serve one’s country, a little 
effort, no matter how little (we all know that M. Oberthiir’s slight 
efforts would be a great deal for most of us), is better than stopping 
what is already begun, he therefore decides to carry forward the objects 
he has in view. M. Oberthiir is essentially a poet, and he expresses 
these conclusions and the reasons for them in the clear and artistic 
manner to which the French language so beautifully lends itself in his 
hands. He quotes a fine passage from Victor Hugo (written about 1836), 
defending the activity of the artist in trying times, and giving examples 
of how art is actually stronger and richer at such epochs. But this 
preface must be read, to reduce it to a resumé is to spoil it. 
The volume begins with ‘Contributions to the history of Lycaena 
argus, and the forms, races, and species hitherto included in it.” 
(Most British Lepidopterists (Tutt, South, Wheeler, etc.) having, 
following Staudinger, accepted the name argus for our British species 
aegon, it is necessary, therefore, to begin by pointing out that M. 
Oberthiir uses the name for the non-British species, for which they 
accept the name argyrognomon.| 
A magnificent form of this insect is found in M. Oberthir’s country, 
the Armorican peninsula, and justly increases M. Oberthiir’s interest 
in the species. This form (armoricana) is richly coloured and has large 
and bold markings, there is no other similar race described, nor ap- 
parently do aberrations often approach it. 
The first contribution is “On the genital armature of Lycaena argus 
and its varieties,” by Dr. J. Reverdin. 
The second is the ‘ Opinion of Dr. Courvoisier,” and the third is 
“A New European Lycaena, Plebeius argus (argyrognomon) and aegus 
sp. noy.,” by myself. 
The forms that M. Oberthtir specially suggested as requiring ex- 
amination included armoricana, ligurica, bellieri, and alpina, forms with 
definitely distinct facies. Dr. Reverdin says his first results were 
that there were sufficiently striking differences between ligurica and 
