77 



in the Pyrenees and Swiss Alps, but at lower elevations (under 7000 

 feet) it assumes the forms isis and napcea ; whilst in the Swiss valleys 

 and on the peat bogs of North Germany, as well as in Scandinavia, 

 Northern and Central Russia, it is represented by the very distinct 

 arsilache, which is considered by some entomologists to be a good 

 species. This form is, however, connected with the type by var. 

 lapponica, which occurs in Polar Europe. Other local forms of 

 A. pales inhabit the Caucasus and Greece, and it is represented in the 

 Himalayas by sipora and baralacha^ but many of the Himalayan speci- 

 mens of pah's cannot be separated from the Swiss type. At least 

 three species, /. e. A. aphirape, A. chariclea, and A.freija, are known 

 to occur in America, and if saga be accepted as a form of A.frigga, 

 the number will be raised to four. Two other species, viz. A. latona 

 and A. pandora, are found in Africa. 



Only six of the European species can be regarded as inhabitants 

 of Britain, and all of these have a very wide distribution. A. selene 

 and A. enphrosyne occur throughout Northern and Central Europe, 

 the former extending eastward into Corea, and the latter into Amur- 

 land. A. ag/aia, A. adippe, and A. paphia have a somewhat common 

 distribution in Europe, but the first-named is perhaps found further 

 north than either of the others. All three extend into Eastern 

 Asia as far as Japan, and aglaia occurs also in the Himalayas, where 

 it is represented by var. vitatha. Other forms of Aglaia, and also of 

 adippe in Eastern Asia are well defined, and have been named and 

 described as distinct species. A. latona in its typical form inhabits 

 temperate P^^urope, Western and Central Asia, and North Africa. In 

 Eastern Asia it is represented by var. isteea, and occurs not uncom- 

 monly in the Himalayas and in Western China. 



Many of the species of Argynnis appear to be subject in a greater 

 or lesser degree to occasional aberration in the matter of orna- 

 mentation. The most frequent form of variation is an exaggeration 

 or the suppression of ordinary markings. In the one case the black 

 spots on the upper surface, and the silver or yellow markings on the 

 under surface, are enlarged and coalesce, forming more or less com- 

 plete bands or patches, generally on the central portion of the wing 

 above and the basal portion below. In the other case the black 

 spots on the central area of the upper surface are partially or com- 

 pletely effaced, and on the under side the markings are greatly 

 reduced in size. Aberration of the ground colour is sometimes 

 exhibited, and this may or may not be associated with modification 

 of the markings. The usual fulvous may be highly intensified, or 

 it may be reduced to a buff tint ; or, again, it may be heavily suffused 

 with fuliginous. Either of these extremes are, however, rare, and 

 variation in colour does not often extend to anything of a very 

 pronounced character. 



To refer in greater detail to the phases of aberration in this genus 

 would be going beyond the intended scope of the present remarks ; 

 at the same time there is one form of variation which may be 



