1881.] OP AMURLVND, NORTH CHINA, AND JAPAN. 899 



Melit^a arcesia, Br. Lep. Ost-Sib. p. 15, t. i. fig. 7. 



Of this form, which Dr. Staudinger considers a good species, I 

 have seen specimens from Raddefskaia (C/iristoph).^ It appears to 

 be more common in Dahuria, where it was discovered by Radde. 



M. PHCEBE, Schiff. S. V. p. 179. 



Var. sibirica, Stdgr. MSS. 



Var. (Etheria, Ev. Lep. Ross. p. 73, t. ix. 



M. scotosia, Entler, Cist. Ent. ii. p. 282 (1878). 



The forms of M. pkcebe found in Amurland are variable, but agree 

 in being larger and darker than European specimens. It occurs at 

 Pekin (Bremer) in the forms figured by Mcnt'tiie's as 31. melanina, 

 also in North China {Ehrenlionif/), Avhence I have seen specimens 

 in Dr. Staudinger's collection, also in Japan under the name of 

 M, scotosia, agreeing with Amur specimens very fairly. 



Bremer does not distinguish it from M. phcebe'; but all the 

 oriental specimens I have seen are large and brightly coloured. 



M. TRIVIA, Schifi". S. V. p. 1 79. 



According to Mene'tries and Bremer this species was found on the 

 Amur by Schrenk, and at Bureija by Radde ; but Dr. Staudinger 

 has seen none from the Amur region. 



^&' 



M. ATHALiA, Rott. Naturf. vi. p. 5 (1775). 



Var. dubia, Stdgr. MSS. 



Var. orientalis, Stdgr. MSS. 



M. niphona, Butler, Cist. Ent. ii. p. 281 (1878). 



The forms of M. uthalia found in Eastern Asia are somewhat 

 diflerent from the European ones ; but the Japanese M. nipliona 

 is like those from Askold. The variety M. orientalis from the 

 Ussuri differs, in the female sex, in having whitish instead of 

 yellowish spots beneath. The variations, however, in the Melitcea;, 

 as in many insects, are hardly to be described in words, and can only 

 be understood when seen. Even then the genus is an extremely 

 puzzling one, and requires au immense series of specimens to illus- 

 trate it^ 



M. AURELiA, Nick. Syn. Lep. Bohm. p. 12 (1850). 



Dr. Staudinger has specimens of this from Ussuri and Raddefskaia, 

 and considers them distinct from the following. 



M. PLOTINA. 



M. britomartis, var. plotina, Brem. Lep. Ost-Sib. p. 14, t. iii.fig. 2. 



Found at Raddefskaia and on the Ussuri, with the last, to which 

 it comes nearest, though constantly differing in the pattern of the 

 upper surface. It seems to me, however, to be very close to 

 M. aurelia. 



' Mr. Strecker has received a variety of M, athalia from Corea. 



58* 



