38 MR. H. J. ELWES ON THE GENUS PARNASSITJS. [Jan. 19, 



In describing the Sikkim form of this species (P. Z. S. 1882, 

 p. 399) I said that it might be distinguished by the smaller size, and 

 by the more distinct alternation of the black and white in the fringes. 

 I am still unable to compare these with a series from Ladak, as no 

 specimens except the few I have mentioned exist to my knowledge 

 in collections ; but the smaller size seems to me now not a sufficient 

 distinction, and the spotting of the fringes is almost, if not quite, as 

 marked in the specimen from Shigri. The name siklcimetms had 

 better therefore be dropped until a constant and more marked 

 distinction than that of size is shown to exist. 



P. HARDWICKII. 



Parnassius hardwiclei. Gray, Lep. Nepal, t. 4(1846); Cat. Lep. 

 Brit.Mus. p. 76, t. 12. figs. 8-11 (1852) ; Moore, P. Z. S. 1865, 

 p. 488. 



Var. charino, Gray, Let. 12. fig. 12. 



P. jacquemonti, Koll. (nee Boisduval), Hiigel's Kashm. p. 407, 

 t. 2. figs. 3, 4. 



This distinct and pretty species occurs at very various elevations, 

 in most parts of the North-west Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim, 

 at elevations varying from 6000 to 12,000 feet and probably higher, 

 but in the north-west it occurs at much lower elevations than in 

 Sikkim. It seems to fly at almost all times of the year in various 

 localities, and varies very much in coloration, and especially in tbe 

 number of the red and blue ocelli, at almost all the places where it 

 is found. The five bluish ocelli on the hind wing, generally pupilled 

 with white, but in some cases reduced to mere specks, are, however, 

 present in- all the specimens I have seen ; and as a rule the greater 

 the amount of black scales, which in some female specimens almost 

 cover the wings, whilst in others of the male sex they are entirely 

 wanting, the larger and more numerous are the red ocelli. 



The variety charino, Gray, is the darkest form, but does not seem 

 to be either a local or a seasonal variety, as I have it from Simla, 

 taken in May, from Gulmurg in Kashmir in August, and from the 

 Chumbi valley in September. 



The red spot at the base of the hind wing above is more or less 

 well marked in four out of twelve females in my collection, and 

 convinces me that it cannot be looked on as a specific character in 

 this geuus. 



Of the life-history of this species we know something, and, strange 

 as it may seem to European naturahsts, I liave little doubt that the 

 species is double-brooded. Capt. Lang (P. Z. S. 1865, p. 488), says, 

 " There appear to be two broods, early spring and late autumn. I 

 have seen it in December and February on bright days, succeeding 

 weeks of snow storms." Hocking took 16 specimens, of which one 

 was a female, flying over snow in March, at 8000 feet elevation. 



Capt. Graham Young, writing from Kulu, says : — " Undoubtedly 

 P. kardwicJceiis double-brooded ; the second brood appears in August 

 and September, and a few even in October in favourable seasons ; 

 some of these hybernate, reappearing in March along with the spring 



