﻿4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



To proceed to a comparison between Hesperia thaumas and 

 H. lineola for the purposes of distinction, it will be noticed, 

 from the figures given of one anterior wing of each of the male 

 butterflies, that the black bar on the fore wings in H. thaumas is 

 decided, continued, and bent slightly downwards at about the 

 centre. In H. lineola the bar is narrow, broken, and has no 

 curve, is frequently very indistinct, and always considerably 

 shorter than in H. thaumas. Again, in H. thaumas the bar 

 springs from a point at about one-third of the length of the 

 inner margin, reckoning from the thorax ; in H. lineola the bar 

 appears almost to run into the base of the wing at its juncture 

 with the thorax. These are characteristics of the male insects 

 only, and the remaining points of difference apply equally to both 

 sexes. Perhaps the most positive and unfailing distinction in 

 both male and female H. lineola is to be found in the coloration 

 on the under side of the antennae. In H. thaumas this tint is of 

 a faint buff, never dark ; whereas in H. lineola the under side of 

 the tips is of a decided black. A third point of difference is the 

 absence, in H. lineola, of the fulvous patch on the inner margin 

 of the under side of the hind wings, the insect in this respect 

 bearing a considerable likeness to H. actceon. These three, 

 then, are what may be called the distinguishing features of 

 H. lineola, when compared with H. thaumas ; but there are 

 other minor and less perceptible differences, i. e., H. lineola has 

 a duller and more suffused appearance, especially at the hind 

 margins, more decided neuration of the hind wings, and on the 

 under side a greenish hue ; whereas H. thaumas has a rich 

 glistening colour, is usually clear at the hind margin, and has a 

 grey appearance on the under side. The two species approach 

 each other very closely in size ; perhaps II. thaumas is a trine 

 more elongate (see fig.) than H. lineola. 



I venture no opinion now as to the right of H. lineola to be 

 considered a distinct species. The position of H. lineola in our 

 collections is between H. thaumas and H. actceon. 



I may say here, however, that I hope I may be able in course 

 of time to supply a life-history of this new addition to our 

 Rhopalocera in all stages from British parents. 



Since writing the foregoing I find that Mr. J. T. Carrington 

 captured in 1889, also in the same county in which I took my 

 specimens, several examples of H. lineola, including females. 

 They were taken at some considerable distance from the first- 

 named locality, but about the same time of year, although one 

 season later. 



14, Dovecote Villas, Wood Green, London, N., Dec. 7, 1889. 



