108 MR R, M'LACHLAlir ON THE IKSECTA COLLECTED 



The insect is variable : the Arctic individual is of the ordinary 

 black British form. 



LEPIDOPTEEA. 



E,HOPALOCERA. 



CoLiAs Hecla, Lefehvre, var. glacialis. 



Agrees vpith the original description and figure of Hecla, and 

 with examples from Lapland, in its general form, breadth of the 

 dark border of the wings, &c. ; but differs in its much clearer and 

 paler ground-colour (which may be termed pale orange), and in 

 the more conspicuous pale greenish-yellow costal margin of ante- 

 rior wings. The posterior wings on the underside are more 

 smoky greenish than in those I have seen from Lapland ; and in 

 this agree better with Lefebvre's figure ; the pale margin is very 

 faintly indicated. In one male the discal spot on the anterior 

 wings is obliterated. Expanse, s 44-48 millims., 5 47-51 

 millims. 



Two S and one 5 from lat. 81° 45', August 12th, 1876, and one 

 5 from Hayes Sound, lat. 79° {Feilden), all in the finest possible 

 condition; also a much crippled <S just emerged from the chry- 

 salis, from Discovery Bay, July 18th, 1876 {Hart). 



C. Hecla was originally described as from Iceland ; but there is 

 little doubt an error in locality was made, and the type was pro- 

 bably from Grreenland. It appears to me that the examples before 

 me from the high north can only with justice be referred to this 

 species ; but they form a good local variety, which it is desirable to 

 indicate by name. In the British Museum is a series of indivi- 

 duals from other Arctic voyages, all from considerably lower lati- 

 tudes, that I think should be likewise referred to Hecla ; but they 

 vary in the opposite direction to my var. glacialis, all being very 

 smoky and dark. It is certainly singular that glacialis, although 

 from the extreme north, should be indicated especially by its bright 

 and pale coloration. The two females have an appearance of dif- 

 fering somewhat in form, that from lat. 81° 45' having the anterior 

 wing apparently more obtuse than in that from Hayes Sound ; 

 but there is no other difference. 



C. JBootJiii, Curtis, which has been sometimes associated with 

 G. Hecla, is, I am convinced, perfectly distinct therefrom, differing 

 in the very narrow dark border of the wings &c. 



