1890.] 33 



Going then to the specimen which Dr. Jordan not only did see 

 but really caught, viz., the supposed Pararge Siera, I must at first 

 state, that, as far as known to all Scandinavian entomologists, Hiera 

 has with us only one generation, flying in May and June, and never was 

 a specimen recorded to have been observed in the month of August 

 in any locality of Scandinavia. Moreover, at Bergen this species was 

 up to the present time never found, not even in the spring. I there- 

 fore a priori felt convinced that Dr. Jordan must have confounded 

 Hiera and Mcera, as he clearly did Noma and Jutta ; and what 

 he lastly (pp. 442, 443) has said about the specimen in question, aB 

 also about our Norwegian Hiera in general, has only strengthened my 

 conviction in this respect. As for the description he has given of the 

 specimen, none of the mentioned characters are decisive, as they vary 

 in both species. But it strikes me very much that the onost important 

 and distinct character of Hiera, which at once separates it from Mara, 

 is not at all alluded to, viz., tlie loell-knoivn toothed dark lines across 

 the disc on the upper-surface of the wings. As these most characteristic 

 and well-marked lines, which are wanting in Mara, are not mentioned 

 either in the specimen from Bergen or in that from Zermatt, they 

 most probably are non-existent, and then it is sure enough that none 

 of the specimens are Hiera ; they then must fall together. The size 

 of the Norwegian specimen (alar exp., 35 mm.) certainly is a very 

 small one ; but, nevertheless, it may for that as well be a dwarfed 

 Mcera as a Hiera. I should like to see the specimen, for should it, 

 contrary to all probability, yet really be a Hiera (and every possibility 

 of an accidental confounding of specimen be excluded), then it would 

 be a remarkable unicum as to the time of its appearance. 



Besides, that Dr. Jordan is not familiar with the differences be- 

 tween Hiera and Mara becomes still more evident, as he further on 

 (p. 443) in a female Hiera from the Eomsdale and a female Mara v. 

 Adrasta finds absolutely no difference whatever on the superior 

 surface, except in the intensity of the colour, &c. As every specimen 

 of our true Hiera, male or female, invariably has the above mentioned 

 well-marked cross lines on the wings, which do not occur either in 

 Mara or its variety Adrasta, there must be a distinct difference. 



N.B. — If the supposed female Hiera really were such, I have, 

 however, a very strong suspicion that also this specimen, like the 

 former, is a veritable Mara ; for a Norwegian Hiera with an alar exp. 

 of 50 mm. I never saw in my life — that is just the size of a great 

 Mara. After all, I cannot now help suspecting that Dr. Jordan has 

 not taken any Hiera in Norway at all, but only Mara, which latter 



