236 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



BUTTERFLIES OF THE PALAEARCTIC REGION. 



By Henry Charles Lang, M.D., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Lond. 



(Continued from page 209J. 



PAKN.-tSSIUS (continued). 



9. P. insignis Stgr. S. E. Z., p. 194. Aust. 

 Tarn., 106, pi. IV., fig. 1. R. H., 97 (discobolus 

 var. ). 



70 — 75 mm. 



Closely resembles P. discobolus, but is somewhat 



P. apollonius var. alpina. 



larger, especially 9 . Purer white and more 

 strongly marked and brightly coloured. Red spots 

 on f. w. very vivid. Basal and ante marginal markings 

 of h. w. more decided than in P. discobolus. 9 with 

 a red spot near an. ang. h.w. not seen in P. discobolus. 

 Abdominal pouch broader than in that species. 

 Hab., Transalai and S. Altai. 



a. var. tianschana Stgr. Larger, but resembles 

 type, which apparently it replaces in Tianschan. It 

 is larger in expanse, and whiter than is P. discobolus. 

 9 with red spots at an. ang. h.w. 



P. delphius. 



10. P. romanovi Grum-Greshimailo in litt. 

 Aust. Parn., pi. X., fig. 3. R. H., p. 97 (synonym 

 for insignis). 



65 — 70 mm. 



Close to P. insignis, but smaller, wings purer 

 white. Red spots, on all the wings, large and bright. 

 Black markings, especially those of h.w., in ij very 

 strongly marked. 9 without much basal shading in 

 h.w., compared with what is seen in allied forms. 



However, the basal shading in the S h.w. is darker 

 and more extensive than in P. discobolus or any of its 

 varieties. There is a faint trace of a red basal spot 

 in the $ h.w. Abdominal pouch in ? narrower than 

 in the last. 



Hab., Transalai. 



11. P. rhodius Honr. B. E. Z. 1882. Aust. 

 Parn. 96, pi. IX., figs. 1, 2, H. R. 



55 — 58 mm. 



Very much resembles P. actius in size and general 

 appearance, but at once to be distinguished from it 

 by the presence of a red spot at base of h.w. Be- 

 neath, the basal red blotches of the h.w. are much 

 larger, brighter and more distinct. The apex of f.w. 

 is more rounded, and similar to those of the next 

 species, P. honrathi. 9 duskier in colour, but more 

 transparent than P. acthts 9 , with the basal patch 

 h.w. more extended, and the ante-marginal band 

 broader and more continuous. 



Hab., Alai Province of Kokand, Osch (W. 

 Turkestan). 



P. delphinius var. infarinalis. 



Aust. 



12. P. honrathi Stgr. B. E Z., if 

 Parn. 108, pi. X., fig. 1, XI. 2. 



61 — 67 mm. 



Apex of f.w. more rounded than in P. discobolus, 

 ante-marginal band extending to in. marg., white 

 spots between this and marginal band larger. Outer 

 costal and in. marg. spots more broadly red, but 

 lighter in colour. H.w. with a basal red spot, and a 

 red spot at anal angle in both sexes. Hind marginal 

 spots not chevron-shaped. Bases more broadly, but 

 more faintly black. Red costal and central spots 

 white-centred. 9 larger than <5 , somewhat more 

 dusky, abdominal pouch narrower than in discobolus. 

 The colour of the red spots is less brilliant than 

 in i . 



Hab., Turkestan, Samarkand (Hazreth), Bokhara, 

 Sangi Djuman, Kuli-Kalan (Zarafehan), 7,000 to 

 8,000 feet (H. R.) V., VI. 



The four species above described are very closely 

 allied, but not more so than many of the species of 

 Melitaea and Erebia or Syrichthtts, and less so than 



