8(3 AGIDALIA. By L. B. pROtrT. 



too, though apparently not quite so short as in decorata, is distinctly shorter and less dense than in ornata. 

 The cj hindtarsus in not abbreviated. The blue-grey, wedge-shaped spots at the costal end of the distal 

 band distinguish it at once from ornata. The postmedian line of the hindwing is as a rule less strongly bent 

 than in either ornata or decorata; the strength of the dark markings distally to it is very variable, but almost 

 always less than in any decorata ; the subterminal line of both wings is rather broad ; fringes not strongly dark 

 marked. Under surface of forewing with a rather noticeable dark band proximally to the pale subterminal, 

 which is not distinctly bounded distally. Only known from Sicily. There are two, or perhaps three broods 

 during the summer, the first-brood specimens being the largest and most strongly marked. It flies among 

 thyme and its habits are similar to those of ornata and decorata. 



A. decorata is in its tjrpical forms a very pretty species and easily distinguished from the three preceding 

 by its more yellowish-white ground colour (becoming still yellower in the Corsican race) and by the intensity 

 of its dark markings. It is, however, subject to a wide range of variation, both geographical and individual, 

 and its whitest forms are exceedingly similar to ornata and congruata, especially the latter, which may even 

 be, as Zeller suggested, an extreme development of it (certainly not of ornata, which Staudinger suggests 

 as an alternative possibility). decorata agrees in shape with ornata. It is best distinguished by the shorter, 

 less fasciculate ciliations of the c? antenna, the somewhat longer hindtarsus, distinct costal spots on the 

 forewing at the origin of the three lines, the more strongly dentate postmedian line and the presence (even in the 

 light specimens) of some darker shading between the postmedian and subterminal lines of the forewing, espe- 

 cially the blue-grey marks hear the costal margin, referred to under congruata. In addition there is usually 

 a distinct dark cell-dot present in the fore- as well as on the hindwing, although as it is commonly placed 

 on the median line it is not so conspicuous as would otherwise be the case. The inner line of the forewing is 

 usually distinct in its posterior part, sharply angled on the 2. submedian. The fringes, except in the very 

 . light forms, are rather strongly darkened; the dark dots at the vein-ends, when conspicuous at all, are more 

 prolonged into streaks, and less black, than those of ornata. As with congruata, the dark distal colouring of 

 the hindwing is rather uniform, either strong throughout or weak throughout, not so much broken into 

 blotches as is frequently the case in ornata and suhtilata. The suffusion on the under surface is slightly browner 

 in decorata, greyer m ornata. The egg is laid upright and is tall, conical, the surface shiny, the longitudinal 

 ribs well developed, the transverse ones faint and numerous; when first laid it is of a pale green colour. The 

 larva is elongate cylindrical, yellow, dorsally reddish, with a double black dorsal line and a very broad 

 blackish subdorsal line, laterally not carinated, a broad white lateral stripe. It feeds on thyme. The pupa 

 has the wing-cases apple green, the abdominal segments reddish. The moth appears in about 18 — 20 days. 

 It is double-brooded, probably in the south triple-brooded. It frequents dry places where thyme is growing. 

 decorata. — decorata Schiff. (= cinerata F. = ornataria part. Esp.) (4 m) is the most widely distributed European 

 form. The ground-colour is yellowish white, or sometimes purer white, the distal band strongly dark, 

 at least on the forewing, but not very broad, its colour bluish grey. The whiter, more ornata-like forms seem 

 to be commonest in Spain and perhaps constitute a local race there. Staudinger indicates a very extensive 

 range for typical decorata, embracing Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, Zerafshan to 

 aequata. the Hi district and Northern Mongolia. — ab. aequata Stgr. is described as having the entire row of dark 

 markings on both wings distally to the postmedian line uniformly dark brown (blackish) instead of mainly 



. (on the hindwmg entirely) blue-grey as in the type. It is reported from Spain, N. Germany, Asia Minor and 



magna, the Kentei Mountains. — ab. magna ab. nov. Under the designation of "decorata var. magna'' I have received 

 a very large (J from Konia, Syria, and there are two quite similar (^^ in the British Museum collection 

 (S. Prance and Sarcpta). It is of the purest white form, the dark spots on the costal margin not more strongly 

 expressed than in the best-marked ornata, the bluish-grey distal costal spot also wanting, the next spot 

 in the series almost as weak as in ornata, but more blue-grey (less brown). The cell-spot is present on the 

 forewing and a series of blue-grey spots between the subterminal line and the distal margin of both wings 

 violata. is quite characteri.stic of decorata. — violata Thnb. (= caerulata Gmel.) is the form which occurs in Sweden 

 and European Russia, but also occasionally as an aberration elsewhere. It is said to have the distal area 

 more broadly and more darkly banded Avith blue-grey. I have seen no examples, but some from other parts 



honestata. of Europe approach it. — honestata Mab. (3 m) from Corsica and Sardinia is an interesting form of a more 

 strongly yellowish tone. In the few specimens which I have seen the black discal spots of both wings are 

 enlarged, the inner line of the forewing is well developed, rather thickened, especially at the costal and poste- 

 rior margins, and the postmedian line of both wings is more deeply inbent between the radials than is usual 

 in the typical form, although individual specimens of the latter have this same form of postmedian. Distributed 

 in the mountains, June and July. 



subtilata. A. subtilata Chr. (4 m). Variable in size, but perhaps larger on an average than ornata and decorata, 



though not so large as ab. magna. Forewing with costal margin rather straighter; hindwing with distal mar- 

 gin crenulate, the tail at the third radial noticeable, but the excision between the radials very shallow. Colour 



