des. 



ABRAXAS. Ky L. B. Prout. 311 



A. punctaria Leech (15 b). Smaller, the deep yellow markings as in flavobasalis, the dots smaller and more pvncfaria. 

 numerous; the presence of a subterminal series distinguishes it from both the preceding. Moupin. 



A. fuscescens Btlr. (15 b). Forewing brown, with strong coarse fascous irroration. Further charac- juncescewt. 

 terized by the elongate, very obliquely placed cell-spot. Distributed in the N. W. Himalayas. 



A. virginalis Btlr. (25 a) appears somewhat intermediate between the grossulariata and sylvata groups, virginails. 

 It may be known by the shadow grey markings, with pale yellow incomplete band between two postmedian 

 rows, and the ocellated cell-marks (nearly as in pantaria), that of the hindwing sometimes almost obsolete. Dis- 

 tributed in the N. W. Himalayas. 



A. sylvata Scop. (~ ulmata F., pantherata Hbn.) (15 b) may be regarded as the type of a large and -fyh^ata. 

 difficult group [Calospilos Hbn.). From most of its eastern allies it is distinguished by the unspotted apical 

 area of both wings, the lighter grey markings,, discal spot often elongate basewards, and the lighter or brighter 

 rust-coloured admixture in the basal area and in the large inner-marginal blotch . — ab. suffusa Twii (= plum- «"//"««. 

 bea Rbl.) is entirely suffused with leaden grey. — ab. intermedia TiM shows irregular patches of leaden grey intermedia.. 

 suffusion. — ■ In ab. obscura Tutt the suffusions are dirty ochreous or yellowish. This and the two preceding obsmra. 

 are only recorded from England, chiefly Yorkshire. — ab. transversa Tutt has a complete slaty-grey band transversa. 

 across the middle of the forewing. — ■ ab. pantarioides Spitz has the dark markings much reduced, resem- fantarioi 

 bling pantaria. A spot in the middle of the distal margin (though sometimes much reduced) and the dark head 

 remain distinctive. — Egg pale greenish yellow, with hexagonal reticulation. Larva whitish, dorsally more 

 yellowish, the longitudinal lines black, lateral stripe yellow; head black. On Ulmus montana, sometimes on 

 Prunus padus, beech and hazel. The pupa hibernates in a slight cocoon on the ground; short and thick 

 blackish brown, at the incisions lighter brown. The moth flies in May and June and is locally abundant from 

 Central Europe to Central Asia. 



A. orientalis Stgr. (15 b) is usually smaller, with the grey markings darker and much more extended, orieniaKs. 

 eorbracing the distal margin and fringe, sometimes the whole costal margin of the forewing, etc.; discal spot of 

 forewing irregularly shaped, reaching the costal margin (in sylvata free or rarely with a narrow connecting spot), 

 sometimes much enlarged, some spots between it and hindmargin (slight or wanting in sylvata). S. E. Siberia. 

 A doubtful form from N. Japan (intensa Ckll.) may be provisionally united with it. Described as a variety of 

 sylvata, which seems to me scarcely possible. It might rather be a dwarfed form of miranda. — deminuta demimda. 

 Warr. is probably an aberration, with a continuous, though rather narrow, antemedian band on the hindwing. 

 Japan. 



A. miranda Btlr. (15 b) may be known by its large size (especially in the $), the tendency of the miranda. 

 discal spots to join with large posterior spots so as to form a central band, the double postmedian row of the 

 forewing commonly more or less strengthened, often partly confluent, especially the distal series, the correspon- 

 ding pairs of spots on the hmdwing usually separate, at least on the radial veins and 1st median. Ground- 

 colour often rather more yellowish white than in the two preceding. Japan. — latifasciata Warr. is not quite latifasriatn. 

 so large, especially in the $, the postmedian spots, often also the median, still more thoroughly united into a 

 band, the median of the hindwing much broadened, both wings with more dark spotting at apex. Japan. — ab. 

 continuata Warr. is a further development of latifasciata, the postmedian band of both wings quite solid, continuaia. 

 Founded on one example. — suffusa Warr. represents miranda in Tibet and Szechuan. Smaller than latifas- suffusa. 

 data, the markings at least as dark, discal patch of both wings large, apical markings generally strong. 



-^ A. suspecta Warr. (15 b). Confusingly similar to miranda, like it in having the $ generally much suspeda. 



larger than the ^. The (^ genitalia differ notably from the other species in having a pair of small triangular 

 plates at base of uncus (= aborted ,,gnathos"). Smaller than miranda, especially in the 2nd brood, cleaner 

 white, the spots slightly more bluish grey, small scattersd spots or dots almost or entirely absent, median 

 band very rarely complete, postmedian band of forewing interrupted at least between 1st and 2nd median, 

 that of hindwing generally composed of single or confluent vein-spots, yet very variable. Described from 

 Kiukiang. Common at Siccawei near Shangai, whence I have received good material from my friend Dr. Cul- 

 pnsr. Also known to me from Wei-hai-wei and from Wei-chang, N. W. China. Egg slate-coloured. Larva black, 

 with white longitudinal lines and white transverse markings on the first few and last few segments. It feeds , 

 on a deciduous plant wbich may be a species of dwarf elm. Moth in May and September, larva in June, 

 the pupa aestivating. 



