56 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



white tint, so characteristic of Celastrina argiolus. The spotting- 

 is very characteristic, especially on the forewings, being somewhat 

 elongated, in the form of little streaks, and very analogous to 

 that of Celastrina argiolus, and the spots are usually seven in number. 

 They are sometimes rather more rounded, and then appear to approach 

 the form one recognises as characteristic of E. alcetas. Their con- 

 tinuity, too, is usually most marked, but here again they sometimes 

 take on the form of an angulated line, curving in a way that again 

 suggests the normal condition in E. alcetas. The uniformity of 

 spotting on the underside of the forewings is well-illustrated by 

 Keverdin (Ent. Rec, xx., p. 264), whilst, at the same time, considerable 

 difference in the spotting of the underside of the hindwings is recorded. 

 The comparison between the spotting of the undersides of E. argiades 

 and E. alcetas (op. cit.) are also full of interest. It may be here noted 

 that Esper gives [Schmett. Eur., pi. xxxiv. (supp x.), fig. 2] a $ , 

 called tiresias (but without the characteristic metallic kernels on the 

 underside of this form), with a straight and very typical row of spots, 

 whilst his fig. 1 is a 2 > with an angulated row ; both present the 

 characteristic fulvous crescents of E. argiades. There is much 

 difference also in the intensity of the spotting in the transverse row ; 

 in some only traces of the white margins are left, the black dashes 

 being absent = ab. caeca, Aigner-Abafi, in others the transverse 

 row of spots is entirely obsolete = ab. depuncta, Hirschke, 

 in some the dashes are few and small = ab. ]iarvipuncta, n. ab., whilst 

 in others they are larger and much more marked than in the usual 

 typical form = ab. magnipuncta, n. ab., whilst Blachier notes (in litt.) a 

 specimen with the transverse row of spots developed into streaks 

 = ab. striata, n. ab. The main character, however, is the variability 

 of the orange or fulvous crescents. The usual form shows two 

 moderately developed, and one ill-developed crescent. In others 

 these are more or less beautifully-kernelled with metallic scales = 

 tiresias, Kott. ; in yet others the orange is most strikingly deep in tint, 

 and continued as a submarginal band for some distance = ab. rufescens, 

 n. ab., whilst others on the contrary are pallid, weak, and faint yellow 

 = ab. Jiavescens, n. ab. Of nine Swiss £s Keverdin notes {in litt.): 

 " Beneath, the hindwings of argiades, L., vary as to the yellow spots ; 

 four examples have two (in cells two and three), four have three (in 

 cells two, three and four), the third the smallest, and one has only one 

 (in cell two), with a slight indication of the second." Bingham says 

 (Fauna India, ii., p. 379) that " specimens from very dry localities in 

 Upper Burma, and from Great Nicobar Island, are remarkably small 

 and pale, with the markings on the upperside, especially the subtornal 

 ochraceous-yellow patch, more or less obsolescent. [Remarks relating 

 to all oriental forms of argiades must be accepted with caution as to 

 whether or not they really belong to this species. The Upper Burma 

 examples here noted may belong to argiades, the Great Nicobar examples 

 almost certainly do not.] In size, there are three more or less marked 

 forms (l) = ab. minor, n. ab., less than 24mm. usually found in the 

 spring and autumnal broods, (2) ab. intermedia, n. ab., less than 

 28mm., usually found in all broods, being the larger of the spring 

 and autumn, and the smaller of the summer broods, (3) ab. major, 

 n. ab., exceeding 28mm., and comprising the largest of the summer 

 brood, but the forms overlap most noticeably. Keverdin gives maxi- 



