EVERES AEGIADES. 65 



Schmett., pi. lxv., figs. 319-321) the insect known since 1808 as coretas, 

 Ochs., but Hoffmansegg, in 1804, discovered (111. Mag., iii., p. 205) 

 this error, and renamed the insect alcetas, a name adopted by Hiibner 

 in the text of his own work, in 1806 (Eur. Schmett., p. 51). The 

 name tiresias must stand for the aberration with glistening metallic 

 kernels to the fulvous spots on the underside of the hindwings. 



(?) e. ab. depuncta, Hirschke, " Verh. zool.-bot. Gesell. Wien.," 1903, pp. 88, 270 

 (1903). — This is a highly interesting form of Lycaena argiades, Pall., from the upper 

 Czernatal above Mehadia (Hungary), which is distinguished by it3 striking 

 size, and. more especially, by the dots on the underside — as far as the central 

 crescent — more or less entirely disappearing. This form, which was taken in 

 numbers in the above-mentioned locality, and seems to possess the character of a 

 local race, may be called ab. depuncta. A detailed account of it will follow in this 

 publication (p. 88). Taking the opportunity during a lengthy stay in Herkulesbad, 

 I captured in numbers, in the upper Czernatal, between May 21st and June 2nd, 

 1901, at the same time with ab. decolorata, Stdgr., a form of argiades, which at 

 once struck me by its noteworthy size. Specimens set in the usual manner measure 

 (from tip to tip of the wings) up to 31mm. ; the chief distinction from the type is 

 formed by the absence of the rows of eye-spots on all the wings. Only occasionally 

 there is one or other of the eye-spots present mostly in cell 2. Likewise the orange- 

 coloured marginal bands either do not occur at all or are very much reduced. The 

 central streaks, however, are present as in the type, and the upperside of all the 

 wings shows no variation. As I found only this form at the bottom of the valley 

 and, on the contrary, only the type (though only smaller examples) on the heights 

 surrounding the Czernatal, it appears that the greater humidity, as well as the 

 circumstance of the sun's rays striking the bottom of the valley only a few hours 

 every day, have brought about the evolution of this form, which I name ab. (et var.) 

 depuncta (p. 270) (Hirschke). 



This appears to be practically identical with ab. caeca, Aigner, in its 

 particular feature of an almost spotless underside, but it differs in 

 that w T hilst this has an almost unicolorous grey spotless underside, 

 Aigner -Ab all's aberration has the underside covered with the white 

 margins of the obsolete black spots, and, in addition, has the normal 

 fulvous spots towards the anal angle of the hindwing, which -Hirschke 

 says either do not occur at all or are very much reduced in depuncta. 

 One wonders whether the form be, indeed, an aberration of argiades at 

 all, the statement that " the orange-coloured marginal bands either do 

 not occur at all or are very much reduced," suggests rather that it is 

 an aberration of alcetas. One wants specimens to make sure of the 

 matter. 



£". ab. caeca, Aigner-Abafi, "Ann. Mus. Nat. Hung.," p. 515, pi. xiv., fig. 5 

 (1906). — The underside entirely without eye-spots, only the white edgings of these 

 being present, although here and there a very small black dot may be detected. 

 Captured in Upper Hungary — Eperjes, July 30th, 1892, by J. Dahlstrom. This form 

 may be known as ab. caeca (Aigner-Abafi). 



This form is an underside aberration, with the black streaks and 

 dots on the undersides of all the wings practically obsolete, only the 

 pale margins being left. Aigner-Abafi' s figure is none too well repro- 

 duced. It shows, however, the white margins usually outlining the dark 

 streaks, on the underside of both fore- and hindwings and two pale 

 orange crescents near the anal angle of the hindwings. 



v. ab. striata, n. ab. — ? . 25mm. in expanse. The upperside normal ; brown 

 in colour with the bases of the wings powdered with violet-blue scales, the hind- 

 wings with one yellow spot near the anal angle. On the underside, the fore wings 

 with the black discoidal lunule and some points of the postmedian row, but a little 

 elongated in the direction of the nervures ; there are also faint antemarginal shades. 

 Hindwings with black streaks in the place of the dots of the postmedian row ; two 



