30 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



y. ab. semiaurantia, Tutt, "Brit. Butts.," p. 167 (1896); Bart., " Ent. Zeits. 

 Gub.," xviii., p. 115 (1904); Seitz, " Gross-Schmett.," p. 316 (1909); Rebel, 

 "Berge's Scbmett.," 9th ed., p. 72 (1909). Semiaurantiaca , Lamb., "Pap. 

 Belg.," p. 240 (1902). — Dull blackish-brown, scaled with blue at bases of wings, 

 orange marginal spots distinct, edged internally with paler (Tutt). 



This is the form of the $ in which the bases of the wing are supplied 

 with blue scales ; the orange marginal spots distinct and well coloured 

 on all the wings, with the inner edge of the orange lunules sometimes 

 faintly edged with pale. It is a form parallel w 7 ith aurantia, except 

 for the blue scaling at the base of the wrings. It is a not uncommon 

 aberration ; when first described we considered it rarer than' appears to 

 be the case. 



8. ab. inaequalis, Tutt, " Brit. Butts.," p. 167 (1896); Lamb., " Pap. Belg.," 

 p. 240 (1902); Pickett, "Ent. Pec," xv., p. 270 (1903); Haverk., "Ann. Soc. 

 Ent. Belg.," 1., p. 156 (1906); Bartel, "Ent. Zeits. Guben," xviii., p. 115 (1904); 

 Lamb., "Cat. Lep. Belg.," p. 427(1907); Rebel, "Berge's Scbmett.," 9th ed., 

 p. 72 (1909); Seitz, " Gross-Scbmett.," i., p. 315 (1909). Corydon ab., Pickett, 

 "Proc. Sth. Lond. Ent. Soc," p. 114 (1902). — With blue streaks sometimes 

 varying on opposite wings of the same insect (Tutt). 



Irregularity in the blue scaling is a not uncommon feature ; 

 specimens with one, or even all, the wings irregularly and asymmetri- 

 cally marked with blue scales, are frequently observed. Hodgson 

 notes (in lift.) that, near Brighton, in 1888, he took a 2 with blue- 

 scaled striaB between the nervures of the right forewing which showed 

 no blue scaling elsewhere, w 7 hilst, in 1907 and 1909, near Reigate, 

 several $ s were taken irregularly marked with asymmetrical patches 

 or spots of blue, especially on the hindwings. Pickett recorded 

 inaequalis as being more abundant than usual at Dover, in August, 

 1903. 



e. ab. calaethis, Jermyn, " Butt. Coll. Vade Mecum," 2nd ed., p. 169 ('1827); 

 Dbldy. and Westd., "Gen. Diurn. Lep.," p. 493 (1852). Calaelhys, Stephs., 

 "Illus. Haust.," i., p. 89 (1828); Humph, and Westd., "Brit. Butts.," p. 105 

 (1841); Kirby, " Syn. Cat.," p. 368 (1871). Galathaeia, Dale, " Hift. Brit. 

 Butts.," p. 64 (1890). Corydon ab., Sladen, "Ent.," xxxv.. p. 274 (1902).— 

 Very like the preceding species (thestylis and lacon). Fringe barred with bhick ; 

 secondary wings underneath with a di-coidal wliite-cinctured crescent, below 

 which, towards the posterior margin, is an undulated band consisting of seven 

 ocellated spots (Kirby, in Miss Jermyn's Butt. Coll. Vade Mecum, p. 169). 



From the descriptions of the preceding " species," one learns that 

 the upperside of the wings is black with a blue disc, a transverse 

 discoidal spot, and marginal spots surmounted with orange, faintly 

 on forewings, stronger on hindwings. Stephens, who no doubt had a 

 good knowledge of the insects described by Miss Jermyn, refers this to 

 his coridon var. p, but he seems to have no justification for adding to 

 his description of the underside, the statement that the upperside of 

 the wings has "a whitish discoidal spot with a black pupil," as Miss 

 Jermyn indicates no such character. Humphreys and Westwood 

 {Brit. Butts., p. 105) just copy verbatim Stephens' description. Like 

 so many " book makers" of fco-day, they rarely made any first-hand 

 references. It was no doubt then, as now, much easier to copy from 

 the book nearest one's elbow. In this, then, we seem to have the $? 

 form in which the discal area of all the wings is blue, but with ordinary 

 dark discoidal lunules. There are, however, no details given to show 

 to which form it should now be referred. Sladen notes (Ent., xxxv., 

 p. 21 i) the capture of ? s, in north Wilts, with a central splash of 



