140 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



occur, not exceeding 18mm. in expanse, the $ s having the series of 

 submarginal spots faintly indicated ( — ab. nana, Grund). Kruger says 

 that at Algeciras the $ s are of a very much lighter, and more brilliant, 

 blue than in typical specimens from Germany, and with black spots 

 along the fairly broad border on the upperside of the hindwings. 

 Aigner-Abafi renamed (Ann. Mus. Nat. Hung., iv., p. 516) this form 

 punctigera, on the strength of an example taken July 31st, 1895, at 

 Eperjes by Dahlstrom. [His published nute, says a ? , but a letter from 

 Aigner now in our hands, referring to this aberration, shows that this is 

 a laps. cal. for $ .] Staudinger notes [Hot. Soc. Ent. Ross., xiv., p. 243) 

 that, one g , captured at Amasia in 1875, had black marginal spots 

 before the border of the hindwing, whilst, in another g from Syria, 

 the spots are more fully developed. 



k. ab. rufopunctatus, Neub., " Soc. Ent.," xxi., p. 180 (1907); Rev., "Bull. 

 Soc. Lep. Geneve," i., p. 375 (1909). Icarus var. 2, Zeller, " Isis," p. 154 (1817). 

 Ilufopunctata, Rebel, " Berge's iSchmett.," 9th ed., p. 70 (1909). — A striking 

 aberration which bears, on the upperside of the hindwing, on the inner margin 

 at the point where it meets the outer margin, two clearly discernible red or orange- 

 red spots, which stand out very beautifully from the blue ground colour so as 

 to give a constant distinction. I name this form icarus ab. rufopunctatus 

 (Neuburger). 



Reverdin states [Bull. Soc. Lep. Gen., i., p. 375) that Neuburger of 

 Berlin has recently named an icarus g , from Beyrout, rufopunctatus, 

 which shows on the hindwings near the anal angle two very distinct 

 orange-red points, and that he further noted that he had received the 

 same aberration from other localities, e.g., Sassari in Sardinia, and 

 from Askabad. It is clear that this must always be a rare form in this 

 species, as the marginal spots are rarely developed, except very locally. 

 The best example that has come under our notice is one from Sicily 

 labelled by Zeller, " Catania, 27. vi. '44," but it is not at all strongly 

 marked, another " Syracuse, June 3rd," is very faintly marked, and 

 these are the only specimens the British Museum coll. seems to possess. 

 [The beautiful Syrian specimens referred to by Graves (Ent. Bee, xviii., 

 p. 150) as having the reddish-orange markings beautifully shown, as 

 in Cyaniris soniargus var. antiochena, are, so far as a lovely $ in our 

 possession is concerned, to be considered Plebeius drusus var. pulchra, 

 n. var. Until the genitalia were examined by Chapman, and its 

 specific value determined, we ourselves supposed the insect to be a 

 form of P. icarus.] 



Female Aberrations. 



a. ab. fusca, Gillm., "Int. Ent. Zeits.," ii., p. 11 (1908); Seitz, " Gross- 

 Schmett.," p. 312 (1909); llebel, "Berge's Schmett.," 9th ed., p. 70 (1909). 

 Alexis, Wood, " Ind. Ent.," p. 8, pi. iii., fig. 09 (1839). Icarus ab., Lovell-Keays, 

 " Ent. llec," v., p. 184 (1894). — ? . Entirely brown or blackish-brown, without 

 red marginal spots. Occurs in both broods (Gillmer). 



This form is not common in England. Lovell-Keays records it 

 from Caterham, May 22nd, 1894, etc. 



/3. ab. thcrsites, Gerb., " Mon.," p. 15, pi. xxviii., fig. 2c, 5 (1853); Dale, 

 " Hist. Brit. Butts.," p. 71 (1890). — ? . Brown, no submarginal orange lunules 

 on brewings, but a series of small ones on hindwings. 



7. ab. fusciolus, Geoff., " Fourc. Ent. Paris.," p. 245 (1785).— L'Argus brun. 

 Long. lig. Larg. 13 iig. Papilio alis rotundatis Lntegerrimis, nigro fuscis, 

 fulvo-maculatis, subtus ocellis numerosis. Loc. prata ; rarior (Geoffroy). 



The normal -sized, dark, black-brown form of the $ with orange 

 submarginal spots on both forewings. Similar, except lor its dark 

 colour, to the type. 



