350 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



of the whole undersurface of the hindwings. Kabadian in mid-May (Grum- 

 Grshimailo). 



Buhl notes the ^ as" very dark above, the underside of hindwings 

 very pale, not tailed." 



7. var. comedarum, Grum-Grsh., "Rom. Mem.," iv., p. 305(1890); Buhl, 

 "Pal. Gross-Schmett.," p. 747 (1896) ; Tutt, "Brit. Butts.," p. 154 (1896).— The 

 form which I have reported from the southeast of the Koun jout mountains, approaches 

 the var. oxiana very closely. Unfortunately I have only a single ? , on which it is 

 difficult to establish a new variety. Its distinctive characters are : (1) The largest 

 example of phlaeas in my collection is 31mm., whilst the form which I here 

 describe is 36mm. (2) The coloration above is very pale. (3) The coloration of 

 the underside is paler than in oxiana, all the spots are very large and particularly 

 strongly developed on the hindwings. In case this form should be found constant,. 

 I propose to call it comedarum. Taken on the Col Be'ik, at 14000ft. elevation, in 

 mid- July (Grum-Grshimailo). 



8. var. chinensis, Feld., " Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien.," xii., p. 488 (1862) ;. 

 Leech, "Butts, of China," ii., p. 399 (1893-4); Fletcher, " Entom.," xxiv., 

 p. 156 (1891); Ruhl, "Pal. Gross-Schmett.," pp. 218, 747 (1896).— From 

 Shanghai. This diffeis from European and western Asiatic examples by 

 its greater size ; much larger spots on the fore wings; narrower marginal band on 

 the upperside of the hindwings; large conspicuous spots on the underside. 

 Described from a single ? (Felder). 



Leech says (Butts, of China, ii., p. 399) that this insect differs from 

 typical specimens in its larger size, much broader spots of the fore- 

 wmgs, narrower marginal band on the upperside of the hindwings, 

 and larger, more distinct spots on the underside. He adds that he 

 met with this form in the Snowy Valley at Ningpo, the specimens 

 being much larger than any others in his collection ; he also received 

 the same form from Kiukiang, together with the dark (eleus) form. 

 See also Fletcher's remarks (antea, p. 349). 



The Indian forms. 



Niceville says (Butts, of India, p. 317) : " There is no doubt that 

 the local races of this species (in India) are the immediate effect of the 

 different climates in which they live ; the darkest form, tinieus, occurs 

 where the rainfall is heaviest, and the vegetation consequently most 

 luxuriant, stygianus and baralacha inhabiting far more barren and rain- 

 less regions. It is also certain that an absolutely complete gradation 

 of forms between all the Indian races, at any rate, could be shown, 

 were sufficient material available, but this does not prevent the local 

 races being distinct and capable of discrimination at their respective 

 headquarters." The following are the original descriptions, etc., of 

 the Indian forms : 



a. var. timeus, Cram., "Pap. Ex.," ii., p. 137, pi. clxxxvi., rigs. E, f (1111) ; 

 Moore, " Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.," 1865, p. 506 (1865) ; Butl., " Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 Lond.," 1886, p. 368 (1886) ; Nicev., " Butts. India," hi., p. 315, pi. xxvii., fig. 

 205 (1890). Timaeus, Doh., " Journ. As. Soc. Beng.," Iv., pt. 2, p. 130 (1886).— 

 The red colour on the upperside of the wings, and the dirty-yellow ground colour 

 of the underside of the forewings, are shining, exactly as that of P. virgaureae and 

 P. pldaeas, there being much resemblance between the last-named and that we 

 figure. It belongs, like the others, to the "Argus " group (Papilio Plebeius Ruralis). 

 It was taken in Smyrna (Cramer). 



It is remarkable that this name was first given to an aberrational 

 form occurring in Smyrna, which becomes racial in India. The 

 figures of Cramer must be consulted, as well as his description, to get an 

 idea of the form described. Cramer's figures are crude, but the fore- 

 wings are deeply suffused along the inner margin, the suffusion 

 extending up to, and largely including, the discal spots ; the costal and 



