406 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



no doubt that the old name of pseudargiolus must stand. One would 

 surmise from the marvellous details of Edwards (Butts. Nth. 

 America, ii., Lye. pis. ii and iii) that the Nearctic race of this 

 species, with its wealth of variational and aberrational names, was 

 almost polymorphic in its appearance, and most complicated in its 

 life-history, but, as a matter of fact, the Nearctic insect appears to be 

 practically identical with the Palsearctic race in both particulars. It 

 exhibits the same colour tint variations in both sexes, the same marked 

 seasonal variation in the females, and the same variation of single-, par- 

 tially double-, and partially triple-brooded condition, according to lati- 

 tude, altitude, or difference in the meteorological conditions of various 

 seasons. As in our British examples the males are usually either (1) of 

 the ordinary azure tint, or (2) of a somewhat distinct mauve, whilst the 

 female may be mauve (inclining to whitish in certain areas) azure-blue, 

 or bright almost metallic blue. The spring females may vary some- 

 what in the width of the black marginal border of the upperside of 

 the forewing, but as a rule, this is (1) much narrower than, (2) not 

 continued markedly along the costa so far as, in the summer form ; 

 whilst the latter may have in addition (1) a marked discoidal spot, (2) 

 a darkened costa on hindwing, (3) a paler tint in central areas of both 

 wings. Our Palaearctic summer forms are rarely as white as the most 

 extreme of the Nearctic, whilst the undersides of our Palasarctic spring 

 forms are rarely, if ever, as dark as the Nearctic. Based on a com- 

 parison of the figures in Edwards' work (op. cit.) one finds the following 

 Nearctic forms dealt with : — 



Spring forms. 



1. c? . Azure-blue, with narrow black marginal edge to forewings. ? with 

 comparatively narrow black marginal band on forewings and no discoidal lunule, 

 and narrow line with marginal dots on hindwings. Underside J and ? much 

 shaded with blackish ; hindwings with central patch, distinct marginal border on 

 both wings = lucia, Edw., pi. ii., figs. 1-2. 



2. As in 1, but median blackish patch on underside of hindwings wanting — 

 marginata, Edw., pi. ii., figs. 3-4. 



3. 3 . Bather less bright in tint, marginal line of forewings slightly extended 

 at apex. ? also with marginal band of forewings slightly extended along costa, 

 and no discoidal lunule. Underside 3 and ? , strongly spotted, but without 

 blackish discal and marginal areas = violacea, Edw., pi. ii., figs. 5-5. 



[4. c? . Small form of 3 ; the $ with suggestions of summer brood in the 

 discoidal lunule, and the extension of marginal band along costa to discoidal spot, 

 and greater width at anal angle, margin of hindwings with distinct lunules. 

 Underside ashy-grey, spots faint and small = cinerea, Edw., pi. ii., figs. 16-17.] 



5. c? . Uniform greyish- or sooty-black — nigra, Edw., pi. ii., fig. 7. 



6. <? . Mauve, with scarcely any trace of dark marginal edge ; underside grey, 

 with obsolete spots (almost certainly a summer example). ? bright blue, with 

 narrow marginal border extending along costa in apical region ; no discoidal 

 lunule; hindwings with submarginal lunular band containing marginal dots; 

 underside white, with well-marked spots =piasus, Edw., pi. ii., figs. 20-21 ; fig. 21, 

 the ? , is called echo, Edw., pp. 5, 9. 



7. ? s. Most like 2 on upperside =piasus, Edw., pi. iii., fig. 26 (called first 

 brood), fig. 27 (called second brood). (Both almost certainly first brood females, 

 though different in appearance from pi. ii., fig. 21). 



Summer forms. 



8. c? • Inclining to mauve, with well-marked marginal black edge, strongly 

 marked at apex. ? . Violet becoming whitish externally where coming in contact 

 with broad, black, marginal band ; costa markedly dark, and uniting with 

 discoidal lunule; hindwings with greyish lunular border = arizonensis, Edw., 

 app. p. 7= pseudargiolus, Edw., pi. ii., figs. 18-19. [Cinerca, figs. 16-17 (see suprd,), 

 form almost certainly a parallel small race of the same brood, they are so similar.] 



9. <? . Azure, with clear black marginal line, hindwings whitish towards 



