PARNASSIUS. By H. Stichel. 47 



weaklv, sometimes more stronglj' expressed, occasionally a stronger black spot in the hindmarginal area, 

 the costal spots also quite black, more copiousty dotted with red or white; on the hindwing the anal spot 

 in individual instances more distinct and near the margin sometimes some blackish spots. In the ??, parii- 

 culai-v those from high Ijing localities, more copious black marking and partial darkening of the white 

 oTOund-colour are of no imcommon occurrence, also in both sexes individuals often occur with yellowish 

 instead of red ocelli, which are usuallj' referred to behrii (see further below). But this name must be 

 reserved for the Western race of the species. Specimens without red on the upper surface, in which even 

 the ocelli of the hindwing are reduced to black spots, are usualty called ab. sedakovii Men. This is, 

 however, an Asiatic form of P. phoebu^ F. and the name has been replaced by ab. mendica SHch. mendica. 



The egg is semispherical, somewhat depressed at the top, the upper surface thickl}' granulated, the 

 colour ivor\- wiiite with a faint greenish tint. Development variable, some eggs jneld the larvae in the 

 same j-ear, others hibernate. The young larva is nearly cylindrical, of black colour, the bod}"^ covered with 

 small hairy tubercles. When fullgro-wn it attains a length of 23 — 25 mm (0,9 — 1,1 inch), the ground- 

 colour is then black-brown, browm on the underside and the legs, the body covered with short stiff hairs 

 and marked with 4 rows of j-ellow, sometimes white spots; it has a fork-shaped, eversible yellowish gland 

 in the neck; the head is broad, with impressed suture, of black colour. Pupa cylindrical, stout, about 

 15 mm (0.6 inch) long, the upper surface Irnely granulated, of yellow-brown colour with greenish reflection. 

 \\lien the larva is about to pupate it draws a leaf or several leaves together into a sort of cocoon by 

 some silken threads, but pupae have also been found on the ground luider pieces of wood without a trace 

 of a cocoon. Duration of the pupal stage unknown. The time of flight of the butterflies lasts from May 

 to September, but appears to depend on the temperature and other climatic conditions and the principal 

 time of emergence is the month of Julj' (Courtis). The oviposition seems to be irregular and regardless 

 of place, and it is left for the newlj'-emerged larva to find its food-plant; it was observed that the eggs 

 were laid on the stalks of grass or other plants (Composites, Artemisia, etc.), or even on stems or on the 

 ground itself, but always near- to this. Various opinions have been advanced as to the food-plant; thus, 

 among others, Beuce suspected it was Castelleia Integra, and also suggested Saxifraga, later he assigned 

 Sedum stenopetalum as the true food-plant; W. H. Edwards reared the larvae on Sedum ternatum, but ■ 

 they also accepted other species of Sedum. By night thej' live concealed in secure hiding-places on the 

 ground, not coming out until the sun shines; thej' are commonly attacked by parasites (Tachinids). The 

 images are common where thej^ occur, but are difficult to catch, not only on account of the natural 

 obstacles of the ground, but also on account of their rapid and high flight. Newly emerged males emit, 

 particularly at the time of copulation, a pecuhar, pungent and disagreeable odour, which reminds one of 

 mice (W. H. Edwards, Wright, Reakirt, Feuhstoreer, etc.). Habitat of the typical race: the Rockj' 

 ilountains in Wyoming and Colorado. 



The species is veiy variable, but according to our experience with the European and Asiatic species 

 the formation of races in certain restricted localities is to be assumed as in the highest degree probable. 

 These races nevertheless intergrade with one another and in the region of flight of the one form are found 

 indi^•iduals with characteristics of the others and vice versa, so that the characters assigned to the following 

 forms are only to be taken in a very general sense. In doubtful cases the locality of the insect must 

 settle the question. ■ — As hermodur H. Edw. onlj^ a strongly darkened form of the cf is usually hennodur. 

 described. The original is recorded from the Southern part of the distribution-area, cfcf (17 e) from that 

 district for the most part differ in that the glossy border of the forewing is not interrupted by white spots 

 at the margin, the submarginal band is only very weakly developed, and the costal spots are occasionallj^ 

 much reduced; ?? occur in a more or less darkened form. The name may be applied collectively to the 

 Southern race. South Colorado, Northern New Mexico. — In sayii W. H. Edir. (17d) the cfcT are usually sayii. 

 larger, with larger deep red ocelli, and otherwise approach the Asiatic intermedius Men.; in the ?? as a rule 

 a more copious sprinkhng with black scales is noticeable, so that they agree in this with the ?? of the 

 previous form; the costal spots of the forewing are large and quite filled in with red, the glossj' border 

 broad, only separated from the submarginal band by a row of luniform spots, the submarginal crescents of 

 the hindwing especially stronglj? marked and merged together into a broad band. Montana, Judith Moun- 

 tains. — From the Noiihem parts of the Rocky Mountains there is a smaller form described as nanus nanus. 

 Neumoeg. The type-specimen of this resembles the ab. mendiea; in the cf the red colour is entirely absent 

 on the upper surface of both wings, the greater part of the outer margin is glassy grey, on the hindwing 

 only the hindmarginal area is blackish and in the disc there is a black spot instead of the ocellus. The ? 

 is similar to that of hermodur, darkly dusted, with 2 costal spots filled in with red, hindwing with glass}' 

 grej' border, the red ocelli with white pupils, all the black markings vivid. British Columbia and Montana. — 

 In the West the species is represented by behrii W. J I. Ediv. (17 d); a rather large form, in which the cf behrii. 

 usually has somewhat longer wings, the submarginal band is marked anteriorly by sharp black luniform 

 spots, which become obsolete posteriorly, the anterior ones of the costal spots usualty centred with red, 

 the glossy border is confined to the anterior half, naiTOwed and so restricted by the white marginal spots 

 that it only remains as a row of blackish wedge-shaped spots; ocelli of the hindmng small. The red- 



