14 



RHOPALOCERA NIHONICA. 



35' Thecla japonica, Murray. (Pi- 4， fig. 7ん 7b， 7c， 7d.) 



T. fasciata. Janson. 

 T. re gin a. Butler. 



Localities ― Yokohama, Asama-yama, Nikko, Yezo. 



i ime of appearance ― on tlie plains, May to July ； on the mountains, July and August. 



36. Thecla orientalis, Murray. (Pi. 4, fig. 8a, 8b.) 



Localities ― Yokohama, NiUko, Asama-yama, Yezo. 

 Tune of appearance — Exaaly the same as the preceding species. 



37. Thecla saphirina, Stdgr, (Pi. 4， fig. 9 A . 9 B ') 



These four form another very distinct group. 7* he males of all four are a most vivid iridescent green. 

 The females of two, T. orientalis and T. sapharina are dull brow n. The female of T. sviaragdina Iias， 

 in all the specimens I have seen, a patch of yellowish brown on tlie fore-wine, while the female of 7\ 

 japonica is polymorphic and very variable. One polymorphic form of the latter is entirely brc5wn, 

 another has a large patch of sinning blue on the fore-wing, a third lias a yellow ish brown patch on tlie 

 fore-wing, wliilst a fourth lias both the blue and yellowish brown ； specimens sliov\ in^ a n^ixlure, in 

 every decree of variation, can often be found. Coloration of the female, hou ever, depends greatly 

 upon teni perature, as tlie further nortli we go, or the greater altiiude the specimens are obtained 

 at, the more blue they will, as a rule, exhibit. Mr. Butler has been led from this cause into naiiimg a 

 boreal form, as a distinct species ； a very uncalled for proceeding, only tending to produce further con- 

 fusion, in an already complicated eroup. ゾ. o) i en talis has also a boreal form, with smaller and 

 sharper outline, which so far has escaped the lust of tliis insatiable 'species maker/ The males 

 of T. japonica are very pugnacious ； the Alder is their favourite tree, an d they sit on its leaves waiting 

 for any passino" rival. With regard to T. sviaragdina, I was of opinion tliat it might pcrssibly be a 

 hybrid, but I now think this can hardly be the case, although I have had as yet, no means of testing 

 the point by breedinp" : but if it be not a liv bnd. we have here another case of 'duality ， between it and 

 T. japonica. The best proof that T. sniara^dina is probably not a liN brid, is tliat it i? never found about 

 Yokohama, where both T. orientalis and T. japonica are abundant. I'lie normal form of tlie females of 

 all tlie four species retains the ancestral dull color, but in T. japonica there are abnormal forms, particu- 

 larly boreal, having many degrees of bright coloration, although perfectly distinct from tlie color 

 of the male, which is ercen, the female being blue. This last species is therefore evidently in a state of 

 transition. 丁 he females of the Dipsas group have attained the same amount of coloration as tlie males. 

 The females of Thecla japonica are undergoing the same process, although the ' species maker ' has done 

 liis worst to obscure this im[)ortant fact. 



