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spots. There are three large black spots along the costa of the fore- 

 wings, and between the third and the tip of the wing is a white spot — one 

 character which distinguishes it from Polgchloros, The basal portion 

 of the hind-wings is black, with tawny hairs. The underside is of an 

 ash colour, with a large cream-coloured patch on the fore- wings, and a 

 broad waved band on the hind-wings. Several varieties of this species are 

 named. One, Ichnusa, Bon., is a very striking form, occurring in the 

 isles of Corsica and Sardinia. The ground colour is much brighter in tone, 

 the black spot on the inner margin of the fore-wing is nearer the base, 

 and the two central spots are wanting. On the hind-wings, the dark basal 

 patch does not extend so far across. Some consider it to be a distinct species. 

 Mr. Newman figures a specimen taken at Hawkeshead, in Lancashire, and 

 said by Mr. Gregson to be this variety, but the specimen is like Ichiusa only 

 in the absence of the central spots ; the other characteristics being absent. Mr. 

 Newman's variety (3) is also without the central spots, but the two outer 

 black costal blotches are conjoined, and the whole of the hind -wings are dark 

 coloured. Mr. Eobson has a specimen with fore-wings exactly the same as 

 this figure, but the hind-wings are of the usual form. Mr. Newman's variety 

 (2) has the middle costal spot united with that on the hind margin. A dark 

 form with the spots united is named Polaris, and an intermediate form is 

 called Turcica ; the former inhabits the polar regions, the latter Turkey and 

 Asia Minor. This is believed to be the variety Ichnusoides, De Selys. Mr. 

 Kirby mentions another variety Raschmirensis, Violl., an inhabitant of Nor- 

 thern India. Two very extraordinary varieties are figured in " Les Feuille 

 des Jeunes Naturalists/' for January, 1881. One of them was taken in 

 Ireland, and is called Osborni, Done. The other is in the collection of M. 

 Donchier, of Donceel, Liege, but it is not known where it was taken. It is 

 named Selijsi., Done. Where one specimen only is known it does not seem 

 worth while to give it a distinctive name. Mr. Mosley, in his " Illustrations," 

 figures a specimen from the Eev. Harper Crewe's collection, in which the 

 ground colour is a deep mahogany brown, and another showing a strong 

 tendency to yellow. Specimens with a perfectly yellow ground colour are in 

 Mr. Gregson's and other collections. In Mr. Bobson's collection are some 

 with the ground salmon colour, and another of a very rich bright hue. This 

 last he picked out from a number flying to thistle heads, its richer hue being 

 very conspicuous on the wing ; the costal spots also are extra large and the 

 yellow between them paler than usual. Very many other forms might be 

 described from other collections if necessary. 



The egg is somewhat pouch-shaped, being oblong and fuller at the base 

 than above; the base is not flattened, but rounded and smooth, and just 



