8 



The Naturalist. 



orange yellow instead of pale ochreons. S. Hyperanihus var. arete, 

 MiilL, has white spots underneath in place of the regular eyes. I 

 have seen specimens of this variety in the late Alfred Owen's 

 collection, which have every appearance of being British, though I was 

 not before aware that it occurred even in Europe. 



Both the species of Goenonym-pha are variable. Pamphilus has a 

 variety called lyllus, with a dark border all round the margin of the 

 wings. I have taken this variety at Sherwood Forest, and it occurs 

 no doubt, wherever Pamphilus is common. But there is a much more 

 distinct variety, which I believe is unnamed, the ground colour of 

 which is a dingy straw, much paler than the usual ochreous. Davus 

 is very variable. The variety we usually call Rothliebii, Stgr., has 

 the eyes very large and distinct, showing plainly on the upper side. 

 The variety Laidion, Bkh, has fewer spots, less visible on the upper 

 side. It is found in Scotland and Ireland. The variety Isis, Thup., 

 is the Lapland race ; they are small insects, and usually have no 

 eye spots at all. It is also found, I believe, in the north of Scotland. 

 Mr. J. E. Robson, of Hartlepool, suggested to me that the eye spots of 

 Davus disappear as we get further north, and I believe this is correct. 



Polyommatus pJilceas has two named varieties : one is Schmidtii, 

 Gerh., which is the one having the ground colour silvery instead of 

 coppery. Intermediate varieties occur having the ground straw- 

 coloured. Both these have been taken in many parts of England. 

 The other variety is Eleus, Fab. ; it is very dark in the coppery part, 

 and the spots are not so distinct as in the type ; it is also somewhat 

 shot with purple. This variety is not uncommon on the Continent, 

 and I believe I have taken it at Sherwood Forest, though I am not 

 aware that it has been previously recorded as British. A third 

 variety (unnamed) is without the coppery band along the margin of 

 the hind wings. 



Of the " Blues " Lycana Agestis^ is the most noticeable for its amount 

 of variation. The general form of this insect in the south and 

 midland counties of England is blackish brown, dotted around the 

 border with orange red. From the midland northward as far as 

 Witherslack, the orange spots become less and less conspicuous, 



* I have always considered the three forms of this insect were best divided thus : 



Type : Upper side, black spot on centre of fore wing ; under side, white spot with 

 black centres. 



Salmaois : Upper side, black spot as in type ; under side, no black centre to spots. 

 Artaxerxes : Upper side, white spot in centre of fore wing ; under side, white 

 spots as in Salmmis.—J. E. R. 



