MosLEY : Persistent Variation among Butterflies. 9 



until at Castle Eden Dene, in Durham, tliey finally disappear in 

 most specimens if not in all, and a white dot appears in the centre of 

 the fore wings of the female. This is the Salmacis of Stephens, who 

 considered it a distinct species. Then further north still — in Fife- 

 shire — all the wings have a white dot in the centre, and this is still 

 by some cimsidered a distinct species. Mr. Buckler, however, could 

 detect no difference in the larvae. This form is called Artaxerxes, 

 Fab. The second brood, in which the under side is brown, is called 

 Estiva, Stgr., on the Continent. L. Alexis, var. Icarifius, Scriba, has 

 no spots on the under side of the fore wings between the central spot 

 and the base. My friend Mr. Robson says that he believes this is a 

 common variety in England ; he took two one afternoon, asleep on 

 flowers, where the variation was plainly visible. 



Of Adonis, the variety Ceronus, Esp., is the female, very much 

 streaked with blue on the upper surface, and a series of orange 

 lunules along the hind margin of the hind wings. Cinous, Hub., has 

 the spots below not eyed. The variety Pollona, Zett., is the same as 

 Ceronus, with the blue confined to the hind wings. L. Corydon, var. 

 syngrapha, Kef., is a similar modification of that insect to Ceronus of 

 Adonis, Neither, I believe, has yet been recorded from England, 

 though I have seen insects very nearly approaching to both of them. 

 The variety Apennina, Zett., is a pale form from the Italian moun- 

 tains ; Hispania, H.S., is something similar from Spain; albicans, 

 H.S., is whiter still, while Corydonus, H.S., is violet-blue, and Cauca- 

 sica, Stgr., sky-blue. Argiolus, var. hypoleuca, Koll., has no spots on 

 the underside. Alsus, var. Lorquinii, H.S., has the male shot with 

 blue. Acis has several named varieties : Ballis, Frr., is large, with 

 red spots underneath ; Parnassia, Stgr., is similar, but small ; Helena, 

 Stgr., has a red marginal " fascia " on the underside ; and Antrochmna, 

 Ld., has the same above on all the wings. This latter is a modifica- 

 tion of the female. Avion sometimes occurs small and without spots. 

 I have seen this variety in several collections in the south of England. 

 I am not aware that any of the named varieties of Adonis, Corydon, or 

 Acis have occurred in England. 



We now come to the last family of British butterflies — ^the skippers 

 — in which occur one or two beautiful variations. One is the variety 

 of alveolus, which is figured by Newman as Lavaterce, but this I believe 

 is identical with the Taras of Meigen, and the latter name having the 

 priority, Newman's must be sunk. It is that with large confluent 

 spots in the centre of the wings. This variety has occurred in 

 England. The only other variety is the bone-coloured linea. There 



