1943] 
Near die Forms of Lycceides 
87 
THE NEARCTIC FORMS OF LYCtEIDES HUB. 
(LYC^NID JE, LEPIDOPTERA) 1 
By V. Nabokov 
Museum of Comparative Zoology 
What follows is a brief summary of some conclusions mainly 
relative to the classification of the American forms of Lycceides 
Hubner, 1823 (Plebejinse). This genus comprises at least half- 
a-dozen structural (genitalic) unities which may be termed 
species, and a full account of its morphology will be published 
in due time. Except in one inevitable case, no new names are 
introduced, as it is felt that further study might result in some 
equilibrium of the variational scheme in Lycceides, so as to 
avoid a chaotic accumulation of poorly balanced “subspecies.” 
Owing to the abundant Holarctic material in the Museum of 
Comparative Zoology, and thanks to generous loans from the 
American Museum of Natural History and from private col- 
lections (I have especially to thank Mr. H. K. Clench and 
Mr. Don B. Stallings), a considerable number of specimens 
could be examined; of these, some 350 were dissected and 
measured. 
Three specific categories may be distinguished as affecting 
the classification of the Nearctic forms: 
argyrognomon Bergstrasser, 1779, Nomencl. 2:76 (Tutt, 1909, Brit. Butt. 3 pi. 
SO, fig. 2, male genit.; argus [L.] Hiibner, [1800], S§mml. europ. Schmett. 
fig. 316, male; Scudder, 1872, 4th Ann. Rep. Peabody Acad. Sci. 1871:54; 
Reverdin, 1917, in Oberthur, Et. Lep. Comp. 14 pi. 1, 2, fig. 1, la, male 
genit.; idas L [ nom . prceocc], auct., pro part.; non argyrognomon Beuret, 
1935, Forster, 1936). 
scudderi Edwards, 1861, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1861:164 male; 
Scudder, 1889, Butt. N. Engl. 2:967, line 22; Stempffer, 1933, Bull. Soc. 
Ent. France 102:110, 111, fig. 1, male genit.; non scudderi auct. [nec 
female scudderi Edw., 1861, l.c. = ( Agriades ) aquilo Boisduval, 1832] 
melissa Edwards, 1873, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 4:346 (Mead, 1875, Rep. Lep. 
Colorado etc.: 783, pi. 36, fig. 5, 6, male, 7, 8, female; Chapman, 1917, in 
Oberthur, Et. Lep. Comp. 14, pi. 9, fig. 25, male genit.) . 
1 Published with the aid of a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology 
at Harvard College. 
