Nature alid Art, July 1, 186G.J 
BUTTERFLIES. 
55 
that all closely-allied forms have sprung from one 
type, as that the many races of men should all have 
had one common origin 1 
It is not, however, our intention to discuss the 
origin of species, but rather to point out some of 
those extraordinary resemblances which we have 
met with amongst the numerous and varied species 
of the exotic butterflies, and more particularly with 
regard to the similarities which exist in similar 
climates. 
It is undoubtedly a fact that the Lepidopterous 
Faunas of similar climates, depending as they 
mainly do upon the botanical resources of the 
country, must of necessity agree to a very great 
extent : thus many of the insects from climates 
similar to our own are identical with our species, 
and others are so nearly allied that only a practised 
eye can readily distinguish them. 
Some of these forms have received new names, in 
consequence of a prevailing idea that the same 
insect cannot occur in two widely-separate localities, 
and thus the study of this branch of zoology is ren- 
dered more difficult, species being made which but 
perplex the student, so that at times he will almost 
wish his specimens sensible of their own distinctive- 
ness, that he might merely have to say, with the 
Duke in the “Comedy of Errors” — 
“ Stay, stand apart ; I know not which is which.” 
Within the last few months a very interesting 
collection of insects has arrived from Hakodadi 
(North Japan), and, as most of the species are very 
similar to, and many of them identical with, our 
own, they will perhaps form the best illustration of 
the foregoing remarks. 
The following British forms are in this col- 
lection : — 
1. Pa/pilio Machaon , Linnaeus. ( Eastern form , 
having a narrower blue band in the hind-wings 
and all the markings of the under-side less distinct.) 
2. Leucophasia Sinajris, Linnaeus. ( Variety with j 
the front-wings rather elongated.) 
3. Aporia Cratcegi, Linnaeus. 
4. Pieris Rapce, Linnaeus. 
5. Pieris Afapi, Linnaeus. ( Variety nearly twice 
as large as the British insect, the lowest spot on 
the front-wing of the female extended along the 
inner margin to the base of the wing. Allied to 
Pieris Ajaka, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1865, pi. 
xxxi., fig. 16. Himalayas.) 
6. Colias Hyale, Linnaeus. ( Form found in 
Germany and the East : the wings of a brighter 
yellow. ) 
7. Pyrameis Gardui, Linnaeus. 
8. Limenitis Sibilla, Linnaeus. 
9. Argynnis Adippe, Linnaeus. ( Variety with 
silver spots near the apex of the fore-wings, on the 
under-side; very like A. Jainadeva, Moore, Proc. 
Zool. Soc., 1865, pi. xxx., fig. 1. Himalayas.) 
10. Polyommatus Argiolus , Linnaeus. 
11. Chrysophanus Phloeas, Linnaeus. ( Variety 
with a dark spot in the centre of the fore-wings.) 
12. Pamphila Sylvanus, Fabricius, 
The following are also somewhat similar to the 
British ones, but must be considered as specifically 
distinct : — 
1. Anthocharis Seolymus, Butler, Proc. Linn. 
Soc., 1866. (Differs considerably from our A. Car- 
damines, having the apex of the fore-wings produced 
into a distinct hook, the orange spot of the male 
much smaller, and the greenish markings of the 
under side differently arranged. The intermediate 
form between this insect and our own is A . Genutia 
of Godart, from North America.) 
2. Colias Pattens, Butler, Proc. Linn. Soc., 1866. 
(Differs from C. Hyale in being much smaller, the 
front-wings much more narrojv and long, and of a 
paler colour.) 
3. Argynnis Midas, Butler, Proc. Linn. Soc., 
1866. (Differs from A. Pap/da of Linnaeus in the 
more squared hind-wings, the absence of the black 
streaks upon the nervures, the more rounded front 
margin of the fore- wings, the larger spots, the basal 
bands of the hind-wings being replaced by spots ; 
below, it chiefly differs in having only one central 
silvery streak in the hind-wings, and all the other 
markings much paler.) 
4. Polyommatus Euphemus, Ochsenheim. (Only 
differs from P. Arion in the spotting of the under 
side ; the marking of the upper side is variable in 
both species.) 
There are also several species of butterflies similar 
to some of the other European forms ; the moths 
bear the same relation to our species which exists 
in the butterflies. 
Several other collections have, from time to 
time, arrived from Northern India, Syria, &c., in 
all of which the same curious resemblances have 
existed. 
Explanation op Plate. 
Kg'. 1. PapiUo Machaon, Linn. England. 
2. ,, ,, Linn. Japan. 
3. Leucophasia Sinapis, Linn. Japan. 
4. Pieris Napi, Linn. England. 
5. ,, ,, Linn. Japan. 
6. 7. Anthocharis Ca/rdamines, Linn. England. 
8, 9. ,, Genutia, Hiibner. North America 
10, 11. „ Seolymus, Butler. Japan. 
12. Colias Hyale, Linn. England. 
13. ,, Pattens, Butler. Japan. 
14. Argynnis Paphia, Linn. England. 
15. ,, Midas, Butler. Japan. 
16. Polyommatus Euphemus, Ochsenh. Japan, 
[The above remarks, from a valued correspondent, 
will, we trust, serve to impress on our Entomo- 
logical readers the necessity for close observation 
and careful note of the varied and delicate hues 
found so richly developed in the charming tribe of 
insects he has devoted so much attention to. The 
almost imperceptible shading, and gradation of 
tint and colour, tell their tale to the practised eye as 
clearly as do equally minute anatomical differences. 
These, when unobserved or heedlessly passed over, 
lead to much confusion and sacrifice of scientific 
