MELIT.^A. 
189 
Obs. — The female figured in this work is taken from a Swiss 
specimen, and is rather duller than usual ; it in fact approaches 
somewhat to the var. Alpina. The species is very variable, 
especially as regards the female, there being a tendency, especially 
in the southern forms, towards a dark coloration in that sex, as 
will be seen in the descriptions of varieties. PL XLIV., 6.* 
Times of Appearance.- — June and August. 
Habitat. — Germany, Switzerland, France, and Hungary. In 
the more southern and eastern portions of its habitat the species 
varies greatly, as will be seen by the long list of varieties. 
Larva. — Bluish grey, with white dots and black bands ; 
lateral stripes yellow ; spines white and fulvous. Feeds on 
plantain, Ac., from April to June. 
VARIETIES. 
a. Alpina, Stand. Cat. p. 8; Fascelis, var. H. S. 267-8. — The 
common alpine form of the insect in which the female has the fore 
wings clouded with a dusky greenish colour, the hind wings being 
of the normal colour. 
Habitat. — Switzerland, in the higher alpine regions. 
h. Meridionalis, Stand. Cat. Hor. 1870, 60. — The male deeper 
fulvous ; the female clouded with grey, especially on the fore 
wings. This is a common Southern form of the species. 
Habitat. — Sicily, Turkey, Greece, Asia Minor, and Syria. 
c. Neera, F. de W. Bull. In. 1840, p. 31 ; Didijma var. H. S, 
133. — Male deeper fulvous, and with fewer spots than the type. 
(PI. XLIV., 7). Female pale fulvous or greenish. 
Habitat. — South Eussia (Sarepta). 
d. Graeca, Stand. Hor. 1870, 60, T. 1, 3. — Male deeper fulvous, 
with a broad black border ; female generally suffused with 
greenish grey. 
Habitat. — Greece. 
e. Caucasica, Stand. Cat. ; Trivia var. H. S. 588-90. — Larger 
than the type, both sexes deeper fulvous ; the female with white 
spots on the costa of the fore wings near the apex. 
Habitat. — Armenia and the Caucasus. 
* Wrongly written 5 at foot of Plate XLIV, 
