MELANARGIA. 
235 
lines are fine, well-marked, and extend from the second to the 
eleventh segment. The vascular line is darker than the ground 
colour, and marked with white on each side ; the subdorsal and 
stigmatal lines are yellow, and larger than the first. The stigmata 
are black, visible to the naked eye, and encircled by faint red. 
The ventral surface, which is not so bright as the rest of the body, 
does not show any lines. The head is tolerably large, globular, 
and separated from the first segment ; it is reddish yellow, with 
the eyes marked with brown ; the mandibles are reddish. This 
larva was first discovered in Spain by Dr. Staudinger ; it lives 
on different grasses, but particularly on Lamarchia aurea, L., 
a plant peculiar to the southern parts of Europe. To undergo 
its metamorphosis the larva hangs itself head downwards to 
a stalk of grass, and three or four days are enough for it to 
complete its transformation. The pupa is plump, and of a 
bright brown colour and dull surface ; it is finely striped with 
red on the wing-cases and thorax ; the covering of the eyes and 
the top of the head is brown. The imago emerges in fifty or 
sixty days.” 
Obs. — This species, in consequence of its widely-extended 
habitat, presents several local varieties or races. The typical form 
originally described is that found in Italy and Sicily, and is smaller 
than the Franco-Spanish form Cleanthe of Boisduval ; the male 
figured on PI. LVI. represents Cleanthe, which is the commoner 
form of the species ; it is very slightly darker, besides being a little 
larger than the Italian specimens (“ Cleanthe vix nom. conserv.,” 
Stand. Cat. 23). A third form is the Eussian and Hungarian var. 
Suwaroviiis, Hbst. viii. p. 13, T. 182, 5, 7. This is somewhat 
larger and paler than the Italian or French forms, both sexes 
resembling the female figured on PI. LVI. The flight of this 
species is said to be very rapid. M. Maurice Girard, speaking of 
Cleanthe, says, “Elies semblent toujours pressees, comme si elles 
avaient de longues courses a faire ” (Traite Elementaire d’Entomo- 
logie, Macro-lepid. p. 210, 1882). 
