I 
ARGYNNIS. By Dr. C. Aurivillius. 
231 
Jord. (52 f; as phalanta ) is the African form and differs in having the median line of the upper surface absent 
except at the costal margin of the forewing and the transverse streaks in the basal half of the hindwing beneath 
light brown or yellowish instead of blackish as in the type-form. From columbina it may be distinguished by ha¬ 
ving the distal margin of the hindwing rounded, the marginal line interrupted at the interneural folds and con¬ 
sequently broken up into spots and the submarginal dots on the underside of the hindwing more indistinct, 
with small black pupils. The proximal submarginal line on both wings is composed of lunules. The whole of 
Africa together with nearly all the islands. Larva black with black and yellow spines and white lateral line; 
head red-brown above with white triangle on the face; it lives in Madagascar on Flacourtia ramontchi and in 
South Africa on species of willow. Pupa green with black markings and silver spots. — granti Rothsch. & 
Jord. has thicker black markings on the upper surface. Socotra. 
A. madagascariensis Mab. is very similar to the preceding species, but the distal submarginal line 
and the marginal line of the fore wing are united into a black marginal band 1 mm. in breadth and the proximal 
submarginal line of the forewing is composed of nearly straight streaks; the marginal line of the hindwing is of 
uniform thickness and quite continuous; both wings have the margins almost entire. Madagascar. 
4. Genus: Argynnis F. 
With regard to this well-known genus it is sufficient to refer to the generic synopsis (p. 229) and the 
detailed description by Stichel in vol. I, p. 226. 
In the Ethiopian Region the Argynnis species are confined to the higher mountain districts, where 
their food-plants (species of Viola) grow. The large species A. hyperbius only occurs in Abyssinia and is evidently 
an immigrant from Asia; the other species are small and endemic. 
Following the example of Felder, I formerly divided the species into two genera, Argynnis and Brenthis, 
which differ in the position of vein 10 of the forewing. But when we consider that by employing this charac¬ 
ter such nearly allied species as thore, ino and daphne are separated generically, the first-named being referable 
to Brenthis, the others to Argynnis and in addition that at least in ino specimens occur in which vein 10 arises 
beyond the apex of the cell just as in thore, we must certainly support Herr Stichel and reject the division as 
unnatural. If we place ino, daphne, hecate and others with aglaja, paphia, hyperbius and others in Argynnis, 
but leave thore in Brenthis, we imply that the first-named species are more nearly allied with aglaja and paphia 
than with thore, which is undoubtedly incorrect. 
With regard to the name Boloria, introduced by Moore and Frlthstoreer (vol. IX, p. 512) in place of 
Brenthis , I may be permitted to remark that this is a quite unnecessary innovation. Felder was the first who 
employed Hubner’s name Brenthis and scientifically established it; hence he was justified in regarding any 
one of the species enumerated by Hubner as type, and by the characters given by him and afterwards utilized 
by all following authors he selected thore as type as long ago as 1861. That other authors have afterwards declared 
another of the species mentioned by Hubner to be the type is consequently altogether without significance. 
Hence the strictures which Frhhstorfer (1. c.) passes on the authors who have used Brenthis in Felder’s 
sense are in my opinion entirely uncalled for. 
First Group. 
A large species, with an expanse of 62—90 mm. and the $ unlike the <J, having a white subapical band on the fore¬ 
wing. Vein 10 of the forewing arises free from the anterior margin of the cell and the precostal vein of the hindwing is 
strongly curved basad. 
A. hyperbius L. *) (vol. I, p. 242, pi. 71 c, d) was described from specimens from South Asia and occurs 
there almost everywhere in mountain districts where Viola species grow wild. The form which occurs in Africa 
and has hitherto only been found on the mountains of Abyssinia, where Viola abyssinica is indigenous, differs 
somewhat from the Indian race and has been described as neumanili Rothsch. & Jord. It differs in both sexes 
from the type-form in the entire absence of the silvery dot between the two black transverse lines in the cell 
of the hindwing beneath, in having the ground-colour between the silvery spots on the underside of the hind¬ 
wing not olivaceous but tawny and in the discal spot in cellule 4 of the hindwing being placed nearer to the 
distal margin. In the $ the white subapical band of the fore wing is smaller than in the type-form and the 
spots of the fringes are yellowish instead of white. 
Second Group. 
Smaller species, with an expanse of only 30—37 nun. Vein 10 of the forewing arises beyond the apex of the cell 
*) Not Johansson, who was only the editor and “respondent”, but not the author, of the thesis “Centuria In- 
sectorum”. 
granti. 
madagas- 
cariensis. 
hyperbius. 
neumanni. 
