45 
DISCUSSION re. THECLA (CALLOPHRYS) RUBI. 
(Opening remarks by Dr. T. A. CHAPMAN, F.E.S., November 16th, 1909.) 
As the few remarks I propose to make are by no means intended 
as a paper, but merely as indications of points for discussion, either to 
obtain the information upon them that members may already possess, 
or to obtain suggestions as to the further observations that appear to 
be necessary to increase our knowledge of the species, I shall throw the 
few items that I lay before you into the form of questions wherever 
possible, rather than into statements that would imply that the subject 
was already fully elucidated. 
Our palaearctie Lycrenids divide themselves very readily and 
naturally into the three divisions of coppers, blues, and hairstreaks. 
Some exotic forms, however, leave these divisions less crisp, and 
suggest some further ones as necessary. Theda ( Callophri/s ) rubi is 
clearly a hairstreak; this may seem so obvious that it is like gilding 
refined gold to elaborate it. Yet it is the case that it has certain 
affinities with the blues, not sufficiently marked, perhaps, to make us 
suspect it as posing as one of the connecting links I have alluded to, 
but enough to be of some interest. The most definite of these is, 
perhaps, the egg. One might place this almost in the same genus 
■with Polyommatus or Ag Hades. On comparing it with these, one 
would not suspect it of belonging to a different division of the Lycamids. 
Another point of affinity is that the larva possesses a honey-gland 
apparently well-developed, probably functional. At one time I was 
inclined to believe that the possession of a honey gland by the larva 
was a character that might be depended on to separate the blues 
from the other Lycaenids. This is clearly not so, and there is, indeed, 
at least one blue that does not possess this gland. Thestor ballus and 
Gallophrys avis also both possess this gland. 
Mr. Tutt is inclined to regard the habit of passing the winter as a 
pupa as a Lycsenid character ; this may be so, but Lycaenids pass the 
winter as eggs, as larvae, and as pupae. Our other British Theclids 
are so closely related to each other that their all passing the winter as 
ova cannot be fairly generalised as a dominant fact amongst the 
Theclids. Indeed, of the six genera into which Scudder distributes 
the Theclids of the eastern United States, two pass the winter a3 
eggs, but four as pupae. 
There are several points in which the Thestorids are so un¬ 
mistakably Theclid, that they could easily afford to have more 
characters in common with the blues without endangering their claim 
to be “ Hair-streaks.” 
One of the most curious of these is a peculiarity of the pupa. 
Lepidopterous larvae possess spiracles on each of the first eight 
abdominal segments. Practically all lepidopterous pupae have the 
first of these hidden away beneath the wings. The next six are 
present and functional, whilst the last, that on the 8th abdominal 
segment, is obsolete, though usually represented by a scar. 
In the Theclids, and though there are in all probability other 
instances, I have not yet met with one, the spiracle of the 7th 
abdominal segment is obsolete, precisely as is that of the 8th. 
xix. 
