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Show 900 MR. H. J. ELWES ON THE BUTTERFLIES [Nov. 15, MELITAA MACULATA, Br. & Grey, Schmett. ndrdl. China, p. 7, t. i. fig. 3 (1853). Argynnis leopardina, Lucas, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1866, p. 221, t. iii. This curious insect seems to be the type of a new genus. Lucas says it forms a transition between Argynnis and Melitaa; but I have not seen specimens good enough to enable me to form an opinion. It has been found at Pekin only by Bremer and David. One specimen is in Pryer's Chinese collection, without indication of locality. Lucas figures both sexes, and says that the female differs in having the wings more rounded, the spots lighter, and the colour less brilliant. It is extremely rare in collections. ARGYNNIS NIPHE, Linn. Syst. Nat. xii. p. 785. Seems rare in Japan, but commoner at Shanghai (Pryer). A. CHILDRENI, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 33 (1831). Never seen by me ; but Felder says that he received one female, larger and brighter than Indian specimens, from Ningpo. A. SELENIS, Eversm. Bull. Mosc 1837, i. p. 10. Specimens from Raddefskaia do not quite agree with those from South Russia in Dr. Staudinger's collection. It has not been found in China, though recorded hy Motschulsky from Japan. A. SELENE, Schiff. S. V. p. 371 (1776). Specimens from the Amur and Ussuri agree perfectly with European ones, though usually somewhat larger. A. OSCARUS, Eversm. Bull. Mosc. 1844, iii. p. 588, t. xiv. From Raddefskaia and Vladivostock. This appears to be most nearly allied to A. euphrosyne; but differs constantly from it in the absence of the silver spot on the middle band of the hind wing beneath. It is very rare at present in collections1. A. ANGARENSIS, Ersch, Bull. Mosc 1870, i. p. 1. Of this species I have only seen a single specimen in Dr. Staudinger's collection from Raddefskaia. The species, described as Melitaa am-philochus, Men. Schrenk's Reise, p. 21, t. ii., has never been seen by Dr. Staudinger, who thinks it may probably be a variety of the last. A specimen in Mr. Janson's collection from Japan is also nearly allied, but may belong to a new species. A. FREIJA, Thunb. Diss. Ent. ii. p. 34, fig. 14 (1791). Found at Schilka and Raddefskaia. The Amur specimens are more like the Labrador than the Lapland form. A. THORE, var. BOREALIS, Stdgr. Cat. i. p. 9 (1861). From the Ussuri and Raddefskaia. Much paler than European specimens. 1 Mr. Strecker has a species from Corea which is near A. selene and nearer to A. myrina, but which is neither A. oscarus nor A. selene. The black marks are all very large, but with no tendency to confluence. |