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Show 888 MR. H. J. ELWES O N THE BUTTERFLIES [Nov. 15, to see how the larger and brighter specimens described as L. hellotia and L. praxiteles can be separated from L. argiades. As a rule the Oriental and Japanese specimens are larger and more richly spotted, especially at Tokio, Japan ; but some of those from Askold {Jankowsky) and Shanghai (Pryer) are quite as small as German specimens of L. polysperchon, Berg. This variety also occurs on the Ussuri at Raddefskaia and Askold. LYCENA FISCHERI, Evers. Bull. Mosc 1843, p. 537, t. ii. Found at Vladivostock and Askold, also at Shanghai, but not, so far as I know, in Japan. Chinese specimens do not agree perfectly with Siberian ones. They are smaller, and the blue eyes do not show through the hind wing of female ; but I do not think they can be separated. There is in Pryer's collection a species marked "filicaudis, Pryer, type," of which I can find no published description, and which I think belongs to this species. L. ARGIA, Men. Cat. Mus. Petr. 125, t. x. (1857). 1L. japonica, Murray, Ent. M o . Mag. xi. p. 167 (1874). This species is a very puzzling one, and, without seeing the type specimens, impossible to decide upon. I have specimens which agree perfectly with Menetries's description, and others from the same localities agreeing with Murray's description of L. japonica, of which he only knew the female. Menetries's plate, however, represents an insect which might well be a faded male of L. agon ; and in his description he compares the species with L. optilete. From Shanghai are other specimens, referred by Moore to L. otus, Fab. ; and in various collections I find specimens of the same or a nearly allied species referred to L. maha, Koll., from Kashmir, L. chandala, Moore, from Shanghai, Hongkong, L. dilutee, Feld., from Swatow. There are also specimens in m y own and Hewitson's collection from Sikkim, Calcutta, and N.W. Himalaya coming very close. I am quite unable to say what are the limits and distinctive characters of these various species, if they are distinct. L. LYSIMON, Hiibn. Eur. Schmett. t. 535. f. 5. Of this wide-ranging species I have specimens from Shanghai, and one doubtfully from Japan which comes very close to it. There are specimens referred to this species in Dr. Staudinger's collection from Amoy, Foochow, and Macao. L. CLEOBIS, Brem. Bull. Acad. Petr. iii. p. 472 (1861). L. agonides, Brem. Lep. Ost-Sib. p. 28, t. iii. fig. 8 (1864). From Raddefskaia, Baranofsky, and other parts of the Amur region. Some specimens of the Japanese L. argus $ come very near this • but L. cleoBis may be distinguished by its broad white fringe and darker tint, especially in the male sex. |