Fordyce Grinnell, Jr.
Some Variations in the Genus Vanessa (Pyrameis).
Psyche 25:110-115, 1918.

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110 Psyche [October
Enallagma exsulans, Sherborn, Dover, and Medfield, Mass.; new to the State with the above records.
Enallagma ebrium, Brattleboro, Vt.; new to the State. Amphiagrion saucium, Montgomery, Vt.; new to the State (see above).
Cordulegaster diastatops, Jay and Troy, Conn.; new to the State with Mr. Woodruff's records.
Boyeria vinoaa, Wolcott, Vt., July 23; new to the State. Libellula auripennis, Niantic, Conn., August 8; new to the State. Sympetrum rubicundulum, Newport, Vt.; new to the State (see ibid., Part I).
Sympetrum semicinctum, North Haven, Conn.; new to the State. Erythrodiplax berenice, Niantic and Stamford, Conn.; new to the State (see ibid., Part I).
The following record is represented by a specimen in the Boston Society of Natural History:
Erythrodiplax berenice (Drur~), Barrington, L. I., June; new to the State.
Species known to Maine = 99.
Species known to New Hampshire = 97.
Species known to Vermont = 26.
Species known to Massachusetts = 123.
Species known to Rhode Island = 27.
Species known to Connecticut = 72.
SOME VARIATIONS IN THE GENUS VANESSA
(PYRAMEIS.)
The following notes on some very significant variations of the species of Vanessa (Pyrameis), originated from a series found in the collection of Mr. James E, Cottle of San francisco. Other speci-
mens, also representing the same variations, are in the collections of Mr. J. D. Graves of Oakland, Mr. J. C. Huguenin of San Fran- cisco, and a few from the writer's collection have been deposited with the series in Mr. Cottle's collection. The illustration repre- sents those in Mr. Cottle's collection and captured by him.



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Vanessa (Pyrameis) caryee Hiibner.
This species is well known in its typical form as figured by Hol- land, Wright, Letcher and Eaaig. Its range extends along the Pacific Coast from Vancouver and British Columbia to Chili, being especially abundant in California. It is recorded in Skinner's Catalogue from "Ariz., Nev., Utah," but I have seen no specimens from these regions, and do not know of any authentic records. Nor have I seen any specimens from the western coast of South America, where a knowledge of the variations would be of particular interest in the evolutionary study of the species. The species varies in size but there seems to be no correlation between the size and x&rkmg variation. The normal or typical caryce seems to be characterized especially by the extent of the black markings of the primaries and the large submarginal black eye spots of the second- aries, only slightly pupilated with bluish scales, not white. Vanessa caryffi var. nmelleri Letcher.
This variation as described by Letcher (4) varies from the normal form of cayce, which is the commonest, in the extension of the fd- vow color of the basal portion of the forewings and the nearly complete elimination of the black markings in this area. The apical white spots develop into dashes extending towards the outer margin. The large fulvous spot or series of spots in the costo-apical black field is still present. There la an additional large fulvous patch er two patches (usually) just below the row of apical white spots. The black marginal band is connected with the costo-apical black area by a rather broad black area. On the secondaries the black encircled blue spots become white or bluish- white, and there is a slight extension of the black in the upper portion. The specimens figured by Essig are not this but belong to the following variation.
Of the typical mudmi variation I have seen specimens from the following localities :-LaFayette Square, San Francisco, August 1914 (Cattle); Los Angela, July 1915 (Karl Skolfield); 18th Street Square, San Francisco, October 8,19 17 (Huguenin) ; San Francisco, October 17,1917 (Huguenia).
Vanessa cwae var. intermedia var. nov.
This intermediate variety between the typical camp and typical muellmi differs in having basal traces or remnants of the black



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markings in the fulvous replacement of the forewings; and a broad black band on the upper half of the outer margin of the hiidwings. It still keeps the row of black-encircled blue-centered eye spots on the hindwings. The larger fulvous spot below the apical row of white spots is large. The fulvous patch in the costa-apical black area is still present. I have before me three specimens from the following places :~Berkeley, August 3, 1917 (Graves) ; November 5, 191 1 (Graves) ; San Francisco (Cottle) ; San Francisco, October * 10,1917'(~*enm).
Vanessa caryse var. letcheri var. nov.
The striking difference from mwetieri lies in the entire disappear- . once of the fulvous spots or band of spots in the costo-apical black area, leaving a solid black, quadrangular area. The two fulvous
patches below the apical row of white spots are much larger, and nearer the larger, basal fulvous area, leaving only a narrow black connection to the quadrangular black area and wider black outer margin. The basal portion of the hindwings is blacker than in muelleri. The following specimens have been examined:ÌÔCas tella, Shasta Co., June 1913 (Cottle); Berkeley, July 30, 1917 (Graves) ; July SO, 1937 (Graves) ; Los Angeles, July 1915 (Harold Burkhardt) ; Los Angeles, July 19 16 (Karl Skolfield) ; 18th Street Square, San Francisco, September 34, 1917; Oakland, September 4, 1917; October 9, September 17 (Huguenin). In all these variations the black discal dash in the costal side of the large fulvous area of the primaries remain practically un- changed; all the other markings become more or'less altered. In 1898 the variety letchwi was apparently not known in coke- tions and the variety muelleri was "very rare," but Letcher men- tioned the fact that Mueller had some intergrades between m e and mw7leri in twodirections; one is like the one here named inter- media, and the other with the blue spots of the secondaries replaced by white and without any change in the primaries. The apical white spots are either blurred, smaller, or lengthened out in the direction of the apex, and hdefmite. These remarkable and signif- icant variations seem to be increasing and tending in the direction of letcheri, Letcher recorded the variations known to him as taken only in the fall, but they are now known to be found throughout the year.




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P~YCHE, 1018.
VOL. ft5. PLATE IV.
G~~~~~~~-Variations in the Genus Vanessa.



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As Letcher surmises, in the case of rnveki, this variation may .
be "an example of the evolution of a true variety time only will tell."
At any rate since 1898 the variations have become more common, letelwri the commonest, and are very suggestive from an evolutionary standpoint. We must watch the behavior of these variations still more in future years.
Essig (1) figures two specimens of letcheri as rnwlleri. Here we have a series extending from typical carym, through intermedia and mu6llÌàr to fefcWi, showing a progressive evolution. Mr
Cattle took two other specimens of ccaryce in Lafayette Square, San Francisco, showing an interesting variation, but they do not belong in the same category as the above variations. One of these has the primaries of the usual light coral red color, while the hindwings are of a light coral pink or a washed-out appearance. The other specimen has the usual color of all the wings replaced by a light flesh-pink (Ridgway).
Vanessa cardui Lmn, var.
Expanse 66 nun. This very striking variation of a cosmopolitan butterfly bears a very close resemblance to letcheri, as can be seen, and is very nearly like that of cardui figuredby Newman (5) from England. There is a submarginal row of cornparativelv large white spots on the primaries, the two middle ones being the largest ; ,
also a similar row of white spots on khe secondaries which are of the same size. The outer ends of the veins of the hindwings are bordered wholly with black. And the middle region of the hind- wings is of the same fulvous color as the ground color of letd&. Now cur& is a cosmopolitan butterfly while carye is restricted to the Pacific side of the two Americas, and the most restricted of all the Vanessas (Pyramets) ; but here we have a form which occurs in cardui of the same pattern as the seemingly more recent one in carycz. These sports, aberrations, or what is better to call them, variations of a different degree, are of more significancein the evolutionary history of species than seems to be generally sup- posed.
We have here, probably, a good example of orthogenetic variation or a definitely directed evolution. 6 mm.
The wide band or series of quadrate spots across the primaries is an apricot-orange (Ridgway) instead of a



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114 Psyche [October
carnelian red as in typical atalanta and the costo-apical or sub- apical white patch of atalanta is a salmon-buff in this variety. There are four white apical spots. The outer margin of the hindwings are of an apricot-orange; the basal portion of the primaries and second- aries is of a bordeaux red (rusty red) instead of a deep purplish black as in atalanta. There is a submarginal row of black spots on- the hindwings in the same position as those of carye. The under- side more nearly resembles atalanta. In its characters this varia- tion partakes of the aspects of both carye and atalanta. Henry Edwards (3) records a specimen of what he speaks of as a hybrid between carye and atalanta. The description of his specimen ie- sembles mine very closely. The submarginal row of spots had white pupils while mine has none, except a very faint trace in two of them. Henry Edwards' specimen was raised byDr. Behr from the larva from Lagunitas, Marin Co., July 1876; while Mr. Cottle's specimen was caught flying at Buchanan and Washington Streets, San Francisco, in August 1914. So there is quite a time interval in the capture of these two similar variations, but in a short distance geographically. This is a very 'interesting variation, which we are hardly justified in calling a hybrid, and undoubtedly has some evo- lutionary significance.
As an excuse or an explanation for naming these new variations it is well to say that it is particularly useful to know as much about the variations of a species as possible, especially now, when so much is being said of the order of evolution; whether it is indis- criminate or directed or whether it may follow both paths. It is only by the accumulation of definite data concerning variations that we can arrive at a correct idea of the order of evolution in a given species. It is the method we want to know, and there is no more intricate problem confronting us.
1. Essig, E. 0. The Genus Vanessa in California. Pomona Journal Entom. and Zod., VIII, 3, Sept. 1916, pp. 97^108, fig. 1-11.
2. Wright, W. G.
The Butterflies of the West Coast, 1905, pp. 177-178, pi. XXII.
3. Edwards, Henry. Proc. California Acad. Sci. (Pacific Coast Lepidoptera), Vol. 7, 1877, pp. 171-1752,



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19181 Grinnell-Variations in the Genus Vanessa (Pyramew) 115 8
4. Letcher, Beverly. Variation of Pyrameis caryoe Hubner. En- tom. News, IX, 2, p. 38, pi. 111, Feb. 1898. 5. Newman, Edward. An Illustrated Natural History of British Butterflies and Moths. London, p. 64, fig. 17, var. 1. 1. Vanessa carye var.
2. Vqnessa carye var.
3. Vanessa atalanta var. edwardsi n. var. 4. Vanessa cardui var.
5. Vanessa carye normal.
6. Vanessa carye var. intermedia var. nov. 7. Vanessa carve var. muelleri Letcher.
8. Vanessa carye var. letcheri n. var.




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