14 



BRITISH AXD EUROPEAX BUTTERFLIES AXD MOTHS. 



dark brown lines. It is found in Central and 

 Southern Europe. 



M. asteria, Freyer. is the smallest Euro- 

 pean species of Melitaa. It is distinguished 

 by having no marginal black line on the light 

 band of the hind wings. It is found in June 

 and Julv on the higher Alps. 



Genus Argynnis, Fabr. 



Middle-sized and large butterflies with a 

 fulvous colour and black spots, which are 

 usually separated, but which may occasionally 

 ■ run together, forming bands. The hind wings 

 have pale yellow spots at the base on the 

 undei- "jide, and a central band of the same 

 rolour, divided by the nervures, and bordered 

 with dark and pale lunules on the hind 

 margins. Between these and the central band 

 is a row of black dots or dark spots with a 

 light centre. The pale spots aro. more or 

 less silver}- or pearly in colour, and the three 

 largest species have the spots replaced by 

 silvery bands. The larva are cylindrical, with 

 six rows of hairy spines. They usually hiber- 

 nate and live till Ma}' on species of violet, 

 hiding generally among the leaves by day. 

 The pupae are angular, with the buck concave, 

 and are suspended by the tail. The butter- 

 flies fly in open places in woods throughout 

 the Summer, and are fond of resting on thistle- 

 heads. 



A. aphirape, Hiibn. is ochre-yellow, red- 

 dish in the male. The hind wings are red- 

 dish fulvous beneath, with a row of triangular 

 submarginal spots, whitish in the female, with 

 a slight silvery tinge. It is a local species, 

 which frequents marshy places in some parts 

 of Central and Eastern Europe. The larva 

 is silvery grey, with a lighter dorsal line, a 

 white lateral stripe, and short white spines. 

 It lives in May on Polygonum bistorta and Viola 

 palustris. 



A. selene, W. V. The Small Pearl-bor- 

 dered Fritillary. PI. IX. fig. 5. Under side 

 5a. is generally distributed in Britain, but 

 is less common and more local than the 

 next species, though in Scotland the reverse 

 holds good. It frequents open woods and hill- 

 sides in JunCj appearing about ten days later 

 than eiiphrosyne . The caterpillar is black, with 

 whitish bands on the back and sides, and 



short light brown spines. It feeds in May 

 on several species of Viola. 



A. euphrosyne, Linn. The Pearl-bor- 

 dered Fritillary. PL IX. fig. 4. Under side 

 4 a. is one of the commonest woodland 

 butterflies in England, but does not appear to 

 be found in Ireland. It is very like sclcne, but 

 the hind wings are light red on the under 

 surface, and there is only one silvery spot in 

 the central band, and the black dot in front 

 of this is smaller and stands on a pale yellow 

 spot. It appears in May and August. The 

 caterpillar is black, with two white dorsal lines 

 and bluish white lateral stripes, as well as 

 short black or yellow spines. It lives through 

 the Winter at the roots of herbage in woods 

 or under fallen leaves, and may be found on 

 species of Viola in the Spring and Autumn. 



A. pales, W. V. is bright fulvous, with 

 black spots, and blackish at the base. The 

 hind wings are yellow beneath, variegated 

 with rusty red and green, with triangular sil- 

 very spots and a marginal row of spots of 

 the same colour. It is found in June and 

 July on elevated meadows in the Alps of Swit- 

 zerland, the Tyrol, and Bavaria. The cater- 

 pillar is grey, with a lighter streak along the 

 back, and yellowish sj^ines placed on black 

 elevations. They feed on violets in May and 

 June. Var. arsilache, Esp. is larger and of a 

 brighter colour, with the black spots better 

 defined and larger. The under side of the 

 hind wings is varied with bright rusty red. 

 It is found at lower elevations than pales. 

 Var. napaea, Hiibn. In this the male is 

 tinged with sulphur-yellow on the under side. 

 The female is greenish on the upper surface. 

 It is found in the same localities as pales. 



A. dia, Linn, is found in woods and bushy 

 places in many parts of Central and South- 

 Eastern Europe in July and August. The 

 under side of the hind wings is cinnamcn- 

 brown, variegated with yellow towards the 

 margins. There are several light spots near 

 the base, and three triangular silvery spots 

 in the central band, which is itself pale yel- 

 low. The space between this band and the 

 row of silvery spots on the hind margins is 

 purplish, and also contains a few silvery spots 

 and a row of round black spots. The larva 

 is dark grey with a whitish dorsal line, edged 



