FBITILLABIES, VANESSAS, PUEPLE EMPEBOB 157 



is boldly marked with black, and the long hairs and scales of the 

 bases of the wings are tinged with green. 



The imder side presents a most beautiful appearance. Here the 

 ground colour is paler than that of the upper side. The fore wings 

 ere spotted with black, and have a few small patches of silver at the 

 tips. Each hind wing has no fewer than twenty-four bright silvery 

 spots. Seven of these, mostly of large size, adorn the hind margin, 

 and above each of these is a small one in the middle of a little patch 

 of dark brown. The arrangement of the others is not rpiite so 

 easily described, but may be readily made out from our illustration. 



This rare gem among British buttertiies has been taken in 

 many localities, but in ver}- small numbers. Seeing that it is a 

 common insect on the other side of the Channel, and that the 

 British captures have been made chiefly in the Isle of Wight and 

 on the south coast, I am 

 inclined to believe that 

 man}' of the highly valued 

 genuine Britisliers have no 

 right to their title, biit are 

 visitors that have spent 

 only a few days within our 

 shores, having flown or been 

 blown across the sea. 



It is not likely that 

 many of my readers will 

 ever meet with Lafonn 

 during their rambles in our 



own country, and if they are anxious to have the species represented 

 in their collections, they will probably have to piirchase either a 

 British or a foreign specimen, the former of which will command 

 a very high price, while the latter may be obtained for three or four 

 pence. 



The perfect insect may be looked for in August and September, 

 cliiring which time the eggs are laid on the leaves of violets and tho 

 heartsease (Viola canina, V. odorata, and V. tricolor-). 



The caterpillar is brown, with numerous yellowish spines, and 

 has three whitish or yellowish stripes — one down the middle of the 

 back and one along each side. It hybernates during the winter, 

 and is fully grown in the following June or July. I hope that my 

 reader will be so fortunate as to secure either this or some other 

 stage of this rare and beautiful insect. The chances are decidedlv 



The Qdeen of Spain 

 Fritillary — Under Side. 



