158 



BRITTSH BUTTERFLIES 



against him, luit that is no reason why he should abstain from a 

 vigorous searcli when he happens to be ' doing ' the soiithern 

 coiinties. 



The Darl-grecn FrifiJlari/ {Argijnnis Agla'ui) 



This butterfly is larger than Latona, as will be seen by reference 

 to Plate II, fig. 8. Its colour is, as i;sual with the Fritillaries, a 

 tawny brown with black markings. The female is usuall}' larger 

 than the male, and she is fm-ther distinguished by the ground 

 colour being darker and the black markings larger. 



The under side of the fore wings is very similar in colour and 

 markings to the upper, but there are silvery spots near the tips. 



The hind wings are beau- 

 tifully tinted with olive 

 green and brown, and 

 studded witli silver. The 

 arrangement of the latter 

 is not easily described, but 

 is accurately represented 

 in the accompanying 

 woodcut. 



Tlie favourite resorts 

 of this insect are wooded 

 spots, and also heaths and 

 downs clad with heather 

 or ferns, where its food 

 plant (the dog violet) lies scattered ; but it seems to be less partial 

 to woods than the other Fritillaries. It is very widely distributed 

 throughout England, and is common in parts of Scotland and 

 Ireland. 



The perfect insect is on the wing in -Tuly and early August. 

 The caterpillar first appears toward the end of August, and 

 commences its period of hybernation among the roots of its food 

 plant before it has grown to any considerable size. It comes out 

 again in the spring, and continues to feed till the beginning or 

 middle of July, and then changes to the chrysalis state, after pro- 

 tecting itself by binding three or four leaves together. 



Its colour is a velvety black, with dark and glossy grey between 

 the segments. There is a double yellow line along the back, and a 

 thin line of orange yellow on each side below the spiracles. It has 

 a number of black hairy spines, arranged in six longitudinal rows. 



Fia. 70.- 



-The Daek-greex Fritillary 

 Under Side. 



