128 BUTTERFLIES 



The Meadow Fritillary 



Brenthis hellona 



The fact of variation is one of the most universal things 

 in nature. No two animals are exactly alike and every 

 plant differs from every other plant. That this is true of 

 the structure of living things is easily observed but it is not 

 so well known, because not so easily observed, that most 

 species of animals differ also in the precise phases of their 

 growth. We know that the variation in form and color 

 has brought about the remarkable adaptations to sur- 

 roundings which we call mimicry and protective colora- 

 tion. A little consideration will make it evident that the 

 variation of different individuals in periods of growth must 

 have led also to the adaptation of the life stages to the con- 

 ditions of the changing seasons. This is particularly true 

 in the great majority of insects which show remarkable 

 adaptations in their various broods to the seasonal con- 

 ditions of the localities where they live. 



From this point of view the attractive little Meadow 

 Fritillary is of especial interest. We are indebted to the 

 studies of S. H. Scudder for our knowledge of the remark- 

 able variations in its growth. These are so complicated 

 that in order to make plain the varying conditions it seems 

 necessary to separate the broods in a somewhat hypotheti- 

 cal manner. 



We will begin with what we shall call Group A: The 

 butterflies are on the wing in May and early*"June. They 

 have just come from the chrysalis and continue living for 

 three or four weeks before they deposit eggs, this time 

 being required in order that the eggs may develop in the 



