MELANARGIA. 2 4 x 



Melanargia galatea, Lang, Butterflies of Europe, p. 230, pi. 55, 



fig. 1 ; larva and pupa, pi. 76, fig. 1 (18S4). 

 Arge galathea, Buckler, Larva of Brit. Butterflies and Moths, 

 i., p. 160, pi. 3, fig- 4 (18S6). 

 This is a very pretty Butterfly, which can hardly be con- 

 founded with any other British species on account of the 

 peculiar character of its markings. Like all the species of its 

 genus, it is varied with creamy-white and black above ; on the 

 under surface of the hind-wings it is white in the male and 

 yellow in the female, with a marginal row of black spots, and 

 a transverse grey band across the centre, never interrupted in 

 the middle, as the corresponding band is in some continental 

 species of the genus. It averages about two inches in expanse, 

 the female, as usual, being a little larger than the male. It varies 

 somewhat in the amount of black and white on the wings; and 

 specimens have been met with which were wholly white. 



It frequents damp meadows, and glades in woods, in June, 

 July, and August ; and it is perhaps owing to drainage that it 

 has become a very local insect in England. In many places 

 on the Continent it is one of the most abundant species of the 

 Satyrince. 



The larva is yellowish-green, with dark lines on the back and 

 sides. The head is reddish-brown, and there are two small 

 spines of the same colour at the hinder extremity of the body. 

 It feeds in April and May on Timothy-grass (Phheum pratense), 

 and other grasses. 



The only other genera of this section which need be men- 

 tioned here, are (Eneis, Hubner, = Chionobas, Boisd., and 

 Argyrophorus, Blanch. The former contains a number of 

 Butterflies resembling small Hipparchice, but with the costal 

 nervure of the fore-wings thickened (not swollen), a very long 

 narrow fore-wing cell, and very hairy legs and palpi. They 

 vary from pale brown to ochreous or tawny, and are almost 



