1 6 European Butterflies axd Jllor/fs. 



7. M. Pluvlh' (Knoch.)- — Wings above fulvous, more broadly reticulated with black than in 

 71/. Ciiixia, the under side of the hind-wings greenish-white, with reddish bands bordered with 

 black, behind which are sharply-defined black crescents and rust-coloured spots. There are also 

 narrow and less deeply indented black crescents on the border. Tiie variety Aithcric (Hiibn.) 

 is more uniform in colour, and less reticulated. Expands from \\ to ij inches. It is found 

 from May to August in Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, and Northern and Western 

 Asia, but is a local insect. The larva is blackish-grey, dotted with white, and with the sides 

 whitish. There are three blackish lines on the back, and the spines are reddish-yellow ; those on 

 the sides are whitish. It feeds on Ccntaitrca jacca from May to September. 



8. M. Dictvnna (Esp.). — Wings blackish-brown, with rows of fulvous spots, but smaller and 

 fewer than in any other species, especially on the hind-wings, which are cinnamon-brown beneath, 

 with the spots at the base, the middle band (which is divided into spots by dark lines) and the 

 crescent-shaped spots on the hind margin straw-colour ; a row of black dots is placed before the 

 double row of pale marginal crescents. Expands from i^ to \\ inches. Common in June and 

 July in meadows in many parts of Central and Southern Europe and Western Asia, though 

 somewhat local. Larva dark grey, dotted with pale blue ; a black line on the back. Spines 

 short, rust-coloured, or sulphur-yellow. Head black, marked with blue. Feeds on speedwell in 

 May and June. The butterfly is figured at PL 8, Fig. 6. 



* 9. ]\I. Athalia (Esp.), {Pcarl-hordcrcd Likeness Fritil/ary). — Blackish-brown, with rows of 

 fulvous spots ; under side of the hind-wings yellowish-brown, with the spots at the base, the 

 broad central band (which is divided by a black line), and a row of crescents before the border, 

 as well as the space behind, pale yellow ; before the crescents are black arches filled with brownish- 

 red. The palpi are pale yellow, and only occasionally reddish at the tips. Expands from i^ to 

 I }, inches. It is perhaps the commonest species of the genus, frequenting heaths and meadows 

 throughout Europe and Northern and Western Asia from May to August. It is a very local 

 insect in the south of England and Ireland, but is abundant wherever it occurs. Larva black, 

 dotted with white, with pale brown spines. Feeds on plantain, &c., in May and September. The 

 insect is figured in all stages at PI. 8, Fig. 7, a — c. 



10. JM. Britoniariis (Assm.). — Resembles Athalia, but the ground colour of the under side 

 of the hind-wings is darker rust-brown, and the central band is darker yellow before the dividing 

 line than behind. The essential distinctions are that the border is brownish-yellow as far as the 

 spots, and considerably darker than these, and that the spots at the base and those in the 

 band opposite are shining whitish. Palpi as in Athalia. Expands from i\ to U inches. Found in 

 May and June from Eastern Germany to the Altai, but is either very local, or has been overlooked 

 from its resemblance to Athalia. Larva pearly white, with rusty-yellow spots, and white spines; 

 head black. Feeds on toadflax, speedwell, &c., in May. 



11. AI. Aurelia (Nick). — Also very similar to M. Athalia, but generally smaller, with the 

 under side of the hind-wings more brownish, and the inside of the central band rather darker than 

 the outside. Most easily recognised by the palpi, which are reddish-yellow on the outer side, and 

 pale yellow at the base only. Found in Eastern Germany in August. Larva black, dotted with 

 white, with small pale yellow spots on the sides, and black spines with whitish hairs. Feeds on 

 Alelaiiipyrum in June. 



12. M. Parthcnie (Borkh.). — Smaller than M. Athalia, the upper side is not so black, and 

 therefore appears fulvous, with narrow blackish-brown transverse lines. The third row of fulvous 

 spots from the border is much broader than in Athalia, especially towards the front edge of 

 the hind-wings ; and the separate spots between the ncrvures are at least twice as long as 



