Akgyxxis. 1 7 



broad ; under side of tlie hind-wings and the palpi as in Athalia. Expands rather less than 

 i.V inches. The Alpine variety, Varia (Bisch.), is smaller. The upper side of the male 

 most resembles PartJicnie, and that of the female Atha/ia, and is dusted with black, especially 

 on the hir.d-wings. On the under side of the hind-wings, the spots at the base, and the middle 

 band behind the dividing line are white. Local in Central and Southern Europe, and found 

 in meadows from May to August. The larva is black, with very small white dots, some 

 fine white hairs, and a series of indistinct yellow blotches on the sides. It feeds on plan- 

 tain. (J/. Dcione, Gey., a scarce species found in the south of France and Spain, closely 

 resembles j\I. PartJieiiie above, but the black lines are more numerous and distinct, and 

 it is more fulvous at the base of all the wings. On the under side of the hind-wings it 

 is "more like J/. Atlialia, but paler, and the reddish bands are narrower. The larva feeds on 

 Linaria) 



13. J/. Astcria (Freyer). — The smallest species of the genus, not measuring more than 

 an inch across the wings. Upper side as in M. Atlialia, but much dusted with blackish ; 

 the rows of spots in the female are very pale. The best distinction is that the pale marginal 

 spots on the under side of the hind-wings stand upon the hind margin itself, without being 

 separated from it by any black line, as is the case in the other species. A scarce and local 

 insect, inhabiting the high Alps of Eastern Switzerland and Austria in July and August. 



GENUS III. — ARGYNNIS (FABR.). 



Large or middle-sized butterflies, upper side fulvous with the following black markings : 

 some transverse stripes in the discoidal cell, a curved row of connected and generally more 

 angular spots on the middle, beyond which is a row of rounder spots, and another series of 

 spots on the border, often hatchet-shaped. Fore-wings beneath rather paler and with duller 

 markings than above ; hind-wings beneath with some pale yellow spots at the base, and a 

 broad band of the same colour before the middle ; behind this is generally a paler transverse 

 stripe, or else a series of larger and paler spots ; then follow a series of black dots, or small 

 spots with pale centres, and a series of pale lunules on the margin. The pale spots are 

 generally more or less silvery, and are replaced in some of the larger species by silvery 

 streaks. The larvse are cylindrical, and are furnished with six rows of hairy spines ; they generally 

 pass the winter as larvae, and do not assume the pupa state till May. Most of them feed on 

 violets, especially the dog-violet and the wild pansy. They may be found in spring on their 

 food-plants, or under fallen leaves. The pupse are angular, with a hollow on the back. The 

 butterflies frequent meadows, heaths, and open woods, and are fond of settling on flowers. 

 The smaller species are double-brooded, and fly in spring and autumn ; the larger ones are 

 single-brooded, and appear in summer ; the latter have a very strong flight. As the upper 

 side is very similar in most species, we have given a general description above, and shall 

 therefore in most cases confine ourselves to noticing the diff"erences of the under surface of the 

 hind-wings. The genus Argynnis is found throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North 

 America ; perhaps the finest species is A. Cliildreni (Gray), from the Himalayas, in which 

 the whole surface of the under side is covered with a network of broad silver stripes. Several 

 of the smaller species are circumpolar, and have been found as far north as our explorers 

 have yet penetrated. 



I. A. Apliimpc (Hiibn.). — Fulvous, reticulated with black ; a row of spots near the marginal, 

 lunules on all the wings. Hind-wings beneath reddish-yellow, varied with straw-colour on the 

 5 



