Erebia. 33 



which is mostl}- divided into spots, at least on the liind-wings, and is marked with black dots. 

 The hind margin of the hind-wings is perfectly rounded. (In the variety Eriphyle, Freyer, the 

 middle red spot on the under side of the hind-wings is placed further towards the base than the 

 others.) Expands from i;^ to \\ inches. One of the commonest species in the Alps, Pyrenees, 

 &c., in Jul)-, frequenting grassy places from a moderate elevation upwards. Eripliyle is more 

 local, and is only found at a considerable height. 



* 6. E. Epipliron (Knoch.), {Mountain Ringlet). — Dark brown on both sides, fore-wings with a 

 rust-coloured band or row of spots, and hind-wings with round rust-coloured spots, on which blind 

 or ocellated eyes are placed. The hind margin of the hind-wings projects into a very slight angle 

 in the middle. The variety Cassiopc (Fabr.) has black dots instead of eyes. Expands from i} to 

 \\ inches. Inhabits many of the mountain ranges of Central Europe, including some of those of 

 Scotland, the north of Ireland, and the English lake district ; but from other ranges, such as the 

 Riesengebirge, Black Forest, and Jura, it is entirely absent. It is met with in June and July in 

 swampy places at a considerable height, varying with the locality, and the particular variety of the 

 species. The larva is green, with darker green lines, and a white stripe on the sides. It feeds on 

 Poa annua and Ecstuca oviua. The butterfly is figured at PI. 12, Fig. 6. 



7. E. Arete (Fabr.). — -Wings blackish-brown above, with a rust-coloured band, which is 

 divided into spots on the hind-wings. The hind-wings have a row of white spots before the hind 

 margin on the under side, and sometimes also above. Their hind margin is dark reddish-browa 

 beneath in the male, and they are wholly greenish-grey in the female. Expands \\ inches. 

 After this local insect had been described, eighty years elapsed before its re-discovery in the 

 mountains of Carinthia. 



8. E. Pharte (Esp.). — Wings above dark brown, with a rust-coloured band divided into round 

 spots on the hind-wings, without black dots. Under side of the male dark brown; and of the 

 female dark brown, dusted with greyish-yellow. Expands from \\ to \\ inches. Widely 

 distributed in the Alps, occurring in grassy meadows in July and August at a great elevation. 



9. E. iMnesira (Esp.). — Wings above dark brown, with a reddish or rust-coloured band, 

 sometimes containing two black dots, or small eyes, towards the tip of the fore-wings. Fore-wings 

 beneath reddish or rust-colour, with dark borders ; hind-wings beneath uniform dark brown in the 

 male. In the female they are pale brown, dusted with whitish, and with a pale grey band. 

 E.xpands about i \ inches. A local insect, but found throughout the Alpine ranges, on slopes 

 above the highest meadows, in July. It appears to be commonest in the French Alps, but is said 

 to be difficult to capture. 



10. E. Alecto (Hiibn.). — A very variable species, black or blackish-brown above, sometimes 

 without any markings, or with a faint rust-coloured band ; occasionally with two small eyes, 

 generally blind, near the tip of the fore-wings. Fore-wings beneath unicolorous dark brown ; or 

 with a rust-coloured band ; or brownish-red with a dark border. Hind-wings beneath dark brown, 

 and without markings in the male ; in the female they are dusted with grey, and have generally a 

 paler sub-marginal band. Expands about \\ inches. Widely distributed in the Alps from June to 

 August, but nowhere common, and only found in rocky places above the tree-limit. 



11. E. Scipio (Hiibn.). — Wings brown, fore-wings with a rust-coloured band divided by the 

 nervures, and marked with two confluent black eyes pupilled with white near the tip. There are 

 often one or two smaller ones separated from these, especially in the female. The band is narrower 

 and more divided into spots on the hind-wings, with or without two or three eyes. Under side of 

 the fore-wings reddish, with the margins brown, and the eyes as above; under side of the hind-wings 

 uniform brownish-black in the male, with or without eyes. In the female it is uniform ashy-grey, 



8 



