Melaxargia. 37 



are stout and spindle-shaped, with a round head, and are thinly covered with fine hair. They 

 iiybernate young, and live concealed in spring. They feed on grass, and conceal themselves 

 during the day. The pupre are placed on the surface of the ground. There are not many species 

 of this genus known, but it appears to be met with throughout Central and Southern Europe, 

 North Africa, and part of Central and Western Asia. The majority of the species are found on 

 the shores of the Mediterranean, and only one is met with north of the Alps. 



* I. M. Galathea (Linn.), {Marbled White). — Creamy white, marbled with black; base black; 

 hind margins blackish, and spotted with white lunules on all the wings. A large square spot in 

 the middle of the costa of the fore-wings. Under side of fore-wings with one eye at the tip ; hind- 

 wings beneath white in the male, and yellowish in the female. There is a marginal row of si.x 

 black eyes, and a greyish band across the centre, always interrupted in the middle. E.xpands 

 from if to 2\ inches. A very variable insect; specimens have occurred almost perfectly white, 

 and others almost black ; the latter are most common in Southern Europe. The paler varieties 

 have been called Leucoinelas (Esp.), which has the hind-wings unicolorous cream-colour beneath, 

 and Galene (Ochs.) ; the dark forms, which are more constant, are Procida (Herbst.) and Ttirciea 

 (Boisd.). M. Galathea is one of the most abundant insects in Central and Southern Europe ; in 

 England it is common where it occurs, but very local. It frequents meadows and open places 

 in woods from June to August. The larva is yellowish-green, with red lines on the back and 

 sides, and may be found in April and May. The butterfly is figured at PI. 12, Fig. 9. 



2. M. Lachcsis (Hiibn.). — White, with black borders spotted with white. A large irregular 

 black spot, deeply excavated on both sides, at the end of the cell of the fore-wings. There is a 

 more or less distinct square black spot on the inner margin at the base, but the costal half of the 

 base is white. The under side is similar to that of M. Galathea, and two or three of the eyes are 

 visible on the upper side of the hind-wings. Expands about 2\ inches. It is found in South- 

 western Europe in May and June. The larva is flesh-colour, with pale carmine lines. 



3. ]\I. Larissa (Hiibn.) resembles the last two species; base of all the wings dusky. The 

 discoidal markings on the fore-wings are composed of two square black spots, forming a sort of 

 right angle. Under side of hind-wings with an uninterrupted central row of white spots edged 

 on both sides with black, and six eyes, with violet pupils, and enclosed in distinct black rings. 

 Expands from \\ to 2 inches. It inhabits South-Eastern Europe and Western Asia in June. 



4. J/. lapygia (Cyr.). — White, with black spots and nervures ; an indented black line enclosing 

 white spots on the hind margins. Eyes of the hind-wings visible above ; they are yellow below, 

 and pupilled with blue. The base of the wings is often dusky above, without being very distinctly 

 black. Expands from 2 to 2;^ inches. It inhabits the shores of the Mediterranean and Black 

 .Seas in June and July. The larva is pubescent ; its colour is citron-yellow, with a slight greenish 

 tint, and a brighter line on the back, and yellowish ones on the sides. 



5. M. Sylliiis (Herbst.), Psyche (Hiibn.). — White, an irregular black fascia spotted with white 

 at the end of the cell of the fore-wings ; all the hind margins black, spotted with white, especially 

 at the tip of the fore-wings, where there is a double row of spots. There are one or two eyes at 

 the tip of the fore-wings, visible on both sides; and five on the hind-wings beneath, some of which 

 are also visible above. The eyes are reddi.sh, with blue pupils, and are enclosed in yellowish rings. 

 The nervures of the hind-wings, and those at the tip of the fore-wings, are broadly reddish beneath. 

 In this and all the following species the hind-wings are edged with a double black line, instead of 

 a single one. Expands from 2 to 2\ inches. Common in the south of Europe in June and July. 

 It flies rapidly, and is not easy to catch, except in the morning. It frequents bare hill-sides and 

 waste places. The larva is yellowish flesh-colour, with a light brown line on the back, bordered 



10 



