122 IF.riDOrTEKA. 



with brown. In some cases this brown edging is extended 

 into a brown band on the inner side of these spots. 



Female similar, but paler in colour, the black spots 

 frequently smaller, and the wings less deeply emarginate. 



Under side of nil the wings of the male richly marbled with 

 pale (or daik) brown, greenish, yellowish, and sometimes 

 purplish ; of the female dull brown to the middle, then paler 

 brown, with a row of greenish or dusky spots, and some bi'own 

 clouds before the hind margin. Both sexes with a clear 

 white C-shaped central mark on the hind wings ; specimens 

 which emerge in June have, however, the under side, of a 

 lighter, brighter brown, or even rich fulvous brown, and all 

 the marbling paler. Moreover, in these the hind margins 

 are by no means so deeply hollowed, nor have they such 

 decided projections. 



With the exception of these seasonal divergences, and of 

 considerable variation in the depth and contrast in colour of 

 the marbling of the under side, and of the tone of reddish 

 fulvous on the upper, this species is fairly constant ; but Mr. 

 Herbert Goss has a curious specimen, shaped more like the 

 continental V. E(jca, with margins far less deeply hollowed 

 out than usual, and the projections shorter ; fore wings, pale 

 with small spots ; and hind wings extremely dark. A very 

 large pale specimen, with small spots, is in Mr. Capper's 

 collection ; and Mr. S. Webb has one in which the markings 

 of the hind wings are much suffused. 



On the wing in September and October, and after hyber- 

 nation in April and May. Also an emergence, probably partial, 

 takes place, in favourable years, in June and the beginning 

 of July. 



Larva If inch long, dark grey, with the whole dorsal surface 

 from the seventh to the twelfth segment, broadly white ; 

 sides reddish-brown ; spiracles black, encircled with white 

 and black ; anal segment with two large white spots ; head 

 black, with paler streaks ; ventral surface blackish, mottled 



