NYMPHALIDyE. 177 



On Viola canina, and, rarely, on Primula vulgaris. In the 

 year 1868, when I, in common with others, was searching for it 

 with more anxiety and care than success, Mr. Buckler wrote 

 me that he had obtained a single larva from Mr. W. H. Har- 

 wood, of which he said, '■ when the sun shines warmly it comes 

 out to feed, and walks rapidly about over the leaves. When 

 the sunshine goes oft' it retires under a leaf and apparently 

 does not move all night. It is fond of basking in the sun. 

 This morning I saw it eating a piece out of a primrose leaf, 

 and it has tasted all the leaves of the violet, and cut circular 

 pieces from their edges." 



Pupa moderately stout, rather sharply pointed, with the 

 tip of the abdomen curved forward. There is a deep depres- 

 sion in the back, where the thorax and abdomen unite, two 

 short points in front of the head, others at the base of the 

 wing cases and the back of the thorax, and a row on each side 

 of the back of the abdominal segments. These last-named 

 points are black ; those of the anterior portion grey ; the wing 

 cases long and dull brown, and the general colour brown 

 shading into grey. (Buckler.) 



A bright and lively ornament of our woodlands in the spring 

 and early summer, flying everywhere in the more open paths, 

 glades, and, especially, open portions where the undergrowth 

 has been cut down within two or three years ; settling occa- 

 sionally on blossoms of Ajuf/a reptanii, and other flowers, 

 but not especially attracted by them, resting quite as often on 

 the ground, or on grass or dead leaves, but retiring for the 

 night under the leaves of the bushes, or on the flower-heads 

 of grasses or rushes in the paths. 



Apparently common in all large woods, and generally in 

 wooded districts throughout England and Wales, becoming 

 less frequent in the North, but common in Ross-shire, Inver- 

 ness-shire, and Sutherlandshire, and found in all parts of 

 Scotland except the Isles. 



Widely distributed in Europe and Asia. 



M 



