194 I.EriDOPTERA. 



knotted stems of aged plants of the Plantago, or on the 

 under side of large stones which had fallen from the cliff; in 

 the latter case they were partly surrounded with a slight web. 



In 18G8 the cliffs near Ventnor swarmed with the larvae in 

 thousands, feeding on Plantcnjo maritima as well as F. lancco- 

 lata. Mr. South says that they feed eagerly in cloudy weather 

 and during rain, but hastily conceal themselves as soon as the 

 sun comes out ; also that the young larvce associate together 

 to the number of about a dozen in one compartment of their 

 silken habitation, but that sometimes several such compart- 

 ments are joined together. 



On the Continent the larva is said to feed on Hieracium 

 piloscUa and on Veronica, as well as on the different species 

 of Plantago. 



Mr. Dawson's account (already quoted from) is sufficiently 

 interesting and lifelike. He says that the butterfly lives " on 

 steep and broken declivities near the coast, which the scythe 

 or plough have never as yet invaded, and in such spots may 

 be met with earlier or later in May, according to the season. 

 Near Sandown, on the side of the cliff, thei-e is one of these 

 broken declivities, occasioned by some former landslip, covered 

 with herbage, and sloping down to the beach. On a hot, sunny 

 day each side of the pathway leading to the base of this declivity 

 was completely carpeted with the bright yellow flowers of the 

 Ladies' Finger {Anthyllis vulnm-aria), and these flowers were 

 the resort of an abundance of the fritillaries, which fluttered 

 about them or rested on their corollas, expanding and sunning 

 their wings, and presenting a most charming picture of 

 entomological loveliness. They in general fly slowly and 

 gracefully, except when alarmed, gliding gently from flower 

 to flower." 



Mr. Herbert Goss says that it seems to have disappeai'ed 

 from this locality near Sandown, in which Mr. Dawson 

 found it, but that he has himself met with it at various 

 points along the coast of the Isle of Wight, near to St. 

 Laurence and Niton, in coves and along the slopes of the 



