254 LEPIDOPTERA. 



at night and hiding itself at the roots of the grass in the day- 

 time. Extremely sluggish and not at all a familiar object, 

 since when disturbed it falls to the gi'ound, and lies in a 

 curve for a considerable time, but it may be swept up with a 

 net at night. Emerges from the egg in August and feeds 

 slowly till October, when it hybernates, but perhaps only 

 partially. In ]\Iarcli it is somewhat grown but does not 

 reach full growth before June. 



Pupa very stout, rounded, head squared and not divided ; 

 anal extremity abruptly pointed and with a projecting hook. 

 Colour pale brownish ochreous, irrorated with reddish brown ; 

 a row of black dots on each side, and a broad brown dash 

 from the base to the centre of each wing case ; inside edges 

 of the eyes with a double reddish brown line. (Fenn). The 

 Rev. H. Harper Crewe says that it lies in a slight cocoon at 

 the grass roots, and is hard to rear, requiring both moisture 

 and sunlight. 



A very quiet insect, fluttering lazily about open places in 

 woods, and among long grass in damp places about wooded 

 districts. Not in the least timid, or else too sluggish to 

 notice an intruder. More partial than almost any other 

 British butterfly to shady places, and not at all averse to 

 flitting about during warm rain. Rather local, but abundant 

 in its favoured haunts, which may be said to be all the 

 wooded districts in the southern half of England and in 

 Wales. Towards the north of England it becomes much 

 more local and less common ; in Lancashire it occurs in a 

 few places, but nowhere commonly ; and this is also the case 

 in Yorkshire, where in several places it has died out. Mr. 

 J. E. Robson records that it totally disappeared from the 

 Hartlepool district at the same time as Pararge Mccja-m, about 

 thirty years ago. In Scotland it becomes more plentiful, 

 especially in the southern portion, but is found abundantly 

 in several places in Aberdeenshire, in Perthshire, and even 

 in the district of West Ross. Mr. K, J. Morton states 



