86 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 
SPECIES 2.—THECLA QUERCUS. THE PURPLE HAIR-STREAK BUTTERFLY. 
Plate xxiv. fig, 5—10. 
Synonyurs.— Papilio Quercus, Linneus; Lewin, Pap. pl. 43; | Brit. Butt. pl. 27, fig. 3—4; Westwood, Introd. to Mod. Class. of 
Donovan, Brit. Ins. vol. 13, pl. 460; Wilkes, pl. 116 ; Harris, Ins. 2, p. 357, fig. 100—8. 
Aurelian, pl. 10, fig. a—g; Albin, pl. 52, fig. a—e. Bithys Quercus, Hiibner. 
Thecla Quercus, Leach; Stephens, Curtis, Boisduval, Duncan, Lycena Quercus, Ochsenhcimer. 
This species varies in the expanse of its wings from 14 to 14 inches. On the upper surface the wings are of 
an obscure blackish-brown, more or less tinged in the males with a purple hue, which extends all over them, 
except along the hind margin ; two varieties in the intensity of this purple tinge are represented in our plate. The 
female, on the contrary, (which is generally smaller than the male,) has the wings brownish-black, with a splendid 
glossy blue patch, which nearly covers the discoidal cell of the fore wings, and extends towards the anal 
angle of these wings (differing, however, in size in different specimens), the hind wings being immaculate. 
On the underside there is no difference in the markings between the two sexes, the general colour being of a pale 
ashy-brown, the apical portion being rather paler; beyond the middle of the fore wings is a transverse straight 
white slender bar, which does not extend to the anal angle, edged internally with brown, and between this and the 
margin is a row of darker spots, edged with grey, those near the anal angle being the largest and varied with 
fulvous ; a more irregularly waved white line runs across the hind wings beyond the middle, also edged internally 
with brown, and between this and the margin of the wing are two rows of whitish-grey scallops terminating 
towards the anal angle in a fulvous eye, having a black pupil, and edged internally with black, the anal 
angle itself is also marked with fulvous and black. The tail of the hind wing is of a black colour, and’ 
not so long in this species as in T. Betula. The body is black above, ashy-grey beneath, the eyes are 
margined with white, and the club of the antenna is reddish on the under side. 
This species is found about the middle of July, flying over the tops of oaks. It occurs plentifully throughout 
England, but is rare in Scotland. The caterpillar also feeds on the oak, and is a thick onisciform sluggish creature, 
clothed with short hairs, and with the upper surface of the body of a rosy hue with several rows of dark greenish 
lines or dots. In this state it offers several peculiarities worthy of notice, the head is small and entirely retractile 
beneath the first segment of the body, which is semicircular and margined with two dark scaly patches in the 
middle ; this segment also bears a pair of spiracles, which are wanting in the two following segments, they exist 
however in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh segments. It is remarkable that 
the three terminal segments are soldered together without articulation on the upper side, although traces of 
articulation occur beneath. The feet are very minute. The anal prolegs appear placed on a dstinct fleshy segment. 
(Introd. to Mod. Class. Ins. ii., fig. 100, 9, 10.) 
The caterpillar is found in the beginning of June. The chrysalis is of ashining rusty-brown colour, with three 
rows of brown spots on the back. A writer in Loudon’s Magazine of Natural History (No. 32) states that the 
caterpillar of this species goes under ground to effect its transformations, but I believe its ordinary habit is to 
attach itself to the underside of the leaves of the oak, 
