AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. &7 
SPECIES 3.—THECLA PRUNI. THE BLACK HAIR-STREAK BUTTERFLY. 
Plate xxv. fig. 6—10. 
Synonymes.— Papilio Pruni, Linneus ; Hiibner. Thecla Spini, Brit. Butt. p. 30. 
Thecla Pruni, Stephens, Ulustr. Haust, vol. 2, p. 66, note (not 
vol. 1, p. 77, which is W-Album,) Curtis, Brit. Entomol, pl. 264 ; 
Duncan, Brit. Butt. pl. 28, fig. 1. 
Strymon Pruni, Hiibner (Verz. bek. Schm.). 
Lycena Pruni, Ochsenheimer. 
This species measures from 14 to nearly 1% inches in the expansion of its wings, which are of brownish-black 
colour, the anterior in the males having a small silky oval patch near tie middle towards the costal margin, the 
posterior wings have two or three (and sometimes more) orange-coloured lunular spots near the hind margin 
towards the anal angle, where there is a small bluish dot occasionally, as in the upper figure of the twenty-fifth 
Plate. The orange lunules exist along the entire margin of the hind wings, and extend into the fore wings, 
but such is of rare occurrence, if indeed it be not the character of the female, as stated by Mr. Stephens. Beneath 
the ground colour is of a lighter brown, having an ochre-tint ; the fore wings having a slender nearly straight 
bluish-white line extending across the wing beyond the middle, and reaching to the inner margin of the hind 
wings, where it assumes a more irregular appearance, somewhat resembling an obtuse W ; beyond this line the 
fore wings are marked with several obscure fulvous patches, those nearest the anal angle being preceded by a small 
black and silvery dot or eyelet; these black spots, seven in number and edged internally with silver, are more 
conspicuous on the hind wings, and are succeeded by a broad fulvous bar extending to the anal angle, the outer 
edge of which is marked with semicircular black marks (followed by a silvery line), those nearest the anal angle 
being the largest ; the anal angle itself is black with a silvery dot. The cilia is black at the base, and externally 
silvery with black spots: the tails are black, the antenna are annulated with white, and the eyes are margined 
with the same colonr. 
This species has only been known as a native species during the last ten or twelve years. The earliest notice 
of its occurrence having been given by Mr. Stephens, as above referred to (and not in vol. ii. p. 69 of the 
Illustrations, as referred to by Mr. Stephens in vol. iv. p. 382). | Shortly afterwards it was figured by Mr. 
Curtis, in his illustrations, who states that a number of specimens had been taken in Yorkshire, by Mr. 
Seaman, in the preceding July (1628). Mr. Stephens states, however, that this locality is erroneous, and that 
the insect occurs in profusion in Monk’s Wood, Herts. It is true we find a Thecla Pruni, in English works 
published previous to this period, but the fact was that English entomologists had mistaken the next species (Thecla 
W-Album) for the Linnzan Papilio Pruni, until the capture of the real species enabled them to correct their error. 
Mr. Bree informs us that this butterfly has been taken by his son in great abundance in Barnwell-wold, in July, 1838. 
The caterpillar is green, with oblique yellowish lines at the sides, and darker marks down the back. The 
chrysalis is brown with lighter markings, and dark tubercles. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVI. 
Insects.—Fig. 1, Thecla W-album, male (the white W-hair-streak Butterfly). 2. The female. 3. Showing the under side. 4. The 
Caterpillar. 5. The Chrysalis. 
oD Fig. 6. Thecla Rubi, male (the green hair-streak B.). 7. The female. 8. Showing the under side. 9. The Caterpillar. 
10. The Chrysalis. 
Prants.—Fig. 11. Ulmus campestris (the common Elm). 
is Fig. 12. Rubus cxsius (the common Dewberry). 
T. W-album and T. Rubi, are both from specimens in the British Museum ; the Caterpillar and Chrysalis of the former are from Godart ; 
of the latter, from Hiibner. H.N.H. 
n 2 
