88 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 
SPECIES 4.—THECLA W-ALBUM. THE W-HAIR-STREAK BUTTERFLY. 
Plate xxvi. fig. 1—5. 
Synoxyurs.— Papilio W-Album, Villers, Ent. vol. 2, pl. 4, fig. 12. Thecla Pruni, Leach, Jermyn, Stephens’ Illust. vol. 1, p. 77. 
Thecla W-Album, Hubner, Godart, Stephens, Illust. vol. 2, Strymon W-Album, Hiibner. 
p. 66; Curtis, Duncan, Brit. Butt. pl. 28, fig. 2. Lycena W-Album, Ochsenheimer. 
Papilio Pruni, Lewin Pap. pl. 44. Haworth, Donovan, Brit. 
Ins. vol. 13, pl. 437. | 
This species is closely allied to the preceding, but may at once be distinguished by the want of the orange 
marks on the upper side of the wings, and the more acute form of the W near the anal angle of the hind wings 
beneath, whence the name of the species. The expansion of the wings varies from a little less than 1+ to rather 
more than 11 inches. The upper surface of the wings is of a uniform dark brown or blackish, with a minute 
white, and sometimes a few rufous scales near the anal angle. The males have an oval glabrous spot near the 
middle of the fore wings towards the costa. On the under side, the ground colour of the wings is of a paler 
brown, and the fore wings are marked beyond the middle with a transverse white line (which is rather broader 
and more wavy in the female than in the male), and which does not extend to the anal angle ; the hind wings 
are traversed by a slender white line beyond the middle, which is more slender and greatly angulated near the 
abdomen, forming the letter W. A row of slender black lunules (slightly edged internally with white) runs 
nearly parallel with the outer margin of the hind wings, succeeded by a fulvous band extending from the anal 
angle about half way towards the outer angle of this pair of wings, where it becomes gradually obliterated ; 
externally this band is marked with black semicircular spots succeeded by a silvery line at the base of the cilia ; 
(those nearest the anal angle being largest ;) the anal angle itself is black with a silvery dot. The tails are black, 
tipped with white, those of the females being the longest; the antenne are ringed with white, the tip reddish, 
the tarsi whitish ringed with brown. 
The caterpillar is green, the posterior segments of the abdomen being spotted with dark red, and two rows 
of small dots down the middle of the back, which is deniated, and paler oblique lateral marks. Previous to 
undergoing its transformations, it assumes a brown colour. The elm and the black-thorn have been given as its 
food. The chrysalis is brown, with a white head. 
Until about twelve years ago this was a scarce insect, and was confounded with the preceding*. In July 
1827, however, Mr. Stephens found it in myriads enlivening the hedges for miles in the vicinity of Ripley (but 
not to the north nor north-west of the village, although the bramble, upon the blossoms of which it chiefly 
delighted to settle, was in equal profusion there). Of their astonishing numbers then observed, an idea may 
be obtained when it is stated that he captured nearly 200 specimens in less than half an hour as they approached 
the bramble-bush near which he had stationed himself. This is the more remarkable, as he had never previously 
observed it in that neighbourhood, although he had frequently collectec there ; near Windsor, Cambridgeshire e 
near Ipswich, and Bungay, Suffolk ; and Southgate, Middlesex, have been given as additional localities. The 
Rey. W. T. Bree also informs us that his son has taken it sparingly in Barnwellwold, and that it occasionally 
occurs near Allesley. 

* “Papilio W-album, Villars, 2, 83, t. 4, t. 12, a. P. Pruni nullo modo differt.”” Haworth Lep. Brit. p. 38, 
