116 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 
greyish colour, the base being saturated with blue ; at the extremity of the discoidal cell of the fore wings is an 
oval, black ocellus, edged with white ; this is succeeded by a curved row of six similar ocelli, varying in their 
form and size; the innermost of these spots is often doubled ; then fellow two rows of dark spots, the inner 
row formed of arched spots, and the outer one of round, smaller ones; the space preceding the former is whiter 
than the rest of the wing, and the space between the two rows of spots is often coloured with orange ; the margin 
of all the wings is slender and black, and triangularly dilated at the extremity of the veins. The hind wings 
have more numerous ocelli ; namely, three small, round ones near the base, one transverse near the middle, a 
much curved and irregular row of eight beyond the middle, beyond which the wing is whiter than in the other 
parts; then follows a curved row of eight black arches, and a fulvous band, on which are about the same number 
of round black spots, most of which are adorned with silvery scales. 
The females are larger than the males, and have the upper surface ef the wings of a dull warm, brown colour, 
darker at the base, and near the extremity of the wings is a series of fulvous, arched spots, occasionally more 
obsolete on the fore wings; along the margin of the hind wings is also occasionally a very slender, dull white 
interrupted streak. The ciliz are also dusky, especially at the base. Beneath the ground colour of the wings is 
darker grey, or brownish ashy, which throws the white ocelli and other markings beyond the middle curved row of 
spots into stronger contrast. Moreover, the submarginal orange band is brighter coloured, the dark marking by 
which it is edged being more distinct. The female often differs by having the disk of the wings on the upper side 
more or less (and especially in the hind wings, as in our figure 3) suffused with blue. 
Some striking varieties of this species have been observed. In one, captured by the late Mr. Hatchett, at 
Coombe Wood, the upper surface of all the wings is of a pale fulvous, tawny colour, like that of 
Hipparchia Pamphilus. In another, taken by the late Mr, Haworth, in salt marshes, near Holt, Norfolk, and 
thence named by him P. maritimus, the ocelli on the disk of the under side of the wings are clongated into those 
on the middle of the wing, being almost confluent with the following row of spots. Toa specimen of this variety 
in the cabinet of the Entomological Society of London, is attached the manuscript name of Alcippe, of Kirby ; 
but Mr. Stephens applies that name to another, and apparently very distinct variety, of smaller size, having ‘ the 
wings narrower, blue above, with a broad, black margin to all the wings, the under side of the male of a deep 
greyish or drab colour, the ocelli very distinct in the female, and the oblique series on the posterior wing 
consisting of four.” 
The caterpillar is described as being of a dull green colour, with whitish tubercles, and a blackish head and legs, 
a line down the back and sides, oblique marks on the latter, of a dark red colour, bordered with white. It feeds 
on broom, sainfoin, and other kinds of Trifolium and allied genera. The chrysalis is at first green, and afterwards 
brown, 
This species frequents lanes, marshy commons, damp fields, &c., about the middle of July, not appearing to 
be attached to chalky districts. Although not apparently found in the north of England, it is sufficiently common 
in various parts of the south; Coombe and Darenth Woods, Ripley Green, Wood Hay Common, Hants; 
Parley Heath, Dorset ; Coleshill Heath, Warwickshire (as we learn from the Reverend W. T. Bree) ; and other 
localities are recorded by preceding authors. 
