IIQ BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



greyish colour, tlie base bcino- saturated with blue ; at the extremity of the rliscoidal 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 follow 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 wngs 

 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 arc 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 of 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 cili;e 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 m.arking 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 iiind 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. Il.atchett, at 

 Coombe Wood, the upper surface of all the wings is of a jiale fulvous, tawny colour, like that of 

 Hipparchia Pamphilus. In another, taken by the late Jlr. Ilaworth, in salt ni.arshes, near Holt, Norfolk, and 

 thence named by him P. maritimus, the ocelli on the disk of the under side of the wings are elongated into those 

 on the middle of the wing, being almost confluent with the following row of spots. To a specimen of this variety 

 in the cabinet of the Entomological Society of London, is attached the manuscript name of Alcippe, of Kirby ; 

 but Jlr. 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, Src., .about the middle of July, not appearing to 

 be attached to chalky districts. Although not apparently found in the north of England, it is sufliciently 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 ]ireccding authors. 



