128 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLI. 



Insects. — Fig. 1 . Pampliila Comma, miUe. 2. The female. 3. Showing the under side. 4. The Caterpillar. 

 Fig. 5. Pamphila Actison, male. 6. The female. 7. Another specimen. 



Fig. 8. Pamphila Linea, male. 9. The female. 10. Showing the under side. 11. The Caterpillar. 1'2. The Chrysalis. 

 Plants. — Figs. 13 and 14. Oniithopus pcrpusillus (Bird's-foot. ) 



The Pamphila Commas are from remarkahly well-marked specimens in the British Museum, the caterpillar from IlUhner. P. Actteon, 5, 6, 

 :ire from Hiibner's figures : 7 is from aspeciuicn taken by myself at Shenstone, near Lichfield, in 1835, where it was in great abundance; buti 

 oid not at the time, being a very inexperienced collector, remark that it dilTcred from P. Linea. The specimens of P. Linea are from 

 Mr. Doubleday's collection, and the caterpillar and chrysalis are from Hiibner. H. N. H. 



SPECIES 0.— PAMPHILA COMMA. THE PEARL, OR SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER. 



Phitcxli. fig. 1 — 4. 



Synonymes. — Papilio Comma, Liiinfeus, Iluwortli, Lewin, Pap. 

 111. 45, iig. I, 2. Duuovun 9, pi. 295. Ilubnev, Pap. 735, fig. 

 479— 481. 



Hesperia Cnmma, Fuljiicius, Ocbiciilicimer, Curtis, Boisdiival, 

 Zcttcrsteilt. 



Pamphila Comma, Fabiicius (Gloss.), Stephens, Piincaii, Brit. 

 Butt. 2, pi. 2, fig. 2 ; Wood, Ind. Eiit. t. 3, f. 81. 

 Auti'iades Comma, Hiibncr (Vei7.. bek. Schmett.) 

 Female, Hesperia Syhnnus, Jermyn. 



This local species bears considerable resemblance to the preceding, but is distinguished by its darker and more 

 varied appearance, es])oci.ally on tlie under side, caused by the pearly white spots, the very different shape of the 

 fore wings in the males, and the different form of the club of the antenna^ and the terminal hook of the club. 

 The fore wings measure about one thii'd of an inch in expanse. On the upper side the wings are of a dark, 

 tawny orange, varied with brown, with the veins black. In the males the basal and central parts are tawny, 

 with an elongated, rather narrowed, incrassated black patch, the middle ridge of which is glossy ; in the female the 

 basal and middle part of the wings (except the space between the postcoital and median veins, which is tawny) 

 is dusky ; the outer margin in both se.xes is broadly dusky, with a very irregular, and much broken and curved 

 series of small spots, which are larger, more distinct, and paler-coloured in the females. Tiie hind wings are 

 dusky, with the disk obscure tawny, marked obscurely with about five paler spots in the middle and towards the 

 outer angle. On the under side the hind wings and the tips of the fore wings have a greenish tinge, which is 

 brighter in the females ; the hind wings marked with eight or nine squarish, silvery white spots, three towards 

 the base (two of which are often confluent), and the remainder forming a much-curved series parallel with the 

 margin. All these spots are emarginatc on the outside. The antenn;e are annulatcd. 



The larva is obscure gj'een, marked with reddish, and shining ; the head black : the neck with a white collar, 

 and a row of black dots on the back and sides. It feeds on Coronilla varia on the Continent. The clnysalis is 

 elongated and cylindrical. 



The perfect insect appears in July and August, frequenting chalky districts near Croydon, and on the chalky 

 downs ne.ar Lewes, Sussex. The Devil's Dyke, near Newmarket, and Old Sarum, Wilts, are recorded by 

 Stephens as the localities of this uueoramou species. In those places, however, it is very abundant. The licv. 

 W. T. Bree has also taken it near Dover. 



