PLATE XVI. 
No. 1.—The Dark Green Fritillary Butterfly (Argyn- No. 4.—The Caterpillar of the Dark Green Fritillary 
nis Aglaia). Butterfly. 
No. 2.—The Dark Green Fritillary Butterfly (the 
Female). No. 5.—The Chrysalis of the Dark Green Fritillary 
No. 3.—The Dark Green Fritillary Butterfly (show- Butterfly. 
ing the under side). 
ARGYNNIS AGLAIA (the Dark Green Fritillary) receives its popular name from the rich 
green tones which vary the colouring of the hind wings on the under side. In this green tinting 
of the under surface of the hind wings it resembles Argynnis Paphia (the Silver-washed Fritil- 
lary), but the silvery markings are of a very different character. Instead of being washy streaks 
they form distinct and sharply defined patches, symmetrically disposed between the veins or 
nervures. These silvery markings, as they are generally described, have, in fact, more of the 
pearl-like than a metallic gloss, and might be very closely imitated in a drawing by the substance 
prepared from the scales of a peculiar fish, which is used in the manufacture of imitative pearl 
beads. The red-brown of the upper surface of the wings is much brighter in the males than the 
females, as in the last described genus. The males have also the veins at the back of the fore 
wings thickened as in 4. Paphia, but much more slightly ; and the under surface of the hind 
wings also exhibits a feature not found in the female insect ; this consists of a row of eye-like 
spots between the two outer rows of pearly patches. The representation, No. 3, showing the 
under side, was drawn from a male specimen, as will be observed by the presence of the series 
of spots alluded to. 
The female, showing the upper surface of the wings, is represented at No. 2, in which the 
cooler tone of the colouring is very conspicuous. 
The Caterpillar (No. 4) appears at the end of May and June, and is generally found feeding 
on the Dog Violet (Viola canina). 
The perfect insect quits the Chrysalis in July and August. It is common everywhere, 
especially on heaths and in woods. Among places cited for its recent capture in great abund- 
ance, Leicester and Brighton are especially recorded. 
There are several very distinct varieties of this handsome insect ; in the one formerly 
known as Argynnis Carlotta, some of the black markings on the upper surface of the wings are 
joined so as to produce a much more strongly marked appearance, and several of the pearly spots 
beneath are connected in a similar manner. Varieties of this description have occurred, in which 
the joining of the dark markings of the upper surface is so general that the wings present the 
appearance of being almost entirely of a deep brown colour, though in the hinder pair the marks 
are generally much more separate and distinct. This variety has occurred near Ipswich and 
Birmingham. <A very pale buff variety is also occasionally found, which generally has the spots 
