46 THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 
The Caterpillar (No. 3) is green, with a red stripe on each side. It feeds upon the common 
Sorrel, Rumex acetosa ; and there are most probably several broods, as the perfect insect appears 
in April, June, and August. 
The Chrysalis (No. 4) is found attached to the stem of the Sorrel, This pretty Butterfly 
is common everywhere, especially on heaths and commons ; where, being a pugnacious inseet, it 
is observed giving battle to intruders upon its domain, often engaging in combat with some of 
the largest of the Butterfly tribe. There are several striking varieties of this pretty species. 
The one in which the copper border of the hind wings is wanting, is perhaps the commonest. 
In another variety, the copper colour on both the surfaces of the wings is replaced by milky 
white, leaving the dark spots. Another has the deep copper colour reduced toa pale orange, 
and the black spots and black portions of the hind wings are white. These varieties are more 
or less rare, and, as [am informed by Mr. Bond (whose well known collection of British Lepidop- 
tera is one of the finest in the country), such varieties are in most instances confined to par- 
ticular districts, in each of which not more than one of the varieties is found. 
Chrysophanus Hippothoé (the Dark Under-winged Copper, Nos. 5 to 7). This species is 
omitted in many Catalogues of native Lepidoptera, the ground for supposing it a British insect 
being considered doubtful. “The best-known ‘British’ specimen,” writes Mr. Westwood, 
“was obtained from an old collection made in Kent, which was known among collectors as 
F] 
the ‘ Kentish Cabinet.’” Some have supposed the species identical with C. dispar ; but a com- 
parison with the figures will sufficiently prove their distinctness. The true Hippothoé of the 
Continent is invariably much smaller than our C. dispar, and is of lighter colour in the centre of 
the wings, shading to deep purplish on the edges ; while in C. dispar (in the males) the intensity 
of colour is the same all over the upper surface of both pair of wings. 
Chrysophanus Chryseis (the Purple-edged Copper, Nos. 8 to 10). This species has also be- 
come of extreme rarity, though formerly taken near Epping, from whence Dr. Leach is said by 
Mr. Stephens to have received fresh specimens during several successive seasons. It was also 
taken at Ashdown Forest, Sussex. On the Continent both this and the last species are plentiful, 
in marshy places in some districts, where they appear towards the close of summer. 
