WOOD RINGLET. 39 



lialf to nearly two inches. The whole of the upper surface 

 is very dark rich brown. The fore wings have one or two 

 small eyes, dark brown, edged with light brown, more or less 

 distinct in different specimens, near their hind margin. The 

 hind wings have two or more similar eyes near their margins, 

 one or two of them with white specks in the centre. 



Underneath, the ground-colour is a much lighter brown. 

 The eyes on both the fore and hind wings are much larger 

 than above, there being generally three near the outer angle 

 of the upper wings, the rim, eye, and dot being more or less 

 indistinct, and five much more distinct ones on the hind wings, 

 two and three, the latter inside, but following the lower outer 

 margin, and the former, between the base of the wing and 

 its outside corner, near the fore edge. 



The caterpillar is of a greyish white colour, with a slender 

 black line along the back, and sometimes, Mr. Westwood says, 

 it is entirely blackish. 



This Butterfly is an exceedingly variable one. In some 

 specimens the eyes are very large, and connected together, 

 accompanied by smaller satellite ones. In some the eyes are 

 wholly obliterated on the fore wings, and indeed, strictly 

 speaking, on the hind wings too, there being in their place 

 three minute Avhite specks. A very extensive series of varieties 

 may easily be procured. J. C. Dale, Esq., has one with un- 

 equal spots on the opposite wings, and Mr. Wailes, of Newcastle, 

 one with no spot whatever, either above or below. 



The figures arc taken from specimens in my own collection. 



