68 



Zephynis betula:. — So far the eggs of the species I have described 

 are thin-shelled, showing the larval changes inside through the 

 partial transparency of the shell, and so accounting for the marked 

 changes in the colour of the egg at different periods. We now come 

 to a species which has a much stouter and more opaque covering, 

 for the purpose, no doubt, of protecting the enclosed embryo during 

 the rigours of winter. Z. betuhr lays her eggs singly as a rule, but 

 sometimes in twos or even threes on twigs of blackthorn or sloe, 

 often high up near the end of the branch, and at the angle formed 

 by the separation of two twigs or a twig and a spine. They are 

 globular in shape, somewhat flattened, and dead white in colour, 

 contrasting sharply with the black bark on which they lie. The 

 sculpture is very bold and consists of a large and deep central 

 depression enclosing the micropyle, around which are arranged 

 successive rings of small but deep pits, of which the first three or 

 four rings outside the micropylar area appear to have the largest 

 pits, and the shadows in these give an appearance of a darker ring 

 around a central black spot. The average size is •45mm. high and 

 •85mm. at the point of greatest width. To be found from August 

 to April. 



Zephi/ri(s quercus. — This ovum is similar to the foregoing in that 

 it is laid about July or August, does not hatch before the following 

 March or April, and has a stout opaque shell through which the 

 colour changes of the contents are not visible. It is laid singly on 

 terminal twigs of oak. at the base of next season's leaf bud usually, 

 but also on the twig itself, if there is a convenient flat depression to 

 hold it. Sometimes two or even more may be found on a twig 

 where the insects are plentiful, possibly being laid by different 

 parents. The egg is in shape a flattened spheroid, about -Smm. 

 high, and -SSmm. wide, dirty white in colour, with a central 

 depression containing the micropyle and having the appearance of 

 a dark spot. Around this are rings of pits which seem to have 

 their edges irregularly drawn outwards, forming a clieval de /rise 

 of short spines, and giving the surface of the shell a very rough 

 appearance. 



Tliecla w-albmn also lays an egg in the summer which will not 

 hatch before the following spring, but it does not appear to be so 

 thick-shelled as the two foregoing species. I have only once seen 

 wild laid specimens, and in this case two ova had been deposited at 

 the junction of two small twigs of elm, on the side facing the end 

 of the shoot, and so close together as to slightly overlap. The 

 shape is that of a deep saucer, or shallow basin, inverted, height 



