134 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



6 7 



THE SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY. 



{Argynnis Selene.) (Plate XL fig. 1.) 



This butterfly, which is very nearly related to the last, 

 often so closely resembles it in the marking of the 

 upper surface, that even practised eyes are sometimes 

 at a loss to distinguish the two, without a reference to 

 the under side ; for on this side do the real distinctive 

 marks lie, and chiefly on the hind wing. In addition 

 to the silver border and central spots of Euphrosyne, 

 this species has several other silvery or pearly patches 

 distributed over the hind wing; and the reddish-orange 

 colour adjoining the silver border in Euphrosyne is 

 exchanged for dark chestnut -brown in Selene. In 

 average size the two insects differ very slightly, though 

 the name of this expresses an inferior size. 



The caterpillar much resembles that of the last, and 

 feeds on violet-leaves. 



The chrysalis is greyish. 



The butterfly is double-brooded, appearing first in 

 May and again in August. It is not so common an 

 insect as Euphrosyne, but is met with in similar situa- 

 tions, and has a range nearly co-extensive with that of 

 the latter. 



