l42 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



Cardiff, S. W. \ Barnwell Wold; Peterborough; Col- 

 Chester ; Epping ; Darenth Wood ; Coombe Wood \ 

 Brighton ; Tenterden ; Winchester ; Woolmer Forest, 

 Hants ; Plymouth ; Dartmoor ; Wallingford, Berks \ 

 Tpswich ; Dorsetshire ; Norfolk Wiltshire ; Monks 

 Wood, Cambridgeshire. 



43 



TILE BLACK HAIR-STREAK. 



(Thecla Pruni.) (Plate XII. fig. 2.) 



The upper side is very dark brown, sometimes almost 

 black, and bearing near the hinder edge of the hind 

 wings a few orange spots. This character will at onco 

 distinguish this from the next species (W. Alburn). 

 On the under side of the hind wing is a broad band of 

 orange, having a row of black spots on its inner edge. 



The caterpillar is green, with four rows of yellow 

 spots. It feeds on the sloe. 



The butterfly comes out about the end of June or in 

 July. It is generally a very rare insect, but is occa- 

 sionally taken in great plenty in certain spots. The 

 Rev. W. Bree, writing to the Zoologist from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Polebrook, North Hants, says, " Thecla 

 Pruni is very uncertain in its appearance. In 1837 

 it literally swarmed in Barnwell and Ashton Wolds ; I 

 sio not scruple to say that it would have been possible 



