GREASY FR1TILLARY. 143 



anterior wings only. The other parts are nearly as 

 in the allied species. 



The caterpillar feeds on the two common species 

 of Plantain, and also on the Devil's-bit Scabious. 

 The body is black above, armed with spines of the 

 same colour, and the under side is yellow. A line 

 of very minute white dots is drawn along the back, 

 and another on each side. The legs are reddish. 

 The butterfly first appears on the wing towards the 

 middle of May, and, like most of the Fritillaries, it 

 presents a considerable number of varieties. It owes 

 its English name to the glistening appearance of the 

 wings, especially on the under side, which look as if 

 they had been rubbed over with grease. It appears 

 to occur in most of the southern counties of Eng- 

 land, and is said to be particularly abundant near 

 Brighton, and at Enborne in Berks. It likewise 

 occurs pretty far to the north, as we are informed 

 by Mr Andrews that it has been found near Dur- 

 ham ; and P. J. Selby, Esq. has taken it near Bel- 

 ford, in the countv of Northumberland. 



