150 



Gems ARGYNNIS. 



Although constituted by a very limited number 

 of species, this genus ranks among the most import- 

 ant we possess, as comprehending a few of the lar- 

 gest and most richly ornamented of our native butter- 

 flies. When viewed from above, however, there is 

 no appearance of much embellishment, the surface be- 

 ing rather remaikable for uniformity of tint, consist- 

 ing of some shade of reddish-brown, streaked and 

 chequered with black ; a mode of colouring which 

 has probably caused the old name of Fritillary to be 

 applied to them, from their bearing some resemblance 

 to the tessellated markings of that flower. But the 

 under side is decorated with large spots and streaks 

 of beautiful silver white, which renders them very 

 conspicuous objects, even when contrasted with 

 species most richly coloured in other respects, but 

 destitute of this metallic brilliancy. They are the only 

 British insects of their kind that exhibit this " silvery 

 glitterance," besides the two last species of the pre- 

 ceding genus. To the latter, indeed, they approxi- 

 mate very closely in other particulars, but may be 

 tiistinguished from them, as well as from other cog- 

 nate genera, by the following characters: — Antennae 

 rather long and slender, with a very abrupt, spoon- 



