98 THE BOOK OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



Speedwell (Veronica Chamcedrys), Cowwheat (Melampyrnm 

 pratense], Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea\ and perhaps 

 Heath. The larvae emerge in about a fortnight, and 

 after feeding for a short time hibernate till the end of 

 April. They are full-fed about the end of May or 

 beginning of June, and after remaining in the chrysalis 

 state about three weeks the butterflies emerge, and 

 continue on the wing till July. 



The larva (Fig. 94) is about ijin. in length. The 

 dorsal surface is black, and the ventral pinkish-grey ; 

 both surfaces are thickly covered with white dots, 

 forming transverse rows on the divisions between the 

 segments, which are distinct. The head is black, with 

 white points, the legs are black, and the claspers grey. 

 The spines, which are yellowish-brown, not black as in 

 the other two species of the genus, are eleven in 

 number on the central segments, but less at the two 

 extremities. 



In shape the pupa (Fig. 95) resembles that of aurinia 

 broad head, curved back, wing-cases slightly produced 

 ventrally, and anal extremity pointing forwards. The 

 colour is almost white, with black and orange markings ; 

 the leg-cases have black markings ; the thorax has two 

 black marks edged with orange. The dorsal surface of 

 the abdomen is banded alternately with black and orange. 



A typical athalia very closely resembles aurinia on the 

 upper surface (Fig. 96), but has no row of black dots on 

 the hind-wings. Below (Fig. 97) the resemblance is close 

 also ; but the markings are less clearly outlined, and in 

 the hind-wings the compartments contain no black dots. 

 The middle lightest band on the hind-wings has a slight 

 silver tinge; the rest of the markings on both wings 

 are yellow and orange, those on the hind-wings being 

 arranged roughly in bands. 



