PARARGE EGERIA. 141 



divide the band into compartments, in which may be 

 found about four somewhat indistinct eye-spots. The 

 under-surface (Fig. 143) of the fore-wings resembles very 

 closely the upper surface. The hind-wings show four 

 bands of different shades of brown parallel to the 

 hind-margin. The second from the margin is lightest, 

 of a greyish colour, and contains about four tiny white 

 spots ; the next band inwards is the darkest. A long 

 series of this butterfly should be obtained if possible, 

 for it is subject to considerable variation, especially in 

 the eye-spots. The female is lighter than the male, 

 especially on the under-surface and in the coppery band 

 on the upper surface. 



Pararge, Hub. 



The genus Pararge contains two species, egeria and 

 megcera, about equal in size and similar in markings, 

 though egeria is much darker than the other. They 

 have hairy eyes. 



P. egeria, Linn. (Speckled Wood Butterfly, Wood 

 Lady, or Wood Argus) (Figs. 146 to 149), is a sober- 

 tinted butterfly of middle size. It is a wood-loving 

 insect, to be found in suitable districts throughout 

 England and the south of Scotland. It is, perhaps, 

 not so common as is generally supposed. 



The eggs, which are laid singly late in the summer, 

 are hatched in less than a fortnight. When partly 

 grown the young larvae hibernate, and they are full-fed 

 about the end of March. The pupae may be found 

 early in April, and the imagines come out towards the 

 end of the month. There appears to be a summer 

 brood also, which produces the larvae that live through 

 the winter. 



