NISONIADES TAGES. 211 



of the abdomen being brownish. On the anterior parts 

 of the pupa are some dark brown marks, and there is 

 a row of spots across each segment of the abdomen. 



The costal margin of the fore-wings of the imago 

 (Fig. 245) is nearly straight, the hind-margin of all the 

 wings is slightly convex, and the fringe is black and 

 white. The colour of the upper surface is black, 

 chequered with variously-shaped white marks. The 

 under-surface resembles the upper, but is paler. The 

 sexes are similar. There is a variety in which several 

 of the spots on the upper surface of the fore-wings 

 coalesce and give the butterfly a very distinctive appear- 

 ance. This goes by the name of 6". mahm var. 

 lavatera. 



Nisoniades, Hilbner ; Thanaos, Boisduval, 



Like Syrichthus, Nisoniades is represented by but a 

 single species. 



N. tages, Linn. (Dingy Skipper) (Figs. 246 and 

 247), though not so common as the last butterfly, is 

 found throughout England and in parts of Scotland. It 

 should -be sought for on dry banks, on hill-sides, and 

 in similar localities. It is common in the south-east 

 corner of England. 



The imagines come out in May. The eggs are laid 

 about the end of the month on the Bird's-foot Trefoil 

 (Lotus corniculatus}. They hatch early in June, and 

 the larvae are full-grown at the end of July, producing, 

 probably, a second flight of butterflies. 



The full-grown larva (Fig. 246) is somewhat spindle- 

 shaped and from fin. to n'n. in length. It is yellowish-green, 

 shagreened with dark points. The dorsal stripe is of a 

 darker green and is followed on each side by a sub- 

 dorsal, pale, dark-edged one. The small spiracles are 



p 2 



