94 THE BOOK OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



surface. A few orange dots are also to be found with the 

 black. 



On the upper surface of the imago (Fig. 88), starting 

 from the outer margin, we get first the black margin, then 

 a row of yellow semi-lunar spots ; next, a broad brownish- 

 orange band, divided by the nervures, and each division 

 on the hind-wings containing a black dot ; next follows a 

 band of yellow spots, with broad black boundaries ; within 

 this, on the fore-wings, are a few spaces, some yellow and 

 some orange, while the rest of the hind-wings is chiefly 

 black. On the under-surface (Fig. 89) the markings are 

 very similar, but the black is either very much toned down 

 or reduced to fine lines. 



M. cinxia, Linn. (Glanville Fritillary) (Figs. 90 to 93), 

 is an extremely local butterfly in England, though plentiful 

 on the Continent. Its stronghold is in the Isle of Wight, 

 and it is seldom taken elsewhere. Other localities that have 

 been mentioned are the New Forest, Kent, Wilts, Cam- 

 bridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northants, Yorkshire, and Fife. 

 It usually flies slowly, and may be easily caught. 



During May and June the eggs are laid in clusters 

 on the Narrow-leaved Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) and 

 possibly on some other plants, such as those mentioned 

 for M. athalia. The larvae, while still small, retire in- 

 companies for the winter into a retreat of leaves bound 

 together with silk. They reappear in the spring, and are 

 full-fed about the end of April. After about a fortnight, 

 the insect leaves the chrysalis, which is attached to the 

 food-plant or to some object near. The imago is on the 

 wing during May and June. 



The larvae of cinxia and of the other butterflies of the 

 genus Melitcza are very conspicuous, and we may wonder 

 why they do not all fall victims to birds and other enemies 

 to the caterpillar tribe. It is, however, the opinion of 



