1 82 THE BOOK OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



of L. argiolus has that colour almost as well developed 

 as the male. 



The larvae are all what is called onisciform that is, 

 woodlouse-shaped the head being small and retractile 

 within the second segment, which is somewhat flattened, 

 as are also the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth ; while the 

 segments between have each a pair of prominences, forming 

 two ridges along the back with a slight hollow between 

 them. The sides are dilated below the spiracles, and the 

 ventral surface is flat, hiding the legs and claspers. 



The pupae are rather slender and practically without 

 points or angles. Normally they are attached by the anal 

 extremity, and girt ; but the larva often turns without 

 attaching itself at all, and at times even below the surface 

 of the ground. Several species are almost, or quite, con- 

 fined to chalk districts ; but others are less fastidious in 

 that respect. 



A beginner will doubtless find this genus one of the 

 most confusing of those into which our butterflies are 

 divided, as many of the species bear a very close resem- 

 blance to one another : and especially is this the case with 

 a few of the females, those of Z. icarus, L. bellargus, arid 

 L. corydon sometimes almost defying separation. The 

 following table may perhaps be found of use for purposes 

 of identification : 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES OF THE GENUS LYC^KNA. 



A. a. Hind-wings tailed ; under- surface streaked, 



not spotted batica. 



b. Hind-wings minutely tailed ; under-surface 

 silvery- white, with tiny black spots argiades. 



B. Possessing marginal red spots, and a white 

 dash on the under-surface of the hind-wings : 



a. Having no spots between the discoidal spot 

 and the base of the wing 



