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 S. malvce var. 

 Icwatera. 



Nisoniades, Hubner ; 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 



