Dark-Green Fritillary 



of the hind-wing has for its ground colour a delightful 

 tawny green. But the main attraction is the lovely 

 rows of pearl spots ornamenting the under side (Plate X., 

 Fig. i) ; and there are four of these rows. One, and it 

 is perhaps the finest, runs round near the outer margin, 

 and consists of nine gems ; the next, a little nearer 

 the body, has eight, and is slightly irregular ; the next 

 row has only three, rather widely apart ; and the fourth, 

 and last, has also three very small ones quite near the 

 base of the wing. The under sides of the fore-wings 

 have also their pearl spots. Near the outer margin you 

 will find a row with eight of them, beginning boldly 

 near the tip ; they gradually fade until the last of the 

 row is barely visible. On some male specimens there 

 are two silvery spots also near the tip, but on other 

 specimens these are absent. The under side of the 

 fore-wing has very little green to show ; the tip of the 

 wing is just tinted, and this tint is carried along the 

 costal margin. I have described the under side in some 

 detail, as I have seen it described as having only three 

 rows of spots on the hind-wing, and no pearl spots at 

 all on the fore-wing ; and for another reason, I want 

 you always to confirm your captures by a good text- 

 book, as by so doing you will learn some valuable 

 lessons in comparison and observation, and in noting 

 details ; and also it will enable you, perhaps, to add 

 some fine variations to your collection. 



The caterpillar lives on various species of wild Viola^ 

 and may be found on them in the early summer, but 

 as the butterfly has a wide range of distribution, season 

 45 



