232 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



The expansion of the wings is rather more than an 

 inch. The fore -wings are whitish, with numerous faint 

 pale grey transverse markings, and with a more con- 

 spicuous brownish central band, attenuated below the 

 middle ; in this band is the black central spot, fre- 

 quently particularly conspicuous from being placed in a 

 whitish blotch ; at the base there is also a small paler 

 brownish blotch. 



The larva is pale brown, with numerous darker longi- 

 tudinal stripes, and with conspicuous black Y-shaped 

 marks on the back of the seventh, eighth, and ninth 

 segments. It feeds on primrose in the spring. 



The perfect insect appears towards the end of May, 

 and keeps out some time ; it is very plentiful in open 

 places in woods, and is easily started from its repose 

 during the daytime, but it flies rather wildly ; some- 

 times we may see it at rest on palings ; it comes freely 

 to light. 



FAMILY XIY. LARENTIM. 



MELANIPPE FLUCTUATA. THE GAKDEN 

 CAKPET. 



This is likewise an abundant species throughout the 

 country, frequenting gardens. 



The expansion of the wings is about an inch. The 

 fore -wings are whitish, with numerous wavy transverse 

 greyish lines, and with three conspicuous dark greyish- 

 brown blotches, one at the base, a larger one on the 

 costa in the middle, reaching nearly halfway across the 

 wing, and containing within it the central black spot, 

 and a smaller one on the costa towards the tip. 



The larva is brownish, with numerous darker longi- 



