FRITILLARIES, VANESSAS, PURPLE EMPEROR 155 



known as the Snake's Head or Fritillary hence the popular name 

 of the group. 



The Small Pearl-bordered, our first example, is one of the lesser 

 Fritillaries, and is shown in Plate II (fig. 5). 



The arrangement of the black markings on the upper surface 

 will be readily made out from the coloured plate, but the pattern 

 of the under side will require a little special notice, for it is here, 

 as with the other Fritillaries, that we find the chief marks by 

 which we identify the species. On this side (fig. 67) the fore wings 

 are light orange brown, with a patch of darker brown near the tips, 

 and spotted with a dull black. The hind wings have the light 

 brown displaced by a very warm chestnut tint, some yellow, and 

 bright silvery spots. 



Seven silvery spots of triangular form border the hind margin. 

 A large one occupies the centre 

 of the wing, and ten others are 

 somewhat irregularly scattered 

 over other parts of the wing 

 five between the central spot and 

 the hind margin, and five between 

 it and the costa. 



All the spots on these wings, 

 whether yellow, chestnut, or silver, FIG. 67. THE SMALL PEARL- 

 are bordered by a narrow black BORDERED FRITILLARY 



line. UNDER SlDE " 



Selene is not a very abundant butterfly, but is widely distributed 

 in England, and is also found in parts of Scotland. Its favourite 

 resorts are clearings in woods, especially those of Kent and other 

 southern counties. 



It appears in May and June, in which latter month it deposits 

 its eggs on the dog violet (Viola canina). 



The caterpillar is not fully grown at the end of the summer, 

 and hybernates during the winter among the roots of its food 

 plant. In the following spring it emerges again, and feeds till 

 May, when it changes to the chrysalis on a stem. It is less than 

 an inch long when fully grown, and is of a dark-brown colour. 

 Six rows of hairy spines are arranged longitudinally on its 

 body. 



The chrysalis is greyish brown, and has a number of very short 

 projections corresponding with the spines of the caterpillar. 



