FRITILLARIES, VANESSAS, PURPLE EMPEROR 161 



The female lays her eggs late in July on the food plants (Viola 

 canina and V. odorata) or on the moss that surrounds them. 



About two weeks later the young caterpillar is out and feeding ; 

 and then, after a few more weeks, while it is yet very small, it hides 

 among the dead leaves at the roots. Early in the spring it resumes 

 its feeding, and is full grown at the end of May. 



The colour of the caterpillar (Plate VIII, fig. 3) is black, and 

 there are two yellow lines along the back, separated by a black stripe, 

 also one yellowish line on each side. Its body is adorned with 

 reddish-brown spines, two of which, situated just behind the head, 

 are longer than the others. 



The chrysalis (Plate VIII, fig. 9) is greyish, marked with 

 metallic spots, and has a number of angular projections representing 

 the spines of the larva. 



Papliia is to be met with in woods in all parts of England and 

 Wales. It has also been observed in Ireland, but is rarely seen 

 in Scotland. 



The Greasy Fritillary (Melitcea Aurinia) 



Unlike the other Fritillaries, this species (Plate III, fig. 3) 

 exhibits a variety of shades on the upper surface. A broad band of 

 sienna brown stretches across each wing, near to and parallel with 

 the hind margin. The other parts of the wings are marked with 

 patches of sienna, orange, and yellow, separated by black lines and 

 bands. The margins are all black, and inside the broader margin 

 of the hind wing is a row of six very 

 pale yellow spots. The broad sienna 

 band of the hind wing is also 

 divided by narrow black lines into 

 seven parts, six of which have black 

 centres. 



The under surface of the fore 



, -I o -^ TI i -I FIG. 73. THE GKEASY FRITIL- 

 wmgs has indefinite yellowish and LARY-UNDER SIDE. 



tawny patches, which look as if they 



had been greased and smeared. The hind wings are marked with 

 pale yellow and deep orange ; a broad band of the latter, near the 

 hind margin, is' divided into segments, each of which has a yellow 

 spot with black in the centre. 



This is a very local insect, although it is widely distributed 

 throughout England and Wales. It also occurs sparingly in Scot- 

 land and Ireland. Its food plants are the honeysuckle (Lonicera 



M 



