FRITILLARIES, VANESSAS, PURPLE EMPEROR 1G8 



The caterpillars, which are black and spiny, with reddish head and 

 legs, begin to feed in August, and as soon as the chilly weather sets 

 in they hybernate in groups under the cover of a tent constructed 

 by binding together leaves or blades of grass. In the spring they 

 start out again, and feed till the end of April, at which time they 

 change to dark brownish and smooth chrysalides. 



The Heath Fritillary (Melitcea Athalia) 



Both the upper and under sides of this butterfly are shown on 

 Plate III (figs. 5 and 6), and it will be observed from these that its 

 general appearance is very similar to that of Cinxia. 



The upper surface is of the same tawny brown, barred and striped 

 with black, and the fringes of the wings are pale yellow, inter- 

 rupted by small patches of black. 



The under surface of the fore wings has the same ground colour 

 with the exception of the tips, which are yellow ; and the whole is 

 marked with black, as in the illustration. The hind wings are pale 

 yellow, with two broad bands of brown corresponding with those of 

 Cinxia ; but a series of black double arches along the hind margin 

 and the absence of rows of black spots serve to distinguish this 

 species from the last. 



Athalia is another local butterfly, but is sometimes found in 

 abundance in the spots which it frequents. It is met with chiefly 

 in the open spaces of woods along the south coast and for some 

 distance inland. Devon, Cornwall, Sussex, and Kent seem to be 

 the most favoured counties ; and London entomologists would do 

 well to search for it in Epping Forest. 



The butterfly deposits its eggs during June and July, on several 

 different food plants, the chief of which are the greater and narrow- 

 leaved plantains (Plantago major and P. lanceolata), foxglove 

 (Digitalis purpurea), two species of cow-wheat (Melampyrum 

 praiense and M. sylvaticum), wood sage (Teucrium Scorodonia), 

 and the germander speedwell (Veronica Chamcedrys), and the 

 young caterpillars, after feeding for only a week or two, commence 

 their period of hybernation. They resume their feeding in April, 

 and change to the pupal state about the end of May. 



The colour of the caterpillar is velvety black, finely dotted 

 with white, and the spines are yellow or orange, tipped with 

 white. 



The chrysalis is creamy white, banded and patched with 



M2 



