THE BROWNS AND HEATHS 175 



of these bands has often a black central spot, but frequently these 

 are entirely absent. The colouring of the under side is very 

 similar but less denned, and the rusty spots of the hind wings are 

 very small. 



The butterfly is out in June and July. The caterpillars, which 

 are green, with white stripes along the sides, feed on various 

 grasses. They hybernate during the winter, and change to the 

 chrysalis state in the following May or June. 



The Northern Brown (Erebia 



The colour of this species (Plate V, fig. 4) is a rich dark brown, 

 with rust-coloured and black spotted bands arranged something 

 like those of the last. The markings, however, are very variable. 

 There are usually four black spots on the band of the fore wings, 

 but the first two of these are always united, and centred with 

 white. The third is often very small or entirely wanting. 



The under side of the fore wings is marked something like the 

 upper, but the hind wings on this side are grey, with two broad 

 bands of a darker colour. 



As its popular name implies, this butterfly is a northerner. It 

 is common in Scotland, where it flies in elevated spots. In 

 England it is confined to the mountainous districts of the 

 north.. 



The perfect insect is at large in July and August, during which 

 time the eggs are deposited on various grasses or on low-growing 

 herbage in grassy spots. 



The caterpillar is of a brown colour, and has a narrow black 

 stripe down the middle of the back, and two other stripes, lighter 

 than the ground colour, one on each side. At about the end of 

 June it turns to a chrysalis of a brownish colour. 



The food plants of this species include a number of common 

 grasses. 



The Speckled Wood or Wood Argus (Pararge Egeria) 



Most of our butterflies delight in the hot sun, and are to be 

 seen on the wing only when it is shining brightly. This fact is 

 particularly noticeable on a bright day with occasional heavy 

 clouds. While the sun's rays are pouring uninterruptedly on the 

 landscape, numbers of these light-lovers are to be observed flitting 



