184 THE WOODLANDS. 



and spiny, feeding chiefly on some species of violet. 

 The chrysalis is humpy and irregular, suspended by 

 the tail. Spiny caterpillars and suspended chrysalids 

 are not confined to the Fritillaries. 



The Ringlets are usually very modestly attired in 

 brown of various shades, with a pair or more of round 

 black spots on the wings not unlike an eye, hence called 

 oscelli. The " Speckled Wood " is sometimes called 

 the Wood Argus, 1 or many-eyed, from the rows of 

 black spots, resembling eyes, which adorn the wings. 

 Its scientific name is Egeria, after a nymph celebrated 

 by the Romans as the wife of Numa, who became so 

 disconsolate at his death that she melted into tears. 

 The caterpillars are warted, and not spiny, feeding on 

 different kinds of grasses. 



The Wall Butterfly is a lover of the sunlight, and is 

 most addicted to lakes and sunny banks. But the 

 most common of the family is the Meadow Brown, 

 fluttering in sunshine and in shade over pastures and 

 hill-sides, along the road, and occasionally straying 

 into woods. One of the ancient deities of classical 

 authors is said to have had fifty daughters called 

 Nereides, and one of these was " Janica," whose 

 name this butterfly bears. 



The Ringlet 2 has its upper surface almost entirely 

 of a uniform sepia brown, with slight eye-spots. These 

 are very distinct on the lighter brown under surface, 

 surrounded by a very pale ring. The greenish cater- 

 pillar feeds on grasses during the night, and for that 

 reason is seldom seen, unless sought after with a 



1 Pyrarga Egeria. 2 Hipparchia hyperanthus. 



