76 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



far the commonest of the three British species of Melihea. It 

 appears in May and June, generally frequenting damp 

 meadows, though it may be found in dry places also. 

 It represents the section of Melitcea in which the upper 

 side of the wings is marked with white or yellow spots, paler 

 than the ground colour. 



This species measures about one and a half inches across 

 the wings, or a little more, though some of the large South 

 European forms, which are considered to be conspecific, some- 

 times exceed two inches in expanse. The fore-wings are of a 

 deep fulvous, marked with several rows of pale yellow spots, 

 separated by black lines ; the hind-wings are fulvous, with 

 some yellowish spots near the base, and there is a row of 

 yellow spots across the centre, and a row of black dots near 

 the hind-margin. The hind-margins of all the wings are 

 narrowly black, and there are a few yellow dots within the 

 border of the hind-wings. The under side is similar, but paler, 

 and the markings are most distinct on the hind-wings. The 

 whole of the under surface of the wings has a peculiar 

 glossy appearance, which has suggested the name of the 

 Butterfly. 



The larva is black above, with several rows of small 

 white dots ; it is yellow beneath, and the legs are reddish. 

 It feeds on plantain, scabious, and other low plants, in April. 



THE GLANVILLE FRITILLARY. MELIT7EA CINXIA 

 (Plate XL, Figs. 3, 4.) 



Papilio cinxia. Linn., Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i., p. 480, no. 137 

 (1758) ; id. Faun. Suec. (ed. ii.), p. 280, no. 1063 (1761). 



Papilio delia, Denis and Schiff., Syst. Nat. Lepid.Wien, p. 179, 

 no. 6 (1776) ; Hiibn., Eur. Schmett., i., figs. 7, 8 (1790). 



Papilio cinxia major^ Esper, Schmett., i., p. 312, pi. 25, fig. 2 

 (1778). 



