12 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



The larva is greyish or yellowish-brown, with a darker dorsal 

 line, and two lateral yellow lines varied with reddish; head 

 black. The pupa is smooth and brown, with white markings. The 

 larva feeds on bramble, raspberry, &c., and is double-brooded 

 on the Continent, the Butterfly appearing throughout the sum- 

 mer ; in England it is rarely seen except in May and June, the 

 autumn brood seldom appearing with us. It is very common 

 in many parts of the South of England, but more local in the 

 midland and northern counties and in South Scotland. The 

 single record of its occurrence in Ireland was probably an 

 error. 



This is the only Butterfly of the genus which is generally 

 common in North-Western Europe. It is found in bushy 

 places, open places in woods, lanes, &c., sitting with its wings 

 partly open, or sometimes closed, with the fore- wings drawn 

 down almost between the hind-wings. One or two specimens 

 which have been referred to, the larger Continental species, H. 

 alveus and H. carthamivi Hiibner, have been taken in England, 

 but though no doubt has been thrown on the authenticity of the 

 captures, England lies beyond the recognised range of these 

 species, which renders it less probable that they are truly in- 

 digenous. Mr. Barrett suggests that the specimens were intro- 

 duced with plants, or by casual migration, but the former sup- 

 position is by far the most probable, 



GENUS THANAUS. 



Thanaos, Boisduval, Icones, p. 240 (1833). 

 Nisoniades, pt. Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 108 (1816); 



Westwood, Gen. Diurn. Lepid. p. 519 (1852). 

 There is but one species of Thanaus in Northern Europe. 

 It is a rather larger Butterfly than Hesperia malvce, with much 

 more obscure markings. The name Nisoniades is now re- 

 stricted to some American species. 



