1 88 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



consequence of this peculiarity. The colour of the 

 present species is bright warm brown in the male, 

 marked with a dark bronze-green in the female. 

 The wings are profusely spotted with black on the 

 upper surface, and on the under surface of the lower 

 wings are a number of round bright silver spots, and 

 near the margin of the wing is a row of seven semi- 

 circular silver spots. 



This insect is generally spread over England, and 

 is plentiful in many parts of Kent, especially on the 

 downs which lead towards the sea. Mr. Newman 

 remarks that hilly, fern-covered ground is the best 

 locality for this Butterfly. The larvae feeds on the 

 dog violet {Viola canina). Its, colour is very dark 

 shining grey, mottled with black. When full-fed, 

 which takes place about the middle of July, it selects 

 a suitable spot and there changes into a pupa, sus- 

 pending itself by its tail, which is very strongly 

 curved. It remains in the pupal state about eighteen 

 days, and then emerges in its perfect form. 



There are five other species of Argynnis, all of 

 which are very similar in their colouring. As they 

 are liable to variation, the beginner finds great diffi- 

 culty in identifying them. This, however, can gene- 

 rally be done by means of the silver markings on the 

 lower wings, which in .some species form bold, clearly 

 defined spots, like solid silver leaf, and in others take 

 the shape of marks or streaks, just as if a brush had 

 been dipped in silver powder and drawn over the 

 wing. The larvae of all the species are spiny, and 

 feed upon the violets and their kin. 



