72 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



THE SPECKLED WOOD BUTTEKFLY. 



(Lasiommata Egeria.) (Plate V. fig. 4.) 



EVERY ONE who lias wandered through green woodland 

 ridings, or coppiced paths, must be familiar with a 

 lively, spotted brown insect that trips along just ahead 

 of one, in a sociable way, for some distance, finding 

 time to turn aside into the leafy recesses on either side 

 without losing ground ; then, having had enough of 

 our company, mounting overhead, and retracing its 

 course in the same playful way, and soon lost in the 

 winding of the path. 



This is the Speckled Wood, or Wood Argus Butter- 

 fly, a very pretty insect on both sides, and receiving 

 the latter name Argus, " the many-eyed " from the 

 rows of rich black eyes that grace its pinions. 



Over nearly the whole of England it is to be met 

 with commonly wherever there is wooded ground ; but 

 in several parts of Scotland it is quite unknown. 



The prevailing colour of the wings is deep brown, 

 spotted with various shades of bun or lighter brown. 

 The " eyes " are velvety black, with a pure white 

 centre-spot. 



The caterpillar a grass feeder is dull green, with 

 broad white side stripes. 



The chrysalis, which is of a beautiful grass-green 

 colour, may be found in winter, under trees, attached 

 to blades of grass. 



The butterfly is out from April to August. 



THE WALL BUTTERFLY. (Lasiommata Megcera.} 

 (Plate Y. fig. 5.) 



THE habits and movements of this pretty species much 

 resemble those of the last ; but the Wall Butterfly is a 

 more sun-loving insect, and rather frequents road-sides 



