74 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



though composed of the plainest colours, is very orna- 

 mental; grey and brown are the prevailing hues, dis- 

 posed in mottled Lars and stripes, reminding one of 

 agates, or some other ornamental stones. 



This butterfly is not everywhere to be found, but 

 haunts rocky places and hillsides, on a chalky or lime- 

 stone soil. At St. Boniface's Down, in the Isle of 

 Wight, I noticed it in such exceeding profusion last 

 August, that I could quickly have caught thousands, 

 had I been so disposed. 



Though a powerful-looking insect, its flight is by no 

 means swift, and it suffers itself to be captured without 

 difficulty. 



The caterpillar is dull pinkish about the back, with 

 three obscure grey-green stripes, a dark line on the 

 sides, and greenish beneath. It feeds on grasses, and has 

 been said to undergo its transformation to the chrysalis 

 in the earth ; but this point requires confirmation. 



The butterfly is seen from the middle of July till the 

 beginning of September. 



The following are localities for it : Bembridge and 

 Ventnor (Isle of Wight), Brighton, Lewes, New Forest, 

 Exeter, Plymouth, Faknouth, Truro, Bristol, Dorset- 

 shire, Salisbury Plain, Winchester, Worcester, New- 

 market, Gamlingay, Isle of Arran, Arthur's Seat (Edin- 

 burgh), Durham, Darlington, Glasgow, Lake District. 



THE MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY. 



(Hipparchia Janira.) 

 (Plate VI. fig. 1, Male; la, Female.) 



PERHAPS of all our butterflies this is the least attrac- 

 tive, being too common-to excite interest from its rarity 

 or difficulty of attainment, as other dingy butterflies do, 

 and too plain and homely to win regard, in spite of its 

 commonness, as the beautiful " Small Tortoise-shell " 

 and the Common Blues do. 



