THE GREEN HAIR-STREAK. 105 



land where there is an oak wood, and looking like a 

 small Purple Emperor, with its rich gloss of the im- 

 perial colour. 



The male has all the wings, in certain lights, of a dark 

 brown colour, but with a change of position they be- 

 come illuminated with a deep rich purple tint, extend- 

 ing over the whole surface excepting a narrow border, 

 which then appears black. The female has the purple 

 much more vivid, but confined to a small patch extend- 

 ing from the root to the centre of the front wing. 

 Beneath, the wings are shaded with greyish tints, 

 crossed by a white line on each wing, and having two 

 orange spots at the inner corner of the hind wing. 



The caterpillar (Plate I. fig. 9), which feeds on the 

 oak, is reddish brown, marked with black. 



The chrysalis, which is sometimes attached to the 

 leaves of the oak, and at others is found under the 

 surface of tlie earth at the foot of the tree, is a brownish 

 object, of the lumpy shape shown in Plate I. fig. 28 (a 

 form shared by the chrysalides of all the Hair-streaks). 



The butterfly is seen in July and August, flitting 

 about in sportive groups round oak trees, and occa- 

 sionally descending within reach of the net. It also 

 affects other trees besides oaks, some thirty or forty at 

 a time having been seen gambolling about one lime 

 tree. It being so generally distributed it will be need- 

 less to particularize its localities. 



THE GBEEN HAIE-STEEAK. 

 (Thecla Rubi.) (Plate XII. fig. 5.) 

 THIS pretty little species is at once known from all 

 other English butterflies by the rich bright green colour 

 that overspreads its under surface. Above, the wings 

 are deep, warm brown. 



The caterpillar is green, spotted and striped with 

 white, and feeds on the bramble ; also on the broom, 

 and other plants of the same order. 



The butterfly appears first in May and June, and 



