100 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



broad patches of paler colour, sometimes making a 

 bright contrast in the female, but much duller and 

 more uniform in the male. 



The female also exceeds her lord considerably in 

 stature, and, in fact, by her side he looks rather a mean 

 and shabby fellow. 



The device on the under side of the hind wings, 

 though composed of the plainest colours, is very orna- 

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

 posed in mottled bars and stripes, reminding one of 

 agates, or some other ornamental stones. 



This butterfly is not everywhere to be found, but 

 haunts rocky places and hill-sides, 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, 



