GLANVILLE FRITILLARY. 135 



THE GLANYILLE FKITILLARY. 

 (Melitcea Cinxia.) (Plate XL fig. 2.) 



THOUGH usually rather abundant where it occurs at all, 

 this insect is one of the most local of all our butterflies, 

 and I can only find recorded about a dozen places for it 

 in the country. Of these, the Isle of Wight is the 

 great metropolis of the insect, and there, in many places 

 round the coast, numerous colonies have been established. 



This butterfly is distinguished from the next (M, 

 Athalia), which it very much resembles, principally by 

 the characters on the under surface. 



The hind wing (beneath) is covered with alternate 

 bands of bright straw-colour and orange-brown, divided 

 by black lines ; and possesses in the marginal straw- 

 coloured band a row of clear BLACK SPOTS. Another 

 row of black spots crosses the centre of the wing. It 

 will also be observed that the hind wings have on their 

 upper surface a row of Hack spots parallel with, and not 

 far from, the margin. The colouring of the upper side 

 is orange-brown with black markings. 



The caterpillar, which feeds on the narrow-leaved 

 plantain, is thorny and black, with reddish head and 

 legs. The chrysalis is brownish, marked with fulvous 

 tint. A highly interesting account of the habits and 



