97 



The forewings are of a fulvous colour, with a dark brown border, the base 

 being also slightly clouded with brown, and near the tips is a black eye-like 

 spot, with a couple of white dots inside. The hindwings are of a dark brown 

 with a fulvous band across the middle, and a white centred black spot near 

 the anal angle. The underside of the hindwings is of a golden brown at the 

 base and margin, with an irregular waved greyish buff band running across 

 the middle, and a patch of the same colour near the outer angle, and a row 

 of white dots. The size of these dots, as well as their number, varies in 

 different specimens. The width across the wings varies from one and a half 

 to a couple of inches. The male is distinguishable from the female by its 

 slightly smaller size, more obscure colouring, and by having a broad brown 

 oblique patch, extending from the inner margin to beyond the middle of the 

 forewings. 



Varieties are scarce, and none have been named. One of the most extra- 

 ordinary is in the collection of Mr. Stevens. It is a female, and of the usual 

 coloration, except that the dark border is replaced by one of pale drab, into 

 which the fulvous of the centre portion of the wing is gradually shaded. 

 Mr. Bond has a male, from the New Forest, with the fulvous portions of all 

 the wings changed to pale drab, and females of the same character are in a 

 few other collections. 



The egg is cylindrical, standing on end, the top flat, the sides with sixteen 

 ribs separated by wide grooves. At first it is of a very pale yellow, but just 

 before the caterpillar is hatched, it becomes pale purplish with dark markings. 



The caterpillar is of a bright green or else of a pale stone colour, with a 

 dark reddish dorsal line widening on the middle segments ; a white sub- 

 dorsal line interrupted at each segment; and a white spiracular line, bordered 

 above with brown and shading into the ground colour. The whole body, 

 head included, is closely set with fine short pale bristles ; the oval flap with 

 two short spines pointing backwards. It feeds on Poa annua, Dactylls 

 glomeratus, and other common grasses. 



The Chrysalis is suspended by the tail to a blade of grass. It is short and 

 rather thick, and is of a very pale green, or of a pale drab colour, with num- 

 ous black lines and markings. The head ends squarely, whether looked at 

 sideways or from above ; viewed from below the corners are angulated almost 

 like two little horns ; the shoulders of the wing cases are also sharply angu- 

 lated. (Rev. J. Hellins). 



Two species of parasitic Hymenoptera have been bred from it, namely 

 Rhagas tristis and Apanteles nothrus. 



The butterfly emerges from the chrysalis about the middle of J uly, and 

 continues on the wing for a couple of months. 



