109 



the entire chrysalis becomes of a deep brown hue, the eyes being the first 

 portion to change in colour. 



The butterfly emerges about the last week in July, and continues about a 

 month on the wing, but is soon worn. The eggs are attached singly to the 

 blades of grass. They hatch in about ten or eleven days, and the caterpillar 

 feeds a few weeks before hybernation ; it then creeps down the blades of 

 grass, which is generally Aira pracox, and hides in the thickest part of the 

 tufts. About May it begins to feed again, and is full-fed by the middle or 

 end of June. 



Erelia medea inhabits the greater part of Central and Southern Europe, 

 and Northern and Western Asia, but is wanting in the northern plains of 

 Europe and in Silesia. 



It appears to be generally distributed in Scotland, extending as far north 

 as Ross-shire. It is only known in five northern counties of England, viz. : 

 Durham, Westmoreland, Cumberland, Lancashire, and Yorkshire ; and not 

 at all in Ireland. 



It is not so much a mountain species as others of the genus. In Scotland 

 it has been noticed that it does not range more than 800 or 1000 feet above 

 the sea level, while in Castle Eden Dene, Co. Durham, it is abundant at the 

 sea level, and within a few hundred yards of high water mark. It frequents 

 open grassy places among trees, but is sometimes extremely local. In one 

 wood near Castle Eden it is abundant close up to the turnpike road, which 

 passes through the wood, but it never occurs on the other side of the road; 

 At Strathglass, in Invernesshire, it sometimes occurs in all the open weedy 

 places in the woods, even coming into the gardens. From observation made 

 there, it appears that Erebia medea was scarcely seen above 800 feet, while 

 Ccenonympha typhon attained an elevation of np wards of 2000 feet ; the two 

 species being found together from 200 feet up to 800 feet above the level of 

 the sea. 



It was first discovered to be a British species by Walker, who met with it 

 in the Isle of Arran, in the beginning of August, 1804. 



Sowerby, in his "British Miscellany," published in 1806, informs us that 

 " This newly discovered species of Papilio, as a native of Britain, was caught 

 in the Isle of Arran, one of the Western Isles of Scotland." 



Donovan, in his " Natural History of British Insects/' Vol. xii., published 

 in 1807, writes : "This very rare species of Papilio has been recently dis- 

 covered to be a native of the British Isles. About three or four specimens 

 of it were taken in the Isle of Arran by Major Walker, to whose politeness we 

 have an individual example at this time in our Museum. Another is preserved 

 in the collection of our friend A. M'Leay, Esq., and these, we have reason to 



