174 



rence, and in some of them absolutely abundant ; then again, the cultivation 

 of its food-plant, the hop, does not seem to exercise that influence on its 

 choice of localities that might be expected ; it abounds in the district where 

 the Worcester hops are grown namely, Worcestershire and Herefordshire 

 but it is rarely observed in the Earnham district namely Surrey, or in the 

 Kent district." 



It was very common in Dorset in 1807, but after 1816 none were seen 

 until 1877, when a specimen was taken near Dorchester. Prior to 1813, 

 J. E. Stephens used to find it very abundantly near Hertford, but none since 

 that year ; and Edward Doubleday met with it at Epping, in Essex, about 

 1817 or 1818. A few were taken in Norfolk as recently as 1861, and also 

 in Yorkshire and Durham ; but it appears to have almost deserted the 

 southern counties, and entirely the metropolitan. It occurred very abundantly 

 on the banks of the Wye in 1^58; and in Herefordshire in 1875, but the 

 wonderful abundance of 1875 was followed by a nearly total absence of the 

 species in 1876 and 1877, during which years Mrs. Hutchinson did not 

 obtain a single egg, caterpillar, or chrysalis, and but one butterfly only. In 

 1881 it was very abundant again, both in the caterpillar and chrysalis state, 

 and in 1883 it occurred rather freely at Llandudno, in North Wales. It 

 appears to have been very scarce in 1884 and 1885, but very plentiful again 

 in Herefordshire, in 1886 and 1887. In 1886, wild chrysalides were found 

 in July, August, September, and October, the last butterfly appearing on 

 October 27th; there apparently being three broods in that year. 



GENUS XIX. AEGYNNIS. 



ARGN'NIS, a surname of Yenus, from the Temple erected in her honour by 

 Agamemnon, on the death of his favourite Argynnus. Proper IV., 6., 22. 



This is a genus of about one hundred species. 



They inhabit northern and temperate climes, about one-third are European, 

 and nearly an equal number occur in Asia and North America. One is 

 found in Australia, and but few in South America. One only appears to 

 inhabit Africa, and few of the Asiatic species get so far south as India. Three 

 occur in Greenland and one as far north as Grinnel Land. Six species are 

 recognized as British, of which one is but an occasional visitor. The species 

 distinguished from those of the following by the underside of the hing- wings 

 being adorned with spots or stripes of the most brilliant silver. The colour 

 of the upperside a bright fulvous spotted with black. The English name of 

 Eritillaries appear to have bestowed on the species of this and the following 

 genus from the markings on the upperside resembling those on the old 

 fashioned chequered flowers termed " Eritillaries." 



