THE COMMA. 63 



roundish black spot (sometimes double) just above the inner 

 margin ; two, sometimes three, other spots lie between this 

 and the third costal spot. On the hind wings there are three 

 black spots on the basal half, and a series of pale fulvous spots 

 before the brownish border ; these are inwardly edged with 

 brownish, and sometimes this edging is united with the marginal 

 border. Similar spots are, in some specimens, present in a 

 like position on the fore wings also. On the under side the wings 

 are of various shades of brown, sometimes variegated with 

 whitish, or yellowish, and greenish, the latter often conspicuous ; 

 other specimens are paler on the outer half than on the basal 

 half, and, except occasionally having a series of greenish or 

 dusky spots on the outer area, are without marking. These 

 differences occur in both sexes. The white comma or c mark, 

 placed about the middle of the under side of the hind wings, is 

 rather stronger in the variegated specimens ; but it varies, gene- 

 rally, in shape as well as in size. 



Var. hutchinsoni, Robson, which has been renamed pallida 

 and lulescens, differs from the typical form in having the ground 

 colour much lighter and brighter on the upper side and ochreous 

 on the under side. It is shown on Plate 35. The outline 

 of the wings of this form, which occurs in June and July, is said 

 to be less jagged, and this may be so as a rule, but it certainly 

 is not always the case. Possibly this is "The Pale Comma" 

 of Petiver. 



There are two broods of this species in the year, but the first 

 or summer flight of butterflies seems to depend upon a favourable 

 season, as also does the second or autumnal brood, at least as 

 regards the number of butterflies representing it. The late 

 butterflies hibernate and reappear in April, or even March, of 

 the following year. It has been stated that all the specimens 

 appearing in the spring are of the form with plain under sides. 



From eggs laid between April 27 and May 6, Miss E. 

 Hutchinson, writing in 1887, says caterpillars hatched between 



