96 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



in Sutherlandshire, but Kane does not include it in his Irish 

 catalogue. 



Clearings in woods are generally the best places in which to 

 find this pretty little Fritillary ; but it also seems to have a fond- 

 ness for the margins of brooks and rills, where these run through 

 or by the sides of woods. Usually it is on the wing in May or 

 June, but sometimes, in early seasons, it puts in an appearance at 

 the end of April. To entomologists of a bygone age it was known 

 as the " April Fritillary," but this name would hardly be a suit- 

 able one for it in the present day. Very rarely a few specimens 

 have been taken in August ; and there is at least one record of 

 caterpillars that had ceased feeding in July, in the usual way, and 

 were apparently settled down for hibernation, suddenly arousing 

 from their slumbers, and completing their growth in August. 



Abroad, the species is distributed throughout Europe, except 

 the extreme south, and extends into Armenia, Northern Asia 

 Minor, the Altai, and Amurland. It is stated to be double- 

 brooded on the Continent. 



The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Argynnis sekne). 



This butterfly differs from the last one referred to in 

 having a rather deeper colour on the upper side, and heavier 

 black markings on the outer margin of the hind wings. 

 The female is slightly more orange in tint, and has a series of 

 pale spots on the outer margin of each wing. On the under side 

 the red markings are browner in tint, and there are more silvery 

 spots on the hind wings. Variation in colour and marking is 

 similar to that mentioned under the Pearl-bordered. On 

 Plate 66 a white spotted female and a specimen with the 

 hind wings clouded with, black are represented. These are 

 rather uncommon aberrations. The life-history of this species 

 is figured on Plate 62. 



The egg is at first greenish, then yellowish, and afterwards 



