THE RINGLET. 131 



end of this is var. lanceolata, Shipp, and at the other var, 

 obsoleta, Tutt, in which not a trace of any of the spots remains. 

 Specimens with a varying number of white dots, with or without 

 yellow rings, are usually referred to var. arete^ but Fig. 6 on 

 the Plate represents a modification of this variety, known as 

 cceca. 



Occasionally, on the under side, there are transverse lines on 

 the outer half of all the wings, and the space between these 

 lines is suffused with whitish. The specimen showing these lines 

 faintly (Fig. 3 on the Plate) is from North Cumberland. 



The early stages are figured on Plate 88. 



The egg is yellowish-white at first, but soon turns to a pale 

 brown. As will be seen on comparing the enlarged figure of 

 this egg with those of the two previous species, it is quite 

 different in shape, and is pitted rather than ribbed. The eggs 

 are not attached to anything, but are allowed to fall down 

 among the roots of the grass over which they are deposited. 



The caterpillar is described by Newman as pale wainscot 

 brown in colour, with a darker line down the back, and the 

 head has three broad, slightly darker but faint, stripes on each 

 cheek. According to others it is ochreous or brownish-grey, 

 with a dark brown line on the back, a pale one with darker 

 edge on the sides, and a whitish stripe above the feet. 



The chrysalis is ochreous-brown sprinkled with reddish- 

 brown, and marked with brown on the wing-covers. It lies low 

 down among the tufts of grass. The figures of caterpillar and 

 chrysalis are from Buckler's " Larvae of British Butterflies. 5 ' 



The caterpillars feed upon various grasses, including Poa 

 annua and Dactylis glornerata, growing about damp places in 

 woodland districts. They emerge from the egg in August, feed 

 leisurely until October, when they appear to hibernate. In 

 March they resume feeding, but do not attain full growth until 

 June. The butterflies are on the wing in July and August, and 

 frequent lanes and the outskirts of woods. They usually fly 



