1 32 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



along the shady side, but they are not averse to the nectar of 

 the bramble blossom, and I have seen them taking a sip here 

 and there although they were fully exposed to sunshine all the 



time. 



ne. n « 



Wherever there are suitable haunts the butterfly may be 

 found throughout the greater part of England and Wales It 

 seems, however, to have disappeared from some distorts in 

 Lancashire and Yorkshire where it was formerly common. It 

 is fairly plentiful in most of the southern counties of Scotland, 

 and its range extends north to Aberdeen. In Ireland it is 

 abundant in the south and the west, and seems to occur m 

 most suitable places ; also common in certain localities in 

 Donegal and Antrim. Abroad it is distributed through Europe 

 and Northern Asia eastward to Japan. 



The Large Heath (Ccenonympha typhon). 



The butterfly now to be considered is a most variable one, both 

 as regards colour and marking. Several of the varieties have 

 been named, and in the time of Haworth down to Stephens, 

 and even much later, at least three of these were regarded as 

 distinct species. In the present day, however, it is generally 

 accepted that all the varieties are forms of one species, although 

 two local races are recognized. 



The typical form is typhon, Rottemburg, and polydama (The 

 Marsh Ringlet) of Haworth (Plate 90, Figs. 1, 2, 5, 7-")- ine 

 colour ranges from darkish-brown to a pale tawny ; there is an 

 ochreous ringed black spot towards the tips of the fore wings, 

 sometimes another similar spot above the inner angle, and 

 occasionally when both spots are present there is an ochreous 

 spot between them ; the hind wings have from one to three of 

 these spots, but a larger number than three 1S «>?*>"* 

 The under side of the fore wings is either bright or dull fuhous, 

 and the spots are pretty much as above, but with white pupils, 



