I38 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



cycle), August and September butterflies (partial second brood) 

 from May and June eggs (four months' cycle). 



This interesting little butterfly is to be seen almost every- 

 where, but it is perhaps most frequently to be found in grassy 

 places in lanes, on heaths and downs, railway banks, in rough 

 meadows, etc. It occurs on mountains even up to an elevation 

 of 2000 feet. When flying in company with the blues and 

 coppers, all frolicking together over some patch of long grass, 

 the colour combination has an exceedingly pleasing effect. 

 They rest by day, and sleep at night on grass or rushes. 



A common species throughout England and Wales, Ireland 

 and Scotland, as far north as Nairn, also in the Outer Hebrides. 

 Abroad its distribution extends over Europe to South-West 

 Siberia, Central and North-East Asia, Asia Minor, and North 

 Africa. 



We now arrive at the Hairstreaks, Coppers, and Blues. 

 These belong to the Lycaenidae, a very large family of butterflies 

 which is represented in all parts of the globe. There are 

 eighteen species in Britain, but at least one of these is extinct 

 and another is supposed to be so ; two are very rare, and the 

 chances of meeting with either are probably about equal. 



The Brown Hairstreak (Zephyrus betulce). 



The butterfly is represented on Plate 94, Figs. 1-3. The male 

 is blackish-brown with a faint greyish tinge, and there is a 

 conspicuous black bar at the end of the discal cell of the fore 

 wing, followed by a pale cloud ; there are two orange marks at 

 the anal angle of the hind wings. The female is blackish-brown, 

 and has the black bar at end of the cell, and an orange band 

 beyond ; there are usually three orange marks on the hind 

 wings at the anal angle, but sometimes there are only two. 

 The under side of the male is ochreous, but that of the female 

 is more orange ; the fore wings have the black bar edged on 



