55 



in England, was at Clifden in Buckinghamshire, in July. It was taken hanging against the 

 pedestal of a statue, having just come out of chrysalis, and was drying its wings. 

 Expansion of the wings four inches. 



This fine moth still continues to be extremely rare ; although individuals occur 

 from, time to time in different parts of the country. 



HIPPARCHIA JANIRA. THE MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY. 



Plate XXXII. fig. a—e. 



Synonyms. Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Janira, Linn, Syst. Nat. ii. 1053. (#) 



Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Jurtina, Linn. Syst.Nat. ii. 1052. ($) Lewin's Papil. pi. 18. 



Donov. Brit. Ins. vol. ix. pi. 320. Haworth. 

 Hipparchia Janira, Ochsen., Leach, Curtis, Stephens. Duncan Brit. Butt. pi. 24. fig. 1. 2. 

 The Meadow-brown. Papilio Hyperanthus, Wilkes' Eng. Moths fy Butt. pi. 101. Albins 



Ins. pi. 53. fig.« — e. 

 Papilio Pratensis Oculatus Fuscus, Brown Meadow Eye, Petiv. Papil. pi. v. f. 10. $. 

 Papilio Pratensis Oculatus Aureus, Golden Meadow Eye, Petiv. Pap, pi. v. fig. 9. $ . 



Upper Side. The hody and wings are of a dusky "brown. The superior wings have a large 

 spot of lightish hrown orange on the fan tendons ; in which is situated near the apex a round 

 black spot, haying a white speck in the middle. This spot is placed on the fourth fan membrane ; 

 and it is worthy of remark, that all the European butterflies which feed on grass have an eye-like 

 spot in the same place ; and the whole of their natural history is entirely similar. 



The under side of the wings are of a pale orange brown on the fan membrane ; but the other 

 half, toward the body, is covered with a dark brown cloud. The eye-like spot on this side appears 

 double ; but in the male it is always single. 



The caterpillar feeds on grass ; and when full fed, as at (a), which happens about the tenth 

 of May, it changes to a green chrysalis, spotted with brown, as at (h) ; and the fly appears about 

 the eleventh of June. The upper side of the female is seen at (c), and the under side at (d). 

 The male is described at (e). 



Expansion of the wings 1J-— 2£ inches. 



This is one of our commonest butterflies, frequenting both meadows and grassy 

 lanes, and appearing to be but little influenced by the variations of the seasons. 

 " This butterfly, so well known to every one," says Mr. Knapp, " I have never missed 

 in any one year; and in those damp and cheerless summers, when even the white 

 cabbage butterfly is scarcely be found, this creature may be seen in every transient 

 gleam drying its wings, and tripping from flower to flower with animation and life, 

 nearly the sole possessor of the field and its sweets. Dry and exhausting as the 

 summer may be, yet this dusky butterfly is uninjured by it ; and we see it in pro- 

 fusion hovering about the sapless foliage. In that arid summer of 1826, the abun- 

 dance of these creatures was so obvious as to be remarked by very indifferent 

 persons." — Journal of a Naturalist, p. 288. 



