Beautiful Butterflies 103 



BROWN HAIRSTREAK. 



PLATE VIII. FIG. 1. 



APILlO, or Thecla Betulce is the scientific 

 name of this insect, which is the largest of 

 the five British species contained in the genus 

 Thecla — a pretty little family group, by no means re- 

 markable for brilliancy of colour, the upper side of the 

 wings being mostly brown ; the under sides, however, 

 are beautifully marked and pencilled with delicate wavy 

 lines, like hair, hence the name Hairstreak, and spots 

 and bands of yellow and white. 



One species has the under side nearly all green, on 

 another is a zigzag mark like the letter W ; on one the 

 wings approach nearly to a black, and one has a fine 

 purple reflection playing over the brown ground colour. 

 And so we have Purple, Green, White-W, Black, and 

 Brown Hairstreak Butterflies, all of which have a little 

 spike-like lengthening of the lower wings, which 

 distinguishes them from the Argus, and most of the 

 other smaller British flies. 



The specific name Betulce, given to the Brown Hair- 

 streak, has reference to the food of the Caterpillar ; 



