Beautiful Butterflies, 113 



HIGH BROWN FRITILLARY 



PLATE VII. FIG. I. 



APILIO, or Argynnis adippe. There are but 

 five species of British Butterflies included in 

 the genus Argynnis; these are all Fritil- 

 laries, and are the largest and most richly ornamented 

 of that family group; the generic name comes, no 

 doubt, from the Latin word argent — silver, as these 

 flies are especially remarkable for the large spots and 

 streaks of beautiful silvery white with which the under 

 sides of the wings are decorated. 



The High Brown is a fine species of Fritillary, mea- 

 suring as much as two, inches and a half across the 

 expanded wings. It is found in considerable numbers 

 in most of the southern counties of England, and has 

 been taken as far north as Nottinghamshire. It appears 

 about the end of June, or beginning of July; and com- 

 monly frequents heaths and the borders of woods. 



The upper side of the wings is a rich red brown, 

 with a greenish tinge at the base, that is, where they 

 are united to the body, which is also red brown. Lines, 

 and dots, and crescent-shaped waves of black, arranged 

 with the utmost regularity, give to the whole a tesse- 



8 



