( W ) 



GENUS L BUTTERFLIES. 



SEC. I. SP. IX. SILVER STREAK FRITILLARY, 



PL 9. 



Paphia. Linnœus. 



Silver wafh Fritillary. Harris. 



The caterpillar of this fuperb butterfly is not yet difcovered in England. 

 The fly is on the wing the end of June ; and is not uncommon on the fides of 

 woods, and in the lanes near them. The caterpillar, fig. 1, and the chryfalis, fig. 2, 

 I have copied from Roefel's figures of German Infects. He fays, this caterpillar 

 feeds on nettles, in the private recettes of woods; that it lives through the 

 winter in that ftate, changing to a chryfalis in May ; and that in three weeks 

 time the fly appears on the wing. I much doubt the caterpillar's feeding on 

 nettles with us, as this plant is very uncommon in our woods; I mould rather 

 fuppofe it fed on the bramble, honeyfuckle, or fome low growing flirub, which 

 affords cover, and is green through the winter. 



The caterpillars, in this fection, are remarkable for their rough and ugly ap- 

 pearance, being covered with long hairy fpines ; this formidable figure is their 

 great protection from infectivorous birds ; which, however fond of finooth cater- 

 pillars, do not care to touch thefe. They are very fearful; for, on the leaft 

 motion of the plant or leaf they are on, they drop to the ground, and the fpines 

 prevent their being bruifcd in the fall. 



The male is feen flying in fig. 3. The female is larger, of a paler colour, 

 and the black lines on the upper wings are broader than in the male. The 

 under wing is beautifully ftreaked, on the under fide, witli irregular lines, ap- 

 pearing like poliflied filver : fee fig. 4. This infect is very rapid in flight, and 

 difficult to take on the wing. It delights to fettle on bramble and thiftle blof- 

 foms, on which it feeds, and then may be readily taken. 



I fuppofe, that the old name of fritillary, given to this butterfly, and the 

 nine following fpecies, is from their refemblance to that flower, in their checkered 

 markings on the upper wings. 



