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GENUS I. BUTTERFLIES. 



SEC. III. S P. XXII. WOOD ARGUS. 



PI. 19. 



iEgeria. Linnœus. 

 Speckled Wood. Harris. 



This butterfly is peculiar to woods, and may be feen flying as early as 

 the middle of April. This brood is from the caterpillars that have lived through 

 the winter, and have changed to chryfalis the end of March, in which ftate they 

 remain for about twenty days, when the flies are perfected. The caterpillars 

 feed on grafs, and go through the different changes exceedingly quick, fo that 

 there are not lefs than three diftinct broods of the flies in one fummer. 



The caterpillar arrived at the full growth is delineated at fig. 1, the chry- 

 falis at fig. 2, the male is reprefented flying at fig. 3, and the under parts of 

 the female at fig. 4. The caterpillar is rarely met with, as it feeds clofe to the 

 furface of the earth, and is nearly of the fame colour as its food ; but the flies 

 may be taken without much trouble, as they do not fly quick, and frequendy 

 fettle. 



