THE MEADOW-BROWN II 



PLATE VI 

 THE MEADOW-BROWN (i) 



In almost all parts of the country, this is the 

 very commonest of our British butterflies. From 

 the beginning of June until quite the end of 

 August you may see it in hundreds and hun- 

 dreds, flying about in meadows, or along grassy 

 banks by the roadside. And even on dull, gloomy 

 days, when all other butterflies are hiding away 

 in some snug retreat, it flits to and fro just as 

 gaily as if the sun were shining brightly. 



This is one of the butterflies in which the 

 female is not quite like the male. For instead 

 of having just a small dark spot with a white 

 ring round it on each of the front wings, she 

 has a large black spot with a little white dot 

 in the middle. And round this is a patch of 

 tawny yellow, which occupies nearly a quarter 

 of the whole wing. 



The eggs of the Meadow-brown butterfly are 

 laid on different kinds of grass. When they 

 hatch, the little caterpillars feed for about ten 

 days, and then hide away among the roots, where 

 they remain fast asleep until the following spring. 

 In colour they are bright green, with a white 

 stripe on each side, and when they are fully fed 

 they turn into pale green chrysalids, marked all 

 over with purple-black spots. 



