40 



THECLA QUERCUS. 

 Purple Hair-streak. 



Quehcus, Linn. Quer'cus, from the generic name of its food-plant, the 

 oak (Quercus Robur.) 



This species varies in the expanse of its wings from about an inch and a 

 quarter to an inch and a half. The sexes differ considerably on the upper 

 side, the male being entirely of a blackish brown above, with a purplish 

 gloss ; whilst the female possesses on the front wings a purplish blue blotch 

 towards the base. On the underside, the wings are of an ash colour, with a 

 distinct white line running across them, and with a couple of orange dots at 

 the inner corner of the hind wings. 



The egg is of the shape common to the family, only larger than that of 

 any of our Blues. It is round in outline, flattened, and with the exception 

 of a central depression on the upper surface, covered with irregular oblong 

 reticulation, and the egg looks quite like a rough Echinus in miniature. The 

 shell under the reticulation apparently has a very pale pinkish brown tinge : 

 the lines of the reticulation are white (Rev. J. Hellins). The eggs are laid 

 on the twigs of the oak in August, and remain firmly glued to them 

 throughout the winter. 



The caterpillar, which feeds on the oak in May and June, is reddish- 

 brown, covered with short hairs, and with several rows of dark greenish lines 

 or dots. It is short and obese, and in appearance resembles a woodlouse. 



The chrysalis is ferruginous, with three dorsal rows of brown dots. In 

 changing to the chrysalis state, the caterpillar spins a few threads, making a 

 frail sort of cocoon just on or just below the surface of the earth, or availing 

 itself of the shelter of a fallen leaf. 



This is at once the commonest and the handsomest of the Hair-streaks, 

 being found in every part of England, where there is an oak wood, and look- 

 ing like a small Purple Emperor, with its rich gloss of the imperial purple. 

 It is also common in Ireland ; but in Scotland it is a very local species, not 

 occurring in the Northern or North-eastern counties. On the Continent it 

 is generally distributed, except in the North and extreme South, and its 

 range extends into Asia Minor. The butterfly is seen in July and August, 

 flitting about in sportive groups round oak and ash trees, and occasionally 

 descending within reach of the net. 



The Rev. John Ray, in his " Historia Insectorium," mentions that " he 

 took a pair sitting on nettles at Croydon, on the 8th of July, 1692, and that 

 the caterpillar is very similar to a woodlouse/' 



