9& 



was seen on the grass were always at night, and each morning brought evi- 

 dence of its doing well by the diminished grass. 



The chrysalis, like most other subterranean chrysalides, is deep dark red in 

 colour, and smoother and more regular in shape than its congeners. 



The butterfly emerges in the end of June, more frequently about the 

 middle of July, and continues on the wing till past the middle of September. 

 The eggs are generally laid in August, and are deposited singly on the food- 

 plant, and hatch in a few days. The caterpillar feeds very slowly in the 

 autumn, and hybernates when quite small. It feeds up in spring, and is not 

 difficult to find at dusk, or often dark with the aid of a lantern, as its pale 

 colour contrasts well with the grass stems. Lewin states that " it rarely 

 ventures out to feed, except in the evening, for fear of birds, which are always 

 searching for this kind of caterpillar/'' It becomes full-fed about the middle 

 of June, and remains nearly a month in the chrysalis state. 



Hipparchia Semele is found throughout Europe except in the Polar regions. 

 It is also found in Asia Minor, and in Algeria and Morocco in Africa. It is 

 considered a local species in Britain ; but this is most likely only because the 

 country is so highly cultivated. In England it occurs in nearly all our 

 counties, and often abundantly. It is generally distributed throughout 

 Ireland and the Isle of Man. In Scotland it occurs as far North as Suther- 

 land, Scottish specimens being slightly larger and darker than English ones. 

 Although rather local in Perthshire, it is an abundant species where it does 

 occur. Its favourite haunts are warm rocks, such as Kinnoul and Moncrieffe 

 hills, and in such situations it is very common. It appear to be attached to 

 heaths and dry pastures, but is sometimes found in dry woodlands ; and is 

 easily taken, as it is not active in flight, and settles on the bare ground when 

 it possibly can. Sometimes it settles on the trunks of trees, or on rocks. 



The Rev. John Ray appears to have been the first to record it as a British 

 species. In his " Historia Insectorium" he writes thus, " Hsec a D. Tillema 

 Bobarts ad me transmissa est. Huic similis anno 1697, miki communicata 

 est ab ingeniosissimo viro D. Davide Kreig M.D. Annabergensi Saxone, in 

 collibus Gogmagog dictis agri Cantabrigiensis inventa, &c." 



Petiver in his " Gazyophylacium," 1704, calls it "The Tunbridge Gray- 

 ling," and adds, " it is very rare about London." 



Wilkes, in his "Aurelian," 1742, calls it " The Rock Underwing," and 

 informs that " it is taken near Coombe Wood, in July." 



Stjb-Genus SATYRUS. 

 Boisduval, 



Sat'yrtjs, a rustic deity, half man and half goat. Virg. Eel. v. 73. 



