S3 



Contains the sections Epinephile and Pyronia of Hubner. Of the first, we 

 possess one British species, Janira ; and of the second likewise one, Tithonus. 

 According to Kirby's Catalogue, 26 species belong to this Sub-genus, from 

 various parts of the globe, five of them occuring in Europe. 



The hindwings are slightly dentated, and the antennae are gradually clubbed. 

 The male has a broad black streak on the forewings, which distinguish it from 

 the next sub- genus. The underside is of a fulvous colour generally. The 

 caterpillars are spindle shaped, and covered with fine hair. 



HIPPARCHIA JANIRA. 

 Meadow Brown. 

 Janira, Linn. Jani'ra, one of the Nereids. 



This most abundant species varies in the expansion of its wings from one 

 and a haif to two inches, the female being the larger. As its English name 

 implies, the prevailing colour of the wings on the upperside is brown, of a 

 very dark shade, especially in the males. Both sexes have a black eye-like 

 spot, with a white centre inside of a fulvous ring, near the tip of each fore- 

 wing ; and the female has, instead of the ring, a large fulvous patch, which 

 is sometimes also slightly visible in the males. The underside of the fore- 

 wings is fulvous ; of the hindwings greyish brown, with a paler band towards 

 the hind margins, which is marked with two black dots in the male. The 

 markings vary greatly in size, as well as in colour ; and the eyed spot is 

 sometimes without any, and sometimes with two white dots, occasionally also 

 it is accompanied by a secondary eyed spot above, and a black spot or two 

 beneath. Linnseus mistook the sexes of this butterfly for different species, 

 to which he gave the names of Janira and Jnrtina, but their specific identity 

 has long been established. In such cases the name given to the male speci- 

 mens is retained if that of the female. Although the female as a rule is very 

 distinct, yet it occasionally appears with all the coloration of the male. 



This species is exceedingly subject to variation of a very peculiar kind, 

 namely, in the presence of large blotches, or sometimes of an entire wing, 

 having the appearance of being bleached, the usual brown colour being 

 absent in such blotches, and a kind of dingy white appearing in its stead. 

 Various suggestions have been made to account for these white varieties, 

 that most generally received being that the discolouration has been caused by 

 the rays of the sun, concentrated by a drop of dew. " I cannot see," writes 

 Mr. Robson, " that the explanation is satisfactory, for the bleaching is as 

 often on the hindwings as on the forewings, and as the one covers the other 

 in the chrysalis, the hindwing would not be bleached from this cause, with- 



