THE YOUNG 



NATURA.LIST. 



873 



its old haunts in the north of England and 

 perhaps elsewhere. It frequents grassy lanes 

 and banks, the first brood appearing in May 

 and the second in August. The larva feeds 

 on grass, and is full fed in July for the first 

 brood. Probably those of the second brood 

 hybernate, but the evidence is rather con- 

 flicting. 



37. SATYRUS SEMELE. 

 The Grayling. — Widely distributed 

 thoughout the country, but rather local 

 where it occurs, frequenting rocky places 

 and dry banks where the ground is but 

 sparingly covered with herbage. It may be 

 found in July and August, and loves to sit 

 on the bare ground. The larva, which is 

 pale stone colour with longitudinal stripes, 

 hybernates small to feed up in spring. It 

 is easily found in May at the latter part of 

 the day. The pupa is subterranean — the 

 only instance of a butterfly with a subterra- 

 nean pupa in England. Unlike other but- 

 terfly pupa, it is mahogany brown in colour, 

 and smoother and more regular in shape 

 than others of the genus. 



38. SATYEUS JANIRA. 

 The Meadow Beown, — A very common 

 butterfly abundant almost everywhere. It 

 does not appear on the v^ing till near the end 

 of June, and may be found till August is 

 nearly over. It frequents grassy places, the 

 larva feeding on grass. The butterfly has a 

 peculiar flight, sailing along at times with its 

 wings closed, looking like a leaf blown by the 

 wind. The larva may be found before or 

 after dark on grass. It is green with a white 

 stripe on either side ; it tapers towards the 

 taU which is bifid. 



39. SATYRUS TITHONUS. 

 The Gate-keepeb. — This butterfly like the 

 last frequents grassy places. It is most 

 abundant in the South of England, getting 

 scarcer in the North, and not visiting Scotland. 

 It appears in July and August, and seems to 

 us to be rather partial to place where bramble 



is growing. The larva hybernates small, 

 and may be found in May or June at dark, 

 feeding on grass. 



40. SATYUS HYPERANTHUS. 

 The Ringlet.— Though this butterfly is a 

 grass feeder like the preceeding, it appears to 

 prefer open places in woods, or their vicinity, 

 to meadows and pastures. It is very gene- 

 rally distributed in the better wooded parts 

 of England. In the north, and in Ii-eland, it 

 is more local ; and in Scotland it is far from 

 frequent. It appears on the wing in July, 

 and looks very dark when flying. The larvse 

 hybernate and are to be found in May and 

 June. They feed later at night than the 

 species last named. 



41. NEMEOBIUS LUCINA. 



The Duke of Buegundt Feitillaby. 



This little butterfly is the only European 

 representative of the family Erycinida. It 

 is generally distributed over England, except 

 in the counties of Northumberland and Dur. 

 ham. It appears on the wing in June, and 

 the larva feeds up in September, and passes 

 the winter as a pupa. It feeds on cowslip 

 and primrose, and should be looked for 

 where these abound. The pupa may be found 

 through the winter, attached to the under- 

 side of a leaf. 



42. LYC.ENA DISPAR. 



The Laege Coppee.— Alas ! this only was 

 a British insect. It occurred formerly at 

 TVhittiesea Mere in Cambridgeshire, and at 

 Yaxley Fen in Huntingdonshire; but none 

 have been taken for about thirty years. It 

 was one of our most glorious insects, and is 

 still retained in the British list, as num- 

 erous specimens are in existence in collec- 

 tions, and may occasionally be obtained by 

 purchase, but as a fine pair will bring between 

 three and four pounds, our young friends 

 must be content for the present with Euro- 

 pean examples, which may be bought for a 

 shilling. To guard the inexperienced, who 

 might have so much money to spare, it is as 



