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form, and has more central silvery spots. It has been taken by Mr. Greg- 

 son near Windermere, in Westmoreland, but is apparently common in Spain. 

 Cleodippe, Staud., another Spanish variety, resembles the last, except in the 

 want of the silvery spots. 



The egg in shape is conical, the base broad, having a central depression, 

 the sides are very boldly ribbed and reticulated, some ribs being longer than 

 others. When first laid it is of a glistening light ochreous green, but 

 gradually changes to a dull pink. 



The caterpillar at first is of a brown colour, with a shining black head, and 

 is decidedly hairy. When full-grown it is about an inch and a half long and 

 stout in proportion, of a dingy pinkish brown minutely freckled, the spines 

 being of a pinkish ochreous. Like the rest of the genus it feeds on the leaves 

 of the violet, and can run at a pace quite equal to the fastest caterpillar of 

 Arctia caja. 



The chrysalis is of a pitchy brown, with a row of dorsal diamond shapes of 

 less intensity of colour, the margins of the wing-covers deep brownish 

 ochreous, the spiky projections golden and brilliantly glistening. It has two 

 rows of rather blunt pointed obtuse projecting spines, and the thorax is 

 keeled (" Buckler's Larvse.") 



The butterfly is on the wing in July and August. The eggs apparently 

 do not hatch before February or March, and the caterpillars change into 

 chrysalis in June. 



It is a rarer species than either Paphia or A.glaia, and seems to occur 

 both in woods and on uncultivated hill sides. It is found all over Europe, 

 except in the Polar regions, and in Western Asia. In England it is widely 

 but not generally distributed, but in Scotland is only found in the extreme 

 south such as Dumfriesshire, and does not appear to occur at all in Ireland 

 or the Isle of Man. 



It appears to have been first recorded as a British species by James 

 Petiver, in his " Papilionum Britannia?," 1717. He records it with the last 

 as appearing about the middle of July. 



Lewin, in his "Insects of Great Britain," 1795, writes: " Violet Silver- 

 spotted Fritillary. These elegant butterflies make their first appearance on 

 the wing the latter end of June, mostly in lanes near woods in dry situations ; 

 and are easily caught when feeding on the bramble or thistle blossoms : but 

 as the sun advances towards the middle of the day, they are restless, sporting 

 and flying with great swiftness, at which time they are very difficult to take, 

 The female lays her eggs in July, on the violets that grow under the shelter 

 of bramble, or some similar cover, or dry banks, or hilly places. The cater- 

 pillars are produced in about twelve days, and feed till September, when they 



