202 



Eaversham, Canterbury, and at Coombe Wood, Kent. It occurs near Fal- 

 mouth, but rarely ; W. P. Cocke, Esq., has taken it there ; also not very 

 uncommonly near great Bedwyn and Sarum, Wiltshire, as J. W. Lukis, Esq., 

 informs me ; and at Langham Lodge Wood, plentifully ; as also in Hartley 

 Wood and Maiden Wood, near St. Osyth, and in the High Woods, near 

 Colchester, Essex, it has also been taken at Peckham, Surrey, near London." 



Stainton, in his " Manual of British Butterflies and Moths," 1857, writes, 

 " Mr. Tress Beale gives the following account of the habits of Athalia in the 

 neighbourhood of Tenterden : chief locality, Knock Wood. They are 

 generally congregated in one particular spot — an open heathy place, where 

 the undergrowth is of about one or two years growth. The metropolis is 

 mostly changed each year; for instance, I could point out four different 

 places which have been occupied during the last four years. Stragglers are 

 of course to be met with in other parts of the wood. They are fond of bask- 

 ing in the sun on thistles. When in the net they generally feign death, close 

 the wings and contract the legs." 



MELITiEA AURINIA. 

 Marsh Fritittary. 



Aurlnia, Eott. Aurin'ia, a Prophetess held in great veneration by the 

 Germans. Tacit, Germ. 



The name Aurinia was bestowed upon this butterfly by Yon Rottenburgh, 

 in 1775; and Artemis, the Greek name for Diana , by the author of the 

 Yienna Catalogue, in 1776. 



The wings on the upperside are of a reddish fulvous, tessellated with pale 

 fulvous and black, the hind-wings having a broad reddish band near the hind- 

 margin. On the underside the fore-wings have an appearance of the mark- 

 ings having been smudged together, and a shining surface, as if it had been 

 greased : whence it is sometimes called the " Greasy Eritillary." The hind- 

 wings are similar to those of the last two species ; yellowish, banded with 

 brownish orange, the outer band of which bears a series of black spots, each 

 surrounded by a pale yellowish ring. The front edge of the front- wings is 

 slightly concave in its outline about the middle, whereas it is convex in both 

 Cinxia and Athalia, The width across the wings varies from an inch and a 

 quarter to three inches. 



The Marsh Eritillary varies more generally than any other British butterfly, 

 and though its range of varieties is restricted by the three colours of the type, 

 it is surprising what changes of appearance are produced. The Irish 

 specimens, Hibemica of Birchall, are the most beautiful, the colours con? 



