PURPLE HAIR-STREAK. 
213 
versed by a continuous undulating white streak, 
edged with brown anteriorly ; beyond this there is a 
double series of faint whitish crescents, with a few 
dusky dots on the primary wings, and the secondary 
pair are ornamented with two fulvous spots, one on 
the anal angle, and the other forming an ocellus with 
a yellow iris and a black pupil. 
The caterpillar, which invariably feeds on the oak, 
is of a greyish-brown colour, with a dark brown head ; 
the incisures and a row of dots along the back yellow. 
The most common species of Thecla in this island, 
especially in the southern districts of England, where 
it may be found abundantly in every oak wood. It 
extends northwards in considerable plenty as far as 
Newcastle, in the neighbourhood of which, Mr Wailes 
informs us that it is far from uncommon. Beyond 
that locality, however, it 6eems to become scarce, 
and in Scotland it may be regarded as a rare species. 
The only Scotch examples that we have seen were 
from Roxburghshire, and the oak woods in the vi- 
cinity of Inverary in Argyllshire. 
