4 6 
SATYRIDAE 
clearly defined. The ocellated spots in the hind wing are 
broadly surrounded with straw-yellow, forming a conspicuous 
band. The under side is almost similar in both sexes. In 
the male the spots of the fore wing correspond with the upper 
surface spots of the female. The hind wing is a light ochreous- 
brown clouded and reticulated with darker brown. The 
ocellated spots are represented by light cream-coloured spots 
encircled with deep brown on a fulvous-brown cloud, then a 
broad marginal pale lilac band. 
Life of Imago. This is one of the short-lived butterflies ; 
probably not more than about twenty days. 
Aberration. The above description applies to the normal 
form of this butterfly occurring in Britain, which is P. aegerides. 
Typical P. aegeria has all the spots of a rich deep amber- 
orange, and occurs only as a rare aberration in this country. 
I have taken specimens of true P. aegeria in Sussex and 
Cornwall, with the markings of a bright fulvous. This butter¬ 
fly varies greatly as regards the development of the spots ; 
sometimes they are much reduced in the male, and greatly 
enlarged in the female. Occasionally only very small ocellated 
spots remain in the hind wings of the male and a general dull 
suffusion of markings in the fore wings. 
Genus PARARGE, Hiibner, 1818 
THE WALL BUTTERFLY 
Pararge megera (Linn., 1767). 
(Plate I, Frontispiece) 
Haunts. The Wall Butterfly, unlike 
its near ally P. aegeria, loves the 
glowing heat of the sun. Its favourite 
resorts are the sun-baked spots on 
banks by the wayside, edges of fields, 
old walls, and other exposed places, 
where it settles for a short time and 
with restless activity flies off to some 
other dry spot near at hand. Its 
The Wall Butterfly. Segment 
of larva just after hatching 
(magnified). 
