98 
NYMPHAL1DAE 
The hind wing is also a light fulvous, banded at the base ana 
blotched on the outer half with rust-red, and there is a median 
series of straw-yellow markings outlined with black. The 
central marking is large, elongated, and of a silver-pearl lustre ; 
there is also a smaller silver basal marking and a marginal 
row of seven silver lunules. 
Female. The female is similar to the male in pattern, but 
the ground colour is more ochreous. It is also usually larger. 
Life of Imago. This butterfly's life extends to about four weeks. 
Aberration. This Fritillary is liable to considerable aberra¬ 
tion, chiefly in the enlargement and suffusion of the markings 
which sometimes cover the basal half of the wings, the mar¬ 
ginal spots also become elongated. Occasionally the suffusion 
is so strongly developed as to produce more or less complete 
melanism. At times, too, the ground colour varies from pale 
ochreous to almost pure white. Also sometimes specimens are 
more or less blotched with white. Examples also sometimes 
occur with some of the markings absent, leaving the central 
or marginal area of the wings bare of spots. 
Genus ARGYNNIS, Fabricius , 1807 
THE QUEEN OF SPAIN FRITILLARY 
Argynnis lathonia (Linn., 1758). 
(Plate VIII, facing page 97) 
Like certain other migratory species, such as the Bath White 
and the Camberwell Beauty, the Queen of Spain Fritillary 
is a common insect on the continent of Europe, and like 
these species, it has a definite hibernating stage ; therefore 
it is somewhat remarkable that A. lathonia should not be 
endemic in this country, but from observations I have made 
it is shown that the English winter is unsuited to its existence, 
consequently the offspring of the late summer and autumnal 
butterflies are unable to survive, and the species becomes 
exterminated in Britain until fresh immigrants arrive. 
Haunts. The favourite haunts of this butterfly are Clover 
