THE MARSH FRITILLARY 
123 
series of black lunate mark¬ 
ings, and a black marginal 
border. The spaces between 
are more or less spotted with 
straw-yellow. 
Hind Wing, The base of 
the wing is dusky. A median 
series of straw-yellow spots 
runs across the wing ; these 
are bordered with black ; in 
addition there is a series of 
six sub-marginal straw-col¬ 
oured lunular spots outlined with black and with a black 
marginal outline. The space between the median and sub¬ 
marginal spots forms a bright fulvous band, with a central 
row of six black dots; the neuration is outlined with 
black. 
Under Side. Fore Wing, This is light fulvous; the 
pattern of the upper surface is faintly indicated. Hind Wing. 
Fulvous with usually five bright straw-yellow blotches on the 
basal half ; along the inner margin are elongated markings 
of the same yellow colour. The rest of the wing is similar in 
pattern to the upper side. 
Life of Imago. The life of this butterfly is about a month. 
Aberration. The fulvous or intermediate type described 
occurs generally over the southern and western half of England 
and Wales ; the more uniformly fulvous form is chiefly found 
over south-eastern counties ; the northern forms are usually 
brighter in colour and the black markings are deeper. In 
the Scotch form, known as ab. scotia , the black markings are 
more developed and the paler 
markings are duller. The Irish 
form, ab. proeclara, generally 
has the base of the wings 
much darker and the black 
markings heavier ; most of the 
median fulvous spots are re¬ 
placed by cream colour, and 
The Marsh Fritiiiary (Female ab. the sub-marginal area is a 
Hants, 1905, s.G.c. Russell coll). brighter fulvous. The base 
The Marsh Fritillary (.Female ab. 
PenaYth, May, 1803, F. IV. F. coll.) 
