Family RIODINIDAE (=ERYCINIDAE) 
Genus HAMEARIS, Hiibner , 1818 
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY FRITILLARY 
Hamcaris lucina (Linn., 1758). 
(Plate XVII, facing page 196) 
Haunts and Distribution. This active little butterfly is a 
common woodland species over the southern half of England. 
Its favourite haunts are open spaces and woodland paths, 
where it flits about in the sunshine over the herbage and 
settles on the foliage ; except for the Bugle (Ajuga replans) 
flowers seem unattractive to its tastes. It is very local, but 
usually abundant where it occurs. Its range extends as far 
north as Cumberland, and it has been recorded near Dumfries, 
the only Scottish locality. It is unknown in Ireland. Abroad 
it occurs in Central Europe, Denmark, southern Sweden, 
central Spain, northern Italy and the Balkans. 
Time of Appearance. In this country H. lucina is single- 
brooded and appears on the wing from the middle of May 
until the middle of June ; occasionally it has been met with 
in August. In the south of Europe it is double-brooded. If 
pupae are kept indoors in a epol temperature, they frequently 
produce imagines during late autumn and winter ; therefore, 
apparently there is a tendency to a second brood in England. 
Hibernation. This species passes hibernation in the pupal 
stage, which occupies about ten months. 
Egg and Egg Laying. The eggs are deposited singly or in 
little clusters of four or five, but usually only two or three, on 
the under surface of the leaves of the Primrose (Primula 
vulgaris) and Cowslip (P. verts ). The egg is globular in shape 
and o*6o mm. in diameter; the micropyle is slightly sunken 
and the base rather flattened.' 
To the naked eye the egg appears highly polished, trans¬ 
lucent and glistening, but under the microscope the surface 
*95 
