British Butterfiles Part 9

THE WOOD-WHITE b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Leucophasia Sinapis._)

(Plate V. fig. 2.)

A glance at the figure of this graceful little b.u.t.terfly (on Plate V.) will suffice to distinguish it at once, and clearly, from all our other Whites.

The most ordinary form of the insect is there represented, but there are specimens occasionally met with that have the blackish spot at the tip of the wings very much fainter; and sometimes, as in one that I possess, this spot is totally wanting. The shape of the wings in these is also different, being much rounder, and proportionately shorter, than in the ordinary shape. This difference in outline is, I believe, a s.e.xual distinction, the more rounded form belonging to the female insect.

The slender, fragile wings and the attenuated body of the Wood-white give it a look of almost ghostly lightness, and its manners befit its spectral aspect, for it seems to _haunt_ the still and lonely wood glades, flitting about slowly and restlessly, and being seldom seen to settle.

From its weak flight, it is a very easy insect to capture. It appears to be addicted to early rising, _twenty-six_ specimens having been taken _one morning before breakfast_ by a gentleman at Grange, in North Lancashire.

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The _caterpillar_ is green, striped on each side with yellow; it feeds on the Bird's-foot Trefoil, and other leguminous plants.

The _chrysalis_ is shown on Plate I. fig. 18, and in shape somewhat approaches that of the Orange-tip.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ appears in May and August, and though by no means a common or generally distributed insect, is found--and sometimes abundantly--in many localities throughout the country, as far north as Carlisle; some of these are here given. Woods in neighbourhood of Brighton, Horsham (Suss.e.x), Dorchester, New Forest, Exeter, Epping, West Wickham Wood, Monkswood, Huntingdonshire, Plymouth, Wavendon, Worcester, Kent and Surrey, Teignmouth, Gloucestershire, Carlisle, Lake District, Leicester, Manchester, North Lancashire. _Unknown in Scotland._

THE MARBLED WHITE b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Arge Galathea._)

(Plate V. fig. 3.)

This highly interesting and elegant insect would, by the uninitiated, probably be cla.s.sed among the last group of b.u.t.terflies--the Whites--from the similarity in its colours; but from all those it may be readily distinguished by having _only four walking legs_ (instead of the _six_ which all our other white b.u.t.terflies possess), {96} and also by the _eye-like_ spots most visible on the under side.

The colouring may be described as consisting of nearly equal quant.i.ties of _black_ and _creamy-white_, or _pale yellow_, so arranged as to form a _marbled_ pattern of great richness. This description applies to the upper surface; on the under, the pale tint very much preponderates, many of the black ma.s.ses of the upper side being here reduced to mere lines.

Many an entomologist, whose hunting ground has been limited to a small district, has collected for years without once seeing this pretty creature on the wing; and then visiting another neighbourhood, perhaps not far distant, he will suddenly find it in profusion. I well remember the feelings of surprised delight with which, under these circ.u.mstances, I first made its acquaintance. The scene of the event was a gra.s.sy opening in a wooded hill-side in Kent, and here were literally hundreds visible at once, making the air all alive as they fluttered about in sportive groups: it was a sight not to be forgotten; while a hundred yards from this spot not a solitary one was to be seen, so closely limited is the local range of this species.

The _caterpillar_, which feeds on gra.s.ses, like the rest of its tribe, is green, with yellowish stripes on each side, and has a reddish head and tail. The form is shown at fig. 3, Plate I.--a form common to all the tribe to which this species belongs.

July and August are the months when we should {97} look for this charming b.u.t.terfly, in wood clearings and meadows near woods.

Some of the localities in which it has been observed are: Isle of Wight, Surrey Hills, Eastwell Park (Kent), Dover, Lewes, Brighton, Epping, Gloucestershire, Kingsbury, Darenth Wood, New Forest, Rockingham Park, Teignmouth, York, Barnwell Wold, South Wales. _Not known in Scotland._

THE SPECKLED WOOD b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Lasiommata Egeria._)

(Plate V. fig. 4.)

Every one who has wandered through green woodland ridings, or coppiced paths, must be familiar with a lively, spotted brown insect that trips along just ahead of one, in a sociable way, for some distance, finding time to turn aside into the leafy recesses on either side without losing ground; then, having had enough of our company, mounting overhead, and retracing its course in the same playful way, and soon lost in the winding of the path.

This is the Speckled Wood, or Wood Argus b.u.t.terfly, a very pretty insect on both sides, and receiving the latter name--Argus, "the many-eyed"--from the rows of rich black _eyes_ that grace its pinions. {98}

Over nearly the whole of England it is to be met with commonly wherever there is wooded ground; but in several parts of Scotland it is quite unknown.

The prevailing colour of the wings is deep brown, spotted with various shades of buff or lighter brown. The "eyes" are velvety black, with a pure white centre-spot.

The _caterpillar_--a gra.s.s feeder--is dull green, with broad white side stripes.

The _chrysalis_, which is of a beautiful gra.s.s-green colour, may be found in winter, under trees, attached to blades of gra.s.s.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ is out from April to August.

THE WALL b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Lasiommata Megaera._)

(Plate V. fig. 5.)

The habits and movements of this pretty species much resemble those of the last; but the Wall b.u.t.terfly is a more sun-loving insect, and rather frequents road-sides and dry sunny banks. Still, there are many spots where one sees both the _Lasiommatas_ together.

The colours on the upper side are a _rich tawny or fulvous ground_, with _dark-brown markings_, and pure {99} black eye-spots. The under side of the hind wings is pencilled with sober colours, but in a design of great beauty and delicacy; and especially to be admired are the double-ringed "eyes," a band of which runs parallel with the outer margin of the hind wings.

The _caterpillar_ feeds on gra.s.ses; is green, with three pale lines down the back, and one more clearly marked on each side.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ appears in May, and again in August and September; and is everywhere common throughout the country.

It is called the Wall b.u.t.terfly from its frequent habit of choosing a road-side _wall_ for a perch, whence, on the approach of man, it darts off; returning again, however, on the departure of the obnoxious person.

THE GRAYLING b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Hipparchia Semele._)

(Plate V. fig. 6, Female.)

This fine insect is the largest _British_ species of the genus, and also of the family, some of the females measuring two inches and three-quarters from tip to tip across the expanded wings; and it also exhibits more vivacity of colouring than most of its brethren.

Above, the wings are deep brown, marked with {100} broad patches of paler colour, sometimes making a bright contrast in the female, but much duller and more uniform in the male.

The female also exceeds her lord considerably in stature, and, in fact, by her side he looks rather a mean and shabby fellow.

The device on the under side of the hind wings, though composed of the plainest colours, is very ornamental; grey and brown are the prevailing hues, disposed in mottled bars and stripes, reminding one of agates, or some other ornamental stones.

This b.u.t.terfly is not everywhere to be found, but haunts rocky places and hill-sides, on a chalky or limestone soil. At St. Boniface's Down, in the Isle of Wight, I noticed it in such exceeding profusion last August, that I could quickly have caught thousands, had I been so disposed.

Though a powerful-looking insect, its flight is by no means swift, and it suffers itself to be captured without difficulty.

The _caterpillar_ is dull pinkish about the back, with three obscure grey-green stripes, a dark line on the sides, and greenish beneath. It feeds on gra.s.ses, and has been said to undergo its transformation to the chrysalis in the earth; but this point requires confirmation.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ is seen from the middle of July till the beginning of September.

The following are localities for it:--Bembridge and Ventnor (Isle of Wight), Brighton, Lewes, New Forest, Exeter, Plymouth, Falmouth, Truro, Bristol, Dorsetshire, Salisbury Plain, Winchester, Worcester, Newmarket, Gamlingay, Isle of Arran, Arthur's Seat (Edinburgh), Durham, Darlington, Glasgow, Lake District.

[Ill.u.s.tration: XI.]

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