This is a scarce variety in Teneriffe of the butterfly just described. It is commonly found in America, and some few insects have been taken in England. It is similar in colouring to the Cardui, but somewhat brighter. The flight of the insect is steadier, and this, together with the brightness in colour, distinguishes it from others of the same family when seen flying in company. It is found in barrancos and gardens, and has been netted in a locality about 600 feet above the sea near Orotava, together with the last two butterflies described. All three specimens were seen flitting in company, the Callirhoe and Cardui predominating in number, with a few specimens of the Huntera dispersed among them. The upper surface is brick-red, marked with black, the fore-wings having a dark apical patch, with several white spots. The hind-wings have five blue spots, encircled by black, near the lower margin. Beneath, the fore-wings are of a most beautiful red colour, interspersed with black, grey-brown, and white, and having two eyes on the apex. The hind-wings are of a lovely grey-brown tinge, liberally veined with white, having a whitish uneven band down the centre. This band has two large eyes, with blue centres outside it. On the edge of the wings three grey-blue lines are seen, making the tout ensemble a most exquisite reverse, and the greatest contrast to the upper surface. It is usually found from April to August. Though faded and small specimens were found earlier, the beauty of the insect is not seen till April. The caterpillar is brown, sparingly covered with hairs, and has bright red spots down its sides. It is rather larger than the Cardui larva.
PARARGE XIPHIOIDES.
Plate III.—Fig. 5.
This is not an English butterfly, though it is somewhat similar to the Speckled Wood Argus (Parage Ægeria). It is very commonly found in the Islands in most localities up to three or four thousand feet above the sea. It measures in expanse from two and a half to three inches. Those found early in the year are of a smaller and duller colour than those netted later on. It is of a rich brown colour, the fore-wings being freely marked with orange-yellow spots. The hind-wings are plentifully feathered at the base, and have a long dash of yellow down them, with three dark eyes near the margin, which is scalloped with faint white. The under-side of the fore-wings is lighter in colour than the surface, though similar in markings. The hind-wings are of a uniform olive-brown shade, with a long uneven silvery stripe half-way down the centre. There is no very decided knob on the end of the antennæ, which only thicken slightly towards the end.
EPINEPHELE HISPULLA, or FORTUNATA (Alph.).
This brown butterfly resembles the English Large Meadow Brown (E. Janira), but is of a richer colour and larger size, measuring in expanse about two and a half to three inches. The female, which differs largely from the male in colour and markings, is of an ashy-brown colour, the fore-wings being orange-tawny, leaving only an uneven marginal band of grey-brown. There is an apical eye of black, with a small white centre. The hind-wings are ashy-grey, with a marginal orange-tawny band. The body and base of the lower wings are freely feathered. The under-side is similar in colouring, only lighter; the apical eyes are more strongly marked; the hind-wings are of an orange-brown tint, the orange band being slightly defined on this side. The male has no orange-tawny markings on the surface, only a slight shade of yellow being seen on the fore-wings, shimmering through the uniform brown colour of the insect. There is a small black eye, with a white central dot on the apex of each fore-wing. On the under-side the fore-wings of the male are orange-tawny, the black eye being larger and more pronounced than on the surface. The hind-wings of the male are of a uniform olive-brown colour. It is found in barrancos, meadows and rough places, from the coast up to a moderately high altitude, from April to September; the male appears first in the greatest numbers, and towards June the female is also found in great quantities. The caterpillar has not been observed.
HIPPARCHIA STATILINUS.
Plate II.—Fig. 7.
This is a brown butterfly common in many parts of Southern and Central Europe, though not found in England. It is a rare insect in Teneriffe, and is only met with high up in the mountains, chiefly at Vilaflor, and on the south part of the island, about July and August. It measures in expanse from two to three inches, and is of a uniform brown colour, having a few white markings, which vary much in different specimens, on the fore-wings. Two large brown spots are seen at the outer margin of each fore-wing, interspersed with small white spots. The hind-wings are brown, shading to lighter colour at the base. The under-side is prettily mottled, and streaked with grey-brown, the two dark spots seen on the margin being well defined. The larva and chrysalis have not been observed.