PLATE 9.
1. [Marbled White]
2. [Mountain Ringlet]
3. [Scotch Argus]
4. [Speckled Wood]
5. [Wall Brown]
6. [Grayling] (Male)
7. [Meadow Brown] (Female)
8. [Small Meadow Brown]
9. [Ringlet]
10. [Marsh Ringlet]
The caterpillar is black, with a greyish line along the sides, and a small white dot above this between each segment. The chrysalis is ashen, with red and black spots; it is rather “dumpy,” and may be found on various low plants early in the summer, and again, in some southern localities, in the autumn. Like nearly all the Fritillaries the larvæ hibernate while very small, so it is best to leave them in their natural state until fairly well fed. Narrow-leaved Plantain, Scabious, and, some observers say, Foxglove and Speedwell, are its favourite foods. The times of flight are May and August. In many Scotch localities, Argyllshire, Ayrshire, etc., this species is abundant.
The Glanville Fritillary (Melitæa Cinxia), [Plate V.], Fig. 1.—This little butterfly is one of the “threatened species.” If due care and discretion be not exercised, there is a possibility of its becoming extinct in this country. “Threatened people live long,” but it were wise not to push our little friend too far; and wiser still if collectors who live in or near its favourite haunts would not only try to preserve it, but also make some attempt to spread its range into other localities apparently suitable for its propagation. We have far too few native butterflies to run the risk of losing any we have. And as the food-plant is the Ribbed or Narrow-leaved Plantain, it follows that even were this species as abundant as its food would warrant, it could not possibly do any harm to anyone, either gardener or farmer. The ground colour might be called Fritillary brown, relieved with the usual black bands and spots; the hind-wings show a distinct row of black spots on a light ground running round near the outer margin. But the under side ([Plate X.], Fig. 4) is more striking and unmistakable, especially that of the hind-wing. The fringe itself is dotted at intervals with black; then follows a line of crescent spots on a cream-coloured ground; a fulvous band scalloped with a black outline traverses the wing, and on this band are dark spots edged with red. Then there is a cream band with black spots, and a broken-up band of fulvous spots edged with black. There is cream again next the body, with a few more black spots. The under side of the upper wing is a light orange-brown, and cream towards the tip, and bears a few black spots.
The caterpillar is black, with dark red between the segments; head and pro-legs red; spines short, crowded, black. The chrysalis is stout, yellowish-grey, dotted with black, and is sometimes enclosed in a loose web. The chrysalids I have reared always adopted this mode of concealment and protection. I have also been much impressed with the strong resemblance of the caterpillar to the flower-heads of the Narrow-leaved Plantain, amongst which it lives. The Isle of Wight appears to be the headquarters of the species, and it is found in a few other localities on the mainland. It appears in May and June.
PLATE 10
1. [Dark Green Fritillary] (under side)
2. [High Brown Fritillary] (under side)
3. [Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary] (under side)
4. [Glanville Fritillary] (under side)
5. [Pearl Bordered Fritillary] (under side)
6. [Heath Fritillary] (under side)
The Heath Fritillary (Melitæa Athalia), [Plate V.], Fig. 2. —There is more black, or dark brown, on the upper surface of this species, hence the insect looks darker in general aspect than any of the foregoing Fritillaries. The under side, too ([Plate X.], Fig. 6), is marked very like Cinxia, but the light bands on the hind-wings are more of a yellow tint, and the line of black spots through the central band are wanting; the veins are also more prominent and black. Altogether it is not difficult, on comparing the two under sides, to at once distinguish them.