The _caterpillar_ is black, with white lines; and the pro-legs red. It feeds on various species of _viola_.
The _butterfly_ appears first in May, and there is another brood in autumn, about August. It frequents woods and hedgerows, being met with most profusely in the south; but its range is extended into Scotland. In Ireland I believe it is unknown.
THE SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY. (_Argynnis Selene._)
This butterfly, which is very nearly related to the last, often so closely resembles it in the marking of the upper surface, that even practised eyes are sometimes at a loss to distinguish the two, without a reference to the under side; for on this side do the real distinctive marks lie, and chiefly on the hind wing. In addition to the silver border and central spots of _Euphrosyne_, this species has several other silvery or pearly patches distributed over the hind wing; and the reddish-orange colour adjoining the silver border in _Euphrosyne_ is exchanged for dark chestnut-brown in _Selene_. In average size the two insects differ very slightly, though the name of this expresses an inferior size.
The _caterpillar_ much resembles that of the last, and feeds on violet-leaves.
The _butterfly_ is double-brooded, appearing first in May and again in August. It is not so common an insect as _Euphrosyne_, but is met with in similar situations, and has a range nearly co-extensive with that of the latter.
THE GLANVILLE FRITILLARY. (_Melitæa Cinxia._)
Though usually rather abundant where it occurs at all, this insect is one of the most local of all our butterflies, and I can only find recorded about a dozen places for it in the country. Of these, the Isle of Wight is the great metropolis of the insect, and there, in many places round the coast, numerous colonies have been established.
This butterfly is distinguished from the next (_M. Athalia_), which it very much resembles, principally by the characters on the under surface.
The hind wing (beneath) is covered with alternate bands of bright straw-colour and orange-brown, divided by black lines; and possesses in _the marginal straw-coloured band a row of clear_ BLACK SPOTS. Another row of black spots crosses the centre of the wing. It will also be observed that the _hind wings_ have on _their upper surface a row of black spots_ parallel with, and not far from, the margin. The colouring of the upper side is orange-brown with black markings.