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.