Metamorphosis in Motion: A Victorian Glimpse of British Butterflies, 1890

These plates illustrate three notable butterfly species: 1. **Silver-Bordered Ringlet (Boloria selene, previously known as Clossiana selene):** The Silver-Bordered Ringlet is depicted in the top image on the first plate. This butterfly is primarily brown with a series of orange crescents...

The butterflies depicted in the plates are special, both historically in the context of British lepidopterology and scientifically in terms of their morphology and behavior. 1. **Arran Brown (Erebia ligea)** - The image labeled "22" likely depicts what is commonly known as the Arran Brown, previously known as Arran Argus. It's a species that prefers grassy habitats and flies low to the ground. These butterflies have brown wings with eye-like spots on the upper side, which can confuse predators into attacking the wrong part of the body. 2. **Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)** - The image labeled "23" seems to represent the Scotch Argus. This butterfly has dark brown wings with orange bands containing black spots, each centered with a tiny white dot. It is commonly found in damp grassy areas and is especially interesting due to its limited distribution, being primarily found in Scotland and parts of Northern England. 3. **Small Ringlet (Erebia cothurnatus)** - The image labeled "24" probably shows the Small Ringlet, which in some texts may be referred to as Small Mountain Ringlet or Small Heath...

'1. 2. Polygoma C. album 3. Vanessa polychloros' Late 19th century colour lithograph of butterflies.

'1. Ageronia arethusa 2. Ageronia amphinome' Late 19th century colour lithograph of butterflies.