Black Ringlet

E. melas Hbst. (=maurus Esp.) (37 a). In shape and size like stygne, bearing a close resemblance to the alpine form of the same; the ground-colour however is much darker, being nearly black. On the forewing there are towards the apex two white-centred black ocelli, which contrast with the ground-colour and are sometimes confluent; a third smaller ocellus is situated towards the hindmargin. The hindwing has distally 3—4 white-centred ocelli, which are sometimes as large as those on the forewing. The russet band is indicated by a pale sheen only in the female. The underside of the male agrees fairly well with the upper, the hindwing being somewhat darker than the forewing and bearing sometimes traces of a distally slightly dentate middle band. In the female the underside is variable, the brown band of the forewing is sometimes distinctly developed or is indicated by a lighter tint, being sometimes altogether absent. The hindwing is brown-grey with blackish atoms; there being before the distal margin a lighter band which is exteriorly undulate and bears 3—4 small white-centred ocelli. In Carinthia, Istria, the Balkan countries, South Russia and Greece. — In the form astur Oberth. (37 a) [may be subspecies of lefebvrei] the upperside is quite black, sometimes without ocelli, but mostly with 2 small, white, usually deep black-bordered ocelli. …