British Butterfiles Part 12

[Ill.u.s.tration: XII.]

{117} THE PAINTED LADY. (_Cynthia Cardui._)

(Plate VII. fig. 3.)

We now come to a very natural group of b.u.t.terflies, rich, and often gorgeous, in their colouring, and having, both in their perfect and preparatory states, many characteristics in common, in point of habits, as well as of appearance and construction. The caterpillars are all th.o.r.n.y, and the chrysalides are adorned with brilliant metallic (generally _golden_) spots, from which appearance was derived the name "_chrysalis_,"[11] since applied, but somewhat improperly, to the _pupae_ of _all_ b.u.t.terflies. This golden effect is produced by a brilliant white membrane underlying the transparent yellow outer skin of the chrysalis, and it may be imitated, as discovered by Lister many years ago, "by putting a small piece of black gall in a strong decoction of nettles; this produces a sc.u.m which, when left on cap-paper, will exquisitely gild it, without the application of the real metal."

The present species is a highly elegant insect, well named the Painted Lady, and in France the "_Belle Dame_."

The colouring of the upper surface is composed of black and very dark brown, with irregular markings of an orange red, tinged partially with a rosy hue. Near the tip of the front wings are several pure white spots.

Beneath, the great beauty lies in the delicate pencilling of the hind wing with pearly greys and browns, and contrasted with this, the warm roseate blush and aurora tint on the upper wing.

The _caterpillar_ is th.o.r.n.y and brown, with yellow stripes down the back and sides. It feeds on various {118} species of thistle, but sometimes also on the nettle and other plants.

The _chrysalis_ is brown and grey, with silver spots.

The b.u.t.terfly first appears about the end of July, and is seen till the end of September, and occasionally in October. I took a beautiful fresh specimen in _October_, while strolling through a nursery garden at Wandsworth.

Those seen in early spring are _hybernated_ specimens.

The appearance of this b.u.t.terfly in any given locality is a matter of great uncertainty, though it capriciously visits, and even abounds occasionally in almost every place.

It is a bold insect, and, though agile in its movements, not difficult to catch, for, if disturbed or missed at the first stroke, it returns to the charge quite fearlessly.

THE RED ADMIRAL. (_Vanessa Atalanta._)

(Plate VIII. fig. 1.)

In grand simplicity and vividness of colour, the Red Admiral perhaps surpa.s.ses every other British b.u.t.terfly, and reminds one forcibly of some of the gorgeous denizens of the tropics. Intense black and brilliant scarlet in bands and borders are the two chief elements {119} of this splendour, relieved delightfully by the cool white spots at the outer and upper corners, and by the choice little bits of blue at the inner and lower angles and near the margins. The painting of the under surface entirely beggars description. There is, in addition to the red band, a good deal of blue on the upper wing, and the lower wing is covered by an intricate embroidery of indescribable tints--all manner of browns, and greys, and blacks, with golden and other hues of metals, are here pencilled and blended with magic effect.

The _caterpillar_, which feeds on the common nettle, is th.o.r.n.y, yellowish grey in colour, with light yellow lines on each side and black markings.

The _chrysalis_ is brownish, with gold spots.

The b.u.t.terfly usually comes out in August, and may be met with till early in October. The hybernated specimens of this are more rarely seen than those of any of the other common _Vanessas_.

Like others of its genus, the Red Admiral is familiar, and even saucy, in its manners, seeming to prefer the haunts of men to the solitudes that other insects love, flaunting boldly before our face in gardens and highways, where most we meet it.

It is found commonly all over the country.

{120}

THE PEAc.o.c.k b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Vanessa Io._)

(Plate VIII. fig. 2.)

The form and markings of this species, so distinct from every other of our b.u.t.terflies, will be seen by reference to the plate; and as to its colouring, I will not do it the injustice to attempt a description of its rich perfection, more especially as almost every reader may hope to add the insect to his collection during his first year's hunting, and then he can study its beauties for himself.

The under side, however, presents a remarkable contrast to the splendour of the reverse, being covered with shades and streaks of funereal blacks and browns. This affords a strange effect when the insect, sitting on a flower head, alternately opens and shuts the wings with a fanning motion, according to its custom.

The _caterpillar_ (Plate I. fig. 6), which feeds gregariously upon the nettle, is black, dotted with white, and th.o.r.n.y.

The _chrysalis_ is greenish, with gold spots.

The _b.u.t.terfly_, which is common in nearly every part of England, comes out in August and September, the individuals met with not unfrequently in the spring having hybernated.

Mr. Doubleday writes thus to the _Zoologist_ regarding the winter retreats of b.u.t.terflies of this genus:--"Last {121} winter some large stacks of beech f.a.ggots, which had been loosely stacked up in our forest (_Epping_) the preceding spring, with the dead leaves adhering to them, were taken down and carted away, and among these were many scores of _Io_, _Urticae_, and _Polychloros_."

In Scotland this is generally a very rare b.u.t.terfly, but has latterly been abundant in Dumfriess.h.i.+re and Kirkcudbrights.h.i.+re.

THE CAMBERWELL BEAUTY. (_Vanessa Antiopa._)

(Plate VIII. fig. 3.)

Many years ago, when Camberwell was a real village, luxuriating in its willows, the entomologists of the day were delighted by the apparition, in that suburb, of this well-named "Beauty," whose name since then has always been a.s.sociated with Camberwell--certainly not a promising place in the present day for a b.u.t.terfly hunt, for, though it has its "beauties" still, they are not of the lepidopterous order, nor game for any net that the entomologist usually carries. Since then it has been found at intervals, and in very variable abundance, in a wide range of localities.

The arrangement of colours in this b.u.t.terfly is most remarkable and unusual, by reason of the sudden contrast between the pale whitish border and the velvet depth of the colours it encloses. {122}

The inmost portion of all the wings is a deep rich chocolate brown, then comes a band of black, including a row of large blue spots, and succeeded by an outer border of pale yellow tint, partially dappled with black specks.

The _caterpillar_ feeds on the _willow_ (which accounts for its former appearance in Camberwell). It is th.o.r.n.y, black, with white dots, and a row of large red spots down the back.

The _chrysalis_ is very angular, and blackish with tawny spots.

The b.u.t.terfly comes out of the chrysalis late in the autumn, and is seen from August till October; but a great proportion of those observed in this country have survived the winter, and have been seen abroad again in the spring. It has been frequently seen feasting on over-ripe or rotten fruit, and at such times may be often surprised and captured with ease.

No spot can be pointed out where one can _expect_ to meet with this fine insect; but it has appeared singly at intervals in the following localities among others:--Scotland, Ayrs.h.i.+re; Durham; Scarborough; York; Darlington; Sheffield; Manchester; Lake District; Appleby; Coventry; Peterborough; Oxford; Burton-on-Trent; Norfolk; Lincolns.h.i.+re; Suffolk; Bristol; Ely; Shrewsbury; Plymouth; Teignmouth; Kent; Ashford; Bromley; Tenterden; Ramsgate; various places in neighbourhood of London; Epping; Hamps.h.i.+re; Isle of Wight; Lewes; Worthing. {123}

On the Continent this is a common b.u.t.terfly, in many places being the most abundant of all the _Vanessas_.

THE LARGE TORTOISESh.e.l.l b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Vanessa Polychloros._)

(Plate IX. fig. 1.)

The beginner often has a slight difficulty in finding a good and permanent distinction between this species and the next (_V. Urticae_). At the first blush, the superior size of this seems to be a sufficient mark, and then the orange of the wings has usually a much browner, or more tawny hue, than that of _Urticae_; but as I have seen specimens of _Polychloros absolutely smaller_ than some very large _Urticae's_, and as the colour of both occasionally varies, so that they approach each other in this respect also, it is evident we must look for some better mark of distinction; and here _is_ one. In _Polychloros_, _all_ the light markings between the black spots on the upper edge of the front wing are _yellow_, whereas in _Urticae_ the _outer one next the blue and black border is pure pearly_ WHITE. The two other marks on the front edge are yellow. _Polychloros_ has also, near the _lower corner of the front wing, an extra black spot_, not found in _Urticae_.

The blue spots on the border are in this species almost confined to the hind wings. {124}

The _caterpillar_ generally feeds on the elm, whence the b.u.t.terfly is occasionally called the "Elm b.u.t.terfly," but it has also been found on the willow, and on the white beam-tree. Mr. Boscher of Twickenham informs me that the specimens he has bred from caterpillars fed on the _willow_ have been all far below the average size. The caterpillar is th.o.r.n.y, and of a tawny colour, broadly striped with black along each side.