AN OUTLINE OP BRITISH CATERPILLARS. 285 



Genus> Vanessa. 



A. Wi?igs irregularly lobed. Caterpillars gregarious, with bitu- 

 berculated heads. 



Species 1. Vanessa C. album, The Comma. 



B. Wings angulated. Caterpillars gregarious, 



2. Urticce, The Lesser Tortoise-shell. 



3. Polychloros, The Greater Tortoise-shell. 



4. Antiopa. The Willow, or Camberwell Beauty. 



5. lo. The Peacock. 



c. Inferior wings rounded and indented. Caterpillars solitary. 



6. Atalanta. The Admirable. 



7. Cardui. The Painted Lady. 



Of the Caterpillars of these seven British species,, belonging to the 

 genus Vanessa, our limits will allow us to trace only a description 

 of the following three. In a future number, we shall present 

 figures of the perfect insect; illustrative of the two remaining sub- 

 genera of Vanessa, and terminate our list of the caterpillars by a 

 description of the other four. The first two of the following belong 

 to the 2nd — , and the third to the 3rd Sub-genus, as arranged by 

 IMr. Curtis. 



Vanessa Urticoe. Boisduval, Nymphalides, pi. 1. fig. A, 5, and 6 ; 

 — Donovan, v. ii., pi. 55. Caterpillar : blackish, minutely sprink- 

 led with yellow. Each ring exhibiting a circular row of seven 

 branched spines ; except the 2nd and 3rd, which have but four, and 

 the 1st and last completely destitute of them. Dorsal spines black- 

 ish, brighter at their extremity; those of the two lateral rows 

 slightly yellow. The body exhibiting, in addition, some minute, 

 almost imperceptible, greyish, scattered hairs. On the back, a dorsal 

 streak of lemon-yellow, varying in breadth; more or less well 

 defined, and divided longitudinally by a black line. On the sides, 

 another streak, of like colour, frequently double, and enclosing the 

 blackish, minute, and scarcely visible stigmata. Head black, slightly 

 hollowed and rough. Inferior surface of the body yellowish-grey, 

 or livid yellowish-green. Scaly feet black; the others greenish- 

 grey. A ventral streak, of dark-green colour, and broken, ordinarily 

 existing between the membranous feet. In some individuals, the 

 yellow bands are very distinct ; and the blackish interval^ separating 



