10 



BRITISH AXD EUROPEAN BUTTERFLIES AXD MOTHS. 



are short and clubbed, the eyes elongated 

 and hairy. The first pair of legs is imper- 

 fectly developed in the male. The larvae are 

 •\voodlouse-shaped, like those of the Lycanida, 

 but more elongated. The pupaj are attached 

 by a silk thread round the bodv. 



Genus Nemeobius, Steph. 



N. lucina, Linn. PI. VI. fig. i. Under 

 side I a. is common in open woods in Central 

 and Southern Europe in May and June, and 

 again in August. The butterfly is fond of 

 resting on bushes. The larva;, which hide 

 themselves during the daj-, are found from 

 June to September on the leaves of primulas and 

 other similar plants. The pupa hibernates. 



FAMILY 



APATURIDyE. 



These are large and beautiful dark coloured 

 butterflies, banded with white. The first pair 

 of legs is imperfectly developed in both sexes. 

 The discoidal cell of both fore and hind wings 

 is open. The antennae are long and thick. 

 The larvae are slug-shaped, with non-retractile 

 horn-like appendages. The pupae are thick, 

 with the back arched, and two projecting points 

 on the head. They are suspended by the tail. 



Genus Apatura, Fabr. 



Large butterflies with broad wings, shot 

 with blue or violet in the male. The fore 

 wings have the hind margins rather concave, 

 and are marked with white. The hind wings 

 are crossed by a broad white band. The larvae 

 are thick, with a bifid tail, and two horns on 

 the head. They hibernate when young, and 

 live singly on their food plant, weaving the 

 leaves together as a protection. The butter- 

 flies fly in open woods and frequent damp 

 roads and decomposing animal matter. 



A. iris, Linn. The Purple Emperor. PI. VI. 

 fig. 2. Female 2 a. Under side 2b. Larva 

 2 0. Pupa 2d. is one of the largest and hand- 

 somest of our British butterflies. It is unknown 

 in Scotland and Ireland, and its range in 

 England is restricted to the oak woods of the 

 Midland, Eastern, and Southern counties. It 

 appears from the end of June to the middle 

 of July, and frequents glades in woods. It is 



an insect of powerful flight, and will soar high 

 into the air, and after fluttering for some time 

 may alight high up on a tree, or more rarely 

 may descend to the ground and settle in a 

 muddy place or on some kind of filth or 

 carrion. The larva is found in May or June, 

 and feeds on poplar and sallow. The chrysalis 

 is found hanging to the leaves. The dark 

 variety lole, Schiff. has the white spots and 

 bands almost absent. This variety is rare, 

 but is found more frequently in some years 

 than others. 



A. ilia, W. \'. is found in most parts of 

 Central Europe. It is distinguished from the 

 last species by the white band on the hind 

 wings being nearly straight on its outer edge, 

 and by the pattern of the under side being 

 less distinct. The orange ring on the fore 

 wings near the anal angle is visible also on 

 the upper side, which is not the case in iris, 

 and the hind margins of the wings in the 

 female are more indented. The caterpillar is 

 very like that of iris, but more of a j'ellow- 

 ish green colour, and the horns on the head 

 are edged with black in front. It feeds on 

 various kinds of sallow and poplar (e. g. Po- 

 puliis tycmiila) in May. The pupa is more 

 whitish. 



FAMILY 



N Y M P H .\ L I D .^. 



Middle-sized or large butterflies, black or 

 dark brown on the upper surface, with a row 

 of white spots on the fore wings, and a broad 

 white band on the hind wings. The imder 

 side is rusty red, varied with dark brown, and 

 of a similar pattern to the upper side. The 

 caterpillars are cylindrical, and have spines or 

 fleshy tubercles armed with bristles. 



The pupae are suspended by the tail. 



Genus Limenitis, Fabr. 



Middle-sized or large butterflies. The 

 caterpillars are cylindrical, with excrescences 

 or with branching spines on the back. 



L. populi, Linn. PI. \TI. fig. 3. Larva 

 3 a. Pupa 3b. This large and beautiful insect 

 is found in Central Europe, except Britain, 

 and is very common in some years. Like 

 the Purple Emperor, it flies high, and is 



