238 MODERN SYSTEM. 



Genus 317. VANESSA. Fahr., Latr., Leach. Papilio. Imw., 



Haicorth. 



Antenna; terminated with an abrupt short club : pnlpi contiguous, and 

 terminated gradually in a point; the two combined bearing some 

 resemblance to a rostrum : antcr'wi- pair of feet in both sexes short 

 and very hairy : turd with double nails. 



Vhrijiiulis suspended by its tail. 



Caterpillar spiny. 



Sp. 1. Van. Alalanta (red admirable). Wings indented, black with 

 white spots ; a red fascia in the upper wings, and another on the 

 margin ot" the under wings. 



Inhabits Europe : the larva feeds on the nettle. 



Sp. 2. Van. C«/r/H/! (painted lady). Wings orange, indented ; variegated 

 with black and white spots : four ocelli on the under side of tlie 

 posterior wings. 



Inhabits Europe : the larva feeds on the thistle. 



Sp. 3. Van. Antiopa (Camberwell beauty). Wings angulated and black, 

 the borders whitish. 



Cynthia Cardui. Fahr., Lcac/i. 



Inhabits Europe. This species has become exceedingly rare in this 

 coimtry. Mr. Il^worth has observed (in the first part of his Lepido- 

 ptera Britanuica) " There is something very extraordinary in the peri- 

 odical but irregular appearance of this species, Papilio Edusa (Colias 

 Hyalc of this work) and Fap. Cardui. Ihey arc plentiful all over the 

 kingdom in some years ; after which Antiopa in particular will not be 

 seen by any one for eight, ten, or more years, and then appear as plen- 

 tiful as before. To suppose they come from the Continent, is an idle 

 conjectme; because the English specimens are easily distinguished 

 from all others by the sujterior whiteness of their borders. Perhaps 

 their eggs, in this climate, like the seeds of some vegetables, may 

 occasionally lie dormant for several seasons, and not hatch until 

 some extraordinary but undiscovered coincidence awake them into 

 active life." 



Sp. 4. Van. lo (peacock). 



Inliabits nettles. 



Sp. 5. Van. polychloros (large tortoise-shell). 

 Inliabits Europe : the larva on the elm. 



Sp. 6. Van. Urfica: (small tortoise-shell). 

 Inhabits Europe : the larva feeds on nettles. 

 Sp. 7. Van. C. allium (comma). 



Inhabits woods : the larva feeds on the nettle, hop, willo^^c, and the 

 current. 



