90 THK I.EIMDOI'TKRA OF ESSEX. 



year [1695], I found several larvae eating the leaves of the common 

 hroad and round-leaved sallow (AVr ; H.I. 118). 



Vanessa urticae, L. Small Tortoiseshell. 



Geographical Distri'mtion — Europe, North and West Afia, local forms in East 

 Asia. Througiioul Britain. One of the most widely distributed and commonest 

 species. 



Larva — Variable yellowish-g^rey, black line on back, broad brown stripe and 

 yellow line on sides ; spines black or yellow, with black tips. Food — Nettie. 

 Jmago — June t ) June ; hibernating. 



Particularly abundant throughout the county. In June bright, 

 newly emerged, and tattered, hibernated individuals are frequently to 

 be seen together — a great contrast. 



Westwood figures a specimen with a supplemental hind wing, 

 abnormally small, but with the usual markings and coloration, fixed 

 to the base of the hind wing {Butterflies of Great Britain., pi. vii. fig. 

 I, and T.E.S.L. 1879, pi. vi. figs. 2, 2a). This monstrous .specimen 

 was caught flying near Epping by Mr. H. Doubleday {Stephens ; 

 I.B.E. Haust i. 148), and was sent to Stephens by Mr. Samuel 

 Hanson, on March 3rd, 1828. It is now in the Stephensian Collec- 

 tion in the National Museum at South Kensington. 



Vanessa io, L. Peacock. 



Geographical Disiributioti — Throughout palaearctic region, except extreme north 

 and south. Throughout Britain. 



Larva — Black, with minute white dots ; spines, black. Fcod — Nettle ; feeds 

 exposed, generally gregarious. Imago — August to June : hibernating. 



Common everywhere, but apparently less so in Essex now than 

 formerly. 



Vanessa antiopa, L. Camberwell Beauty. 



Geographical Distribution — Palocarctic region. North and Central America. 

 'I hroughout Britain, but rare and uncertain. 



Larva — Black, with grey pubescence, row of light-red spots on back through 

 which passes thin black line ; spines black. Food — Willow, birch, nettle. Imago 

 — August to June ; hibernating. 



Rare and uncertain. Comparatively common in 1872, fairly so in 

 1880, very rare since. 



" The fine species figured ... is rendered rare and remark- 

 al)lc in this country by its periodical appearance, the cause of which 

 has hitherto never been ascertained : the most probable conjcctin-e 



