BUTTERFLIES. 147 



The White Admiral (Limenitis Sibylla, Linn.) is not a very- 

 common insect in the south of England, but is more abundant on 

 the Continent. It is dark brown, with a white macular band, 

 interi'upted on the fore wings, running from the middle of the 

 costa of the fore wings to the middle of the inner margin of the 

 hind wings. Its larva feeds on honeysuckle, and is green, with 

 rust-coloured hairy tubercles, and a red head. The butterfly 

 averages about two inches in expanse of wings, and has a sailing 

 flight along the edges of glades in woods. Many larger species 

 of lAmenitis inhabit North America, the most interesting being 

 Limenitis Archippus, Cram., which resembles the common North 

 American Danaus Erippus, Cram., being tawny, with black nervures. 

 It is, however, smaller, not exceeding three inches in expanse. 



Neptis, Fabr., and Atlujma, Westw., are genera which include 

 many East Indian species ; and the former has a few representa- 

 tives in Africa and Eastern Europe also. They are black butter- 

 flies, with white or yellow markings, similar to those of Limenitis 

 Sibylla, but there is generally a more or less interrupted pale streak 

 running from the base of the fore wings ; and Neptis has more 

 rounded wings than either Limenitis or Athyma. 



One of the most characteristic genera of African butterflies is 

 Euplmdra, Hiibn. They are rather large insects, averaging about 

 three inches in expanse, and the hind wings at least are dentated. 

 Most of them are of a velvety black above, with the greater part 

 of the hind wings and the adjacent portion of the fore wings 

 green. There is a broad white or yellow transverse band near the 

 tip of the fore wings. The under side of the hind wings is gener- 

 ally of a more yellowish green, with a variable number of black 

 spots difi'erently arranged according to the species. Many species 

 are of the richest crimson at the base beneath ; and in E. Xypete, 

 Hew., this coloration extends over the greater part of the hind 

 wings. In another section of the genus the species are red, the 

 fore wings being black at the tip, with an oblique white band ; 

 the hind wings have a black border spotted with white. The latter 

 species have a general resemblance to Danaiis Chrysippus. 



The Purple Emperor (Apatura Iris, Linn.) is considered one of 

 the finest of our British butterflies. It is brown, and the male is 

 shot with rich purple. The fore wings are spotted with white, and 

 there is a white band across the middle of the hind wings ; near 

 the anal angle of the hind wings is an orange ring. The genus 

 Apatura is well represented in Asia and America. The Indian 



