78 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



from the end of April till the end of May, and sulphur-coloured in 

 some other species. 



One species, extremely common, and which appears with but short 

 interruption from the beginning of spring till the end of autumn, is 

 the Brimstone Butterfly (Rhodocera [Go/iepferyx] r/iamm). The wings 

 are a lemon yellow, with an orange-coloured spot in the middle of 

 each, and the front border terminated in a series of very small iron- 

 coloured spots. The body of the butterfly is black with silvery hairs. 



Fig. 148.— Thecla betulae. 



The Co/ias edusa, or Clouded-yellow, so called from the colour 

 the upper part of its wings, is not uncommon in meadows and fiek 

 in early autumn throughout Europe. The upper side of the wings 

 of a marigold yellow ; the upper ones having towards the middle 

 large spot of black. At the extremity of each wing is a broad blac^ 

 band, continuous in the case of the male, interrupted by yellow spoi 

 in the female. The back of the body is yellow ; the legs, as well a| 

 the antennoe, rosy. 



The family of the LyccBuidcc comprises a great number of speciejj 

 some of which we will mention. 



The Thed(B, or Hair-streaks, which the French call Petits Port 

 queues, on account of the tails which grace the hind margin of the hinil 

 wings, inhabit woods, their larvae feeding, according to the species, oj 

 the birch, the oak, the plum-tree, the bramble, &:c. 



The Thecla betul^ (Fig. 148), or Brown Hair-streak, is somewh^lj 

 rare in this country. 



