VANESSA. 89 



THE LARGE TORTOISE-SHELL. VANESSA POLYCHLORUS. 

 {Plate XVI., Fig. 3.) 



Papilio poiychhros, Linn., Syst. Nat. (x.), i., p. 477, no. 113 

 (175S); id. Faun. Suec. (ii.), p. 27s, no. 1057 (1761); 

 Esper, Schmett., i., pt. 1, p. 166, pi. 13, fig. 1 (1777). 



Vanessa polychloros, Steph., 111. Brit. Ent. Haust, i.,. p. 42 

 (1827); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 22, pi. 6, 

 fi S- 5 ( lS 7S), Lang, Butterflies Eur., p. 171, pi. 39) fig. 5 

 (1882); Barrett, Lepid. Brit. Isl., i., p. 127, pi. 18, figs. 

 2, 2a, b ([S92); Buckler, Larvae Brit. Butterflies and 

 Moths, i., p. 54, pi. 9, fig. 1 (18S6). 



The Large Tortoise-shell Butterfly is not uncommon in many 

 parts of the south of England, in and near woods, or flying 

 about detached trees, on the trunks of which it frequently 

 settles. It may sometimes be seen in gardens, settling on 

 flowers, but less frequently. It appears in summer and autumn, 

 and hibernated specimens, much duller in colour than the 

 newly-emerged individuals, may be found in early spring. 



The Butterfly measures two and a half inches, or more, 

 across the wings, which are of a deep fulvous with rather 

 broad black margins. The fore -wings are marked with three 

 rather large black costal blotches, separated by pale yellow 

 spots ; there are also three black spots in the centre of the 

 wings, and a fourth near the hinder angle. The hind-wings 

 have a large black blotch in the centre of the costa, bounded 

 externally by a pale yellow blotch, and only the border of the 

 hind-wings is marked with blue lunules. The under side is dull 

 brown, with a yellowish mark in the middle of the hind-wings. 



The larva is blackish or brownish, with a yellow stripe on 

 the sides, and the spines are likewise yellow. When youm*-, 

 the larvae live under a silken web, which they spin for their 

 protection, but they disperse after the first moult. They feed 



L 2 



