98 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Red Admiral measures from two to nearly three inches 

 across the wings, which are of a velvety-black. The fore-wings 

 have a slight projection on the hind-margin, below the tip, 

 thus showing a closer affinity to the genus Vanessa than is 

 presented by P. cardui; and this has led several authors to 

 retain P. atalanta in the genus Vanessa, even when treating 

 P. cardui as belonging to a distinct genus. The fore-wings have 

 a broad red band running obliquely from the middle of the 

 costa to the hinder angle, and between this and the tip are 

 several white spots and a blue line. The hind-wings have a 

 broad red border, containing a row of black spots, and a blue 

 spot at the anal angle; the fringes of the wings are white, 

 spotted with black. 



The under surface of the fore-wings is similar to the upper, 

 but paler, shading into grey at the tip, and there are several 

 additional blue markings ; the hind-wings are varied beneath 

 with delicate shades of grey. 



The larva is dull greenish-yellow, or blackish, with yellow 

 spines, and an interrupted yellow line on the sides ; the pro- 

 legs are reddish. It is solitary, and feeds on nettle in early 

 summer. It prefers the seed to the leaves, and usually pro- 

 tects itself from the weather by drawing a few leaves round it, 

 which it secures by silken threads. 



The pupa is brown, with golden spots. 



THE PAINTED LADY. PYRAMEIS CARDUI. 

 Plate XV II I., Figs. 2, 3.) 



Papilio cardui, Linn., Syst. Nat. (x.), i., p. 475, no. 107 



(1758); id. Faun. Suec. (ii.), p. 276, no. 1054 (1761); 



Esper, Schmett., i., pt. 1, p. 133, pi. io, fig. 3 C 1 777)- 

 Cynthia cardui, Steph., 111. Brit. Ent. Haust., i., p. 47 (1827); 



Buckler, Larvae Brit. Butterflies and Moths, i., pp. 49, 174, 



pi. 8, fig. 1 (1886). 



