NYMPHALID.-E. 127 



In the case of this species there is no suspicion of exter- 

 mination by over-collecting, nor of destruction by fire or 

 flood. It is abundantly able to take care of itself, and rapidly 

 becomes plentiful, in favourable years, in those localities in 

 which it can exist at all ; so that the cause of its partial 

 extinction must be looked for in some subtle and unnoticed 

 change of climate, or in effects produced upon the atmosphere 

 by increase of population, or by products of combustion, 

 whether from houses, factories, or railway engines. At 

 present there is little but conjecture upon this point. 



Abroad- its range through Europe and Asia is very wide. 



2. V. polychloros, L. — Expanse 2i to 2| inches. 

 Fulvous, with large black spots, one of them near the anal 

 angle of the fore wings. Margin black, spotted, and divided 

 with blue and yellow. 



Fore wings slightly scalloped, with a blunt projection 

 below the apex, and another above the anal angle. Hind wings 

 also slightly scalloped, with a short broad central projection. 



Deep fulvous ; basal portion of all the wings golden brown. 

 Costal margin of the fore wings brown, with very numerous, 

 rippled, transverse yellow lines, from the base to near the 

 middle. On this margin are also three large black blotches 

 extending to one-third the width of the wing, the first being 

 narrow, the second much larger and squared, the third carved 

 and elongated. The s^jaces between these spots, and beyond 

 the third, partially ochreous. In the middle of the wing are 

 three roundish black spots, and another near the anal angle. 

 Hind margin broadly blackish, divided by interrupted yellow 

 lines. Hind wings slightly dusted with blackish, and with 

 one large black costal spot, followed by a pale cloud ; hind 

 margin broadly blackish, containing a row of bluish flattened 

 crescents ; and beyond these, two rather distinct, interrupted, 

 yellowish lines. Female similar — rather larger. 



Under side very obscurely coloured, marbled and banded, 

 dark umbrous to the middle, pale brown beyond, and witli a 



