136 LEPIDOPTERA. 



otlier composite flowers are blossoming. It seems to be 

 found in every j^art of the United Kingdom except the 

 Shetland Isles, and specimens from the most inclement 

 northern and north-western districts are often large and 

 richly coloured, or have the dark markings strongly developed. 

 There is reason, however, to think that in such cases the 

 species is but single-brooded, and therefore spends more time 

 in its earlier stages. In the mild climate of extreme South 

 Wales I have seen specimens flying wildly in the sunshine 

 as late as the beginning of December. 



It is able to produce a faint grating noise, when slowly 

 opening and shutting its wings, by rubbing together the 

 surfaces of the dorsal portion of the fore wings and the 

 costal portion of the hind. 



Widely distributed in Europe and Asia, flying throughout 

 the winter in the more southern countries. Mr. G. Lewis 

 found it in Japan. 



As it happens occasionally that this species is mistaken for 

 the preceding, it may be well to point out that V. polychloros 

 has always a black spot near the anal angle of the fore wings 

 which is wanting in V. urticce, and that while the latter species 

 is of an orange-red the other is fulvous and of a totally dif- 

 ferent tone of colour. Moreover the hind wings in V. urticce 

 are black to beyond the middle, the sharply defined margin of 

 this colour being followed by a red band of moderate width, 

 while in V. poli/chloros the much broader fulvous portion of 

 the hind wing fades insensibly into the dark basal colour. 

 Mr. Stainton points out that it also has a row of long strong 

 bristles on the basal half of the costa which is wanting in 

 V. urtica:.. There is really no difiiculty in distinguishing 

 one from the other, since V. polychloros is always fulvous of 

 some shade, while V. urtica:- appears never to vary towards 

 that colour. 



4. V. lo, L. — Expanse 2\ to 2| inches. Ghocolate-red, 

 with a large peacock's-eye spot on each wing. 



