I40 LEPIDOPTERA. 



irritation, and to make the noise for tlie purpose of intiniida- 

 tion. This sound is believed to be produced by the rubbing 

 of the narrow, contiguous, surfaces of the fore and hind 

 wings together, and apparently is only emitted when a 

 sleeping butterfly is disturbed and annoyed. 



This beautiful insect is one of the most brilliant ornaments 

 of our fields, lanes, waste places, and gardens, which it 

 frequents until the middle of autumn, settling upon, and 

 feeding on the nectar of, garden flowers, knapweed, thistles 

 and other composites, scabious, and clover ; also settling upon 

 warm walls and sunny pathways. In the spring, after 

 hybernation, it seems not to seek food, but rather warmth, 

 frequenting the warmest lanes, sheltered corners, and banks, 

 for the sake of the sunshine. 



Very widely, but partially, distributed through the United 

 Kingdom ; plentiful in many places, but seems to have a 

 dislike to manufacturing districts and large towns. Mr. 

 J. E. Robson describes how, thirty years ago, the larvae were 

 to be found near Hartlepool on every bed of nettles. For 

 twenty-five years past he has not seen a larva, and the 

 butterfly, although an occasional visitor, has there become 

 very rare. The same may be said with regard to other 

 rapidly growing towns ; but probably the insect may be 

 found in some locality in every county in England and Wales, 

 and in at least the southern half of Scotland. The late Mr. 

 Thomas Chapman, of Glasgow, about the year 1860, found a 

 large brood of larvaB in the Isle of Arran, but this apfiears to 

 be, with Moray, its extreme northern limit. In Ireland, 

 Mr. Kane has taken it at Glengariff, and abundantly at 

 Killarney. It has also been taken at Galway, and formerly, 

 very rarely, at Belfast. 



5. V. Antiopa, L. — Expanse, 2i to '1\ inches. Blackish 

 chocolate, with broad white, or creamy, marginal band. 



Fore wings with hind margin hardly scalloped, but having a 

 broad blunt projection below the apex and a very faint one above 



