148 LEPIDOPTERA. 



distinctive variation into the perfect state. Mr. Hawes remarks 

 that the young larvte live at the very top of the nettle plants, 

 and by close scrutiny may be found in some numbers very 

 near each other, though each in its own leaf. 

 July, August. 



Pupa somewhat plump and rounded ; pale brown ; head 

 with two short blunt divergent projections ; back of the 

 thorax rising sharply to a point, then falling in at the waist ; 

 abdomen swelling in a bold curve to the tail ; having a dorsal 

 row of six, and sub-dorsal rows of nine, knobs, all golden ; 

 and a golden spot at each side of the base of the abdomen. 



Sometimes suspended within the leaf chamber in which it 

 lived, but in other cases the larva wanders away ; and I have 

 found pupse attached to a stone wall. 



This brilliant and beautiful species is particularly fond of 

 gardens — to which it forms a most attractive ornament — and 

 may be found, until the latest sunny weather of the autumn, 

 frequenting various brilliant composite flowers, as well as 

 scabious, heliotrope, and verbena, for the sake of their nectar. 

 Late in the day it loves to bask on the sunny side of trees, 

 and is on the wing far later in the evening than the majority of 

 butterflies — later even than any other native species — instances 

 not being rare of its flying about trees quite in the twilight, or 

 even being attracted by, and settling upon, gas lamps when 

 lighted. An instance has even been known of its coming to 

 a brightly lighted window an hour after dark, but this would 

 in all probability arise from the light having disturbed it in 

 its roosting place in a tree. It is exceedingly fond of the 

 sap exuding from an injured tree, and the sight of dozens or 

 scores of these biilliant insects flying about such a tree is 

 quite exhilarating. Blossoming ivy, in large masses, will some- 

 times furnish a similar lively spectacle, while fallen plums in 

 an orchard are by no means despised. It is quite the latest 

 species, with us, to retire for hybernation — I have seen it 

 upon the wing until the end of October, and even into 



