NYMPHAI.ID.^.. 149 



November — though this is exceptional — and on the other 

 hand it is the last to reappear ; hot weather late in May will 

 sometimes bring it out, but as a general rule it is not to be 

 seen until June. It has then lost its familiarity and fondness 

 for gardens, and usually frequents trees ; but before the end of 

 the month its eggs are deposited, and its life is over. Although 

 so common, its favourite places of hybernation seem to be 

 almost unknown or unnoticed. 



Generally common throughout the United Kingdom, even 

 to the Orkney and Shetland Isles, but somewhat capricious, 

 as, for instance, the Rev. C. T. Cruttwell says, that it has 

 almost totally disappeared — doubtless only for a time — from 

 a most suitable and delightful neighbourhood, Denton, in 

 South Norfolk. Also absent or rare in some of the more 

 densely populated manufacturing districts, but otherwise not 

 averse to the outskirts of towns and cities. 



Widely distributed throughout the greater portion of 

 Europe, the north of Africa, Asia Minor, and even some parts 

 of North America, 



7. V. Cardui, L. — Expanse, 2 to 2f inches. Light red. 

 clouded with dark brown. Fore wings with white spots in the 

 apex. Hind wings with marginal rows of spots and crescents. 



Hind margins of all the wings scalloped and that of the 

 fore wings somewhat hollowed in the middle ; the hind wings 

 rounded. Light red, with the bases of all the wings golden 

 brown. Fore wings with an interrupted band of three, most 

 irregular, black spots before the middle ; the apical region, 

 from beyond the middle, blackish brown, and the hind margin 

 dark brown. In the dark apical region is a large white 

 costal spot, divided by two dark nervures, beyond it a row of 

 four smaller white spots, and beyond these a row of white 

 dashes before the hind margin ; cilia white, interrupted 

 with blackish. Hind wings having both costal and dorsal 

 margins broadly clouded from the base with blackish or 

 golden brown, and with a central irregular transverse stripe 

 of the same. Beyond this is a row of round black spots, 



