400 INSECTS AT HOME. 



admiration of all collectors. As it is plentiful, it is only 

 admired by those who value Nature for her own sake, and 

 not for the sake of mere rarity. Being one of the latter kind, I 

 have a most enthusiastic admiration for the Red Admiral, and 

 am never tired of examining it in the cabinet, or watching it 

 as it flits at liberty in the open air, with the graceful flight 

 that has earned for the insect the name of Atalanta. 



The larva of this Butterfly is a nettle-feeder, and is quite 

 common. It is not, however, so often seen as that of the 

 Tortoiseshell Butterfly, as it always feeds in concealment, 

 making a shelter by drawing together with silk the leaves of 

 the plant on which it feeds. 



Even when it has ceased eating, and is about to pass into the 

 pupal state, it has the instinct of concealment strong upon it, 

 and ensures a convenient retreat by nibbling the stalk of the 

 nettle nearly asunder, some four or five inches from the top. 

 The severed portion, of course, falls over, and is spun up with 

 silk so as to leave a hollow cavity within which the caterpillar 

 can undergo its changes. The chrysalis, which may be found 

 at the end of summer, is suspended by its tail from the roof 

 of this habitation, and there hangs until the pei'fect insect 

 makes its escape. This chrysalis, like that of the preceding 

 insect, is adorned with brilliant golden patches on the sides, 

 and its general colour is warm grey, mottled with black. 



Mr. Newman mentions that he has captured the Atalanta at 

 night, as it was feeding on the sugar which had been laid 

 out for the purpose of attracting moths. I am not aware that 

 any other Butterfly has been known to depart so greatly from 

 the usual day-flying habits of the group. As in the case with 

 other insects of the same genus, though the Butterflies are 

 developed in the autumn, the two sexes take no notice of each 

 other until the following year, but occupy themselves with 

 flitting about from flower to flower, and in sucking their 

 sweet juices. During the winter they hibernate, and at the 

 beginning of the following summer they seek their mates and 

 lay their eggs, from which the future brood is to proceed. 



In consequence of this habit, those specimens which appear 

 at the beginning of summer are never in fine condition as to 

 their plumage, their wings being battered and faded dm-ingthe 

 previous year. Those, however, which make their appearance 



