PLATE XI. 
No. 1.—The Painted Lady Butterfly (Cynthia Cardui). No. 5.—The Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa Ata- 
No. 2.—The Painted Lady Butterfly, showing the lanta). 
under surface. No.6.—The Under surface of the Red Admiral 
No. 3.—The Caterpillar of the Painted Lady Butter- Butterfly. 
fly. No. 7.—The Caterpillar of the Red Admiral Butterfly. 
No. 4.—The Chrysalis of the Painted Lady Butterfly. No. 8.—The Chrysalis of the Red Admiral Buttertly. 
THE third Sub-Family of the Nymphalide is that of the Vunessidi, containing three 
tolerably distinct genera, all of which are included by some authors in the genus Vanessa. The 
present sub-divisions, into Cynthia, Vanessa, and Grapta, are founded upon pretty distinct char- 
acters. Cynthia has the club of the antenne shorter and the thickening more abrupt than in 
any other of the group ; and has, in the fringed margin of the anterior wings only a slight and 
graduated projection near the front angle. In the genus Vanessw this projection becomes more 
marked, and decidedly abrupt. In the genus Grapta the fore-wings have two such projections, 
both much more marked than in Vanessa. 
The genus Cynthia is distinguished, as above stated, by the abruptness of the clubs of the 
antenne, and by the comparative evenness of the outline of the fringed margin of the anterior 
wings. It is farther distinguished by the character of the palpi, which are somewhat deflexed 
and beak-like. In the Caterpillar and Chrysalis it closely resembles the true Vwnesse ; or, were 
it desirable to keep it separate from the Vanessw, on account of its affinities with its exotic 
congeners in the genus Cynthia, then, one would almost feel disposed to place V. Atulantu also 
in the genus Cynthia, as it only differs from it anatomically in the slightly greater angulation of 
the projection of the fore-wings, and in the somewhat more gradual formation of the clubs of 
the antenne, which appear rather specific than generic differences. J. Atuluntw is, moreover, 
as clearly separated from the Vunessw as C. Cardui is, by the entire absence of the tail-like pro- 
jection of the hind-wings, which distinguishes all the typical Vunessw. In order to exhibit the 
affinity of this species with Carduz, I have placed the representation of each on the same Plate, 
instead of grouping /’. Atalanta with others of the genus Vanessa, to which it is made to belong. 
Cynthia Cardui (the Painted Lady, No. 1). This species is remarkable for the irregularity 
of its appearance ; being seen in some seasons in tolerable abundance, especially in the metropo- 
litan counties, while at other times, for many consecutive years, scarcely a single specimen is to 
be found by the most persevering collectors. On the Continent its appearance seems to be 
equally capricious. In the Annales des Sciences Naturelles for 1828, as quoted by Mr. Westwood, 
an account is given of an extraordinary swarm which was noticed in the preceding Muay (the 
usual time of the appearance of this insect being August), the extent of which was so prodigious 
that it occupied several hours in passing over the place where it was observed. Similar swarms 
of the Common White Butterfly (Pieris Brassicw), and also of some other species, have been 
observed at different periods. I recollect the cliffs between Margate and Broadstairs being 
completely covered with a swarm of the last-named species, some few years ago. I observed 
them first in the morning, no trace of them haying existed the night before, and the following 
