70 LARGE TORTOISE-SHELL. 



survive tlirougli the vmgenial season, "vvlien the stormy winds 

 do blow/' and re-appear for a time the following spring. It is 

 rather uncertain in its appearance, being much more plentiful 

 some years than others; but indeed with what insect is this 

 not the case? 



The caterpillar feeds on the elm, and at first the whole brood 

 are gregarious, being associated together until their first change 

 of skin, under a common web. 



The wings measure from two inches and a quarter to three 

 inches in expanse. The fore wings are fine rich orange brown, 

 dusky at the base. They have four black patches of different 

 sizes on the front edge, the farthest forming the commencement 

 of a streak, which follows the windings of the margin of the 

 side at a little distance within it. The margin itself is also 

 dark. The next patch is the head also of a line of dots, four 

 or five in number, across the wing, running inwards, the lowest 

 being a large one, and between it and the streak already 

 spoken of is another dot. The hind wings are of the same 

 fulvous colour as the upjjer ones, but their inner portion is 

 more extensively dusky. There is a large triangular-shaped 

 black patch at the centre of their upper edge, forming indeed 

 the boundary of the dusky part. Their outer edge is indented 

 and paler than the rest, and within it is a furbelow of dark 

 blue crescents, ending above in blackish, margined with a 

 blackish blue one, the middle ones being the largest, and the 

 horns of the crescents runninsr throua^h the maroin to the ex- 

 tremity of the wing. 



Underneath, the fore wings are dull brown, dark at the base, 

 then lighter, and then darker again, edged interiorly with very 

 dark blue at the central and lower part of the outside, the 

 light part thus assuming the form of a band. The hind "wings 

 are marked precisely in the same way, the dark and light parts 

 being continuations of those on the fore wings. There is a 

 small white dot near the centre, in the outer part of the dark 

 base. 



The caterpillar is blackish or brownish, Avith a yellow line 

 along the side, and yellow spines. 



