72 



SMALL TORTOLSE-SHELL. 



PLATE XXX. 



'Vanessa tirticcB, 

 Papilio itrticce, 



FaBEICIUS. OcirSENHEIMEE. STEPHENS. 



Duncan. Westwood. 

 Linnaeus. Lewin. Donovan. 

 Albin. Wilkes. 



This is one of our most coiiimon species, and therefore but 

 little thought of in comparison with others of greater rarity. 

 It is, however, a handsome insect, and in its general marki :gs 

 very much, resembles the Large Tortoise-shell, though the differ- 

 ence of colour instantaneously distinguishes the two. 



The perfect insect, there, being two broods, appears in the 

 beginning of July, and the latter end of August or September, 

 The second brood often survives the rigours of even our northern 

 winter, and is seen again the following spring, flitting gaily 

 among the early flowers of the garden, or along the grassy 

 "Banks and Braes;" and anon borne away by some fitful breeze 

 of the uncertain season. 



The caterpillar is to be found in the beginning of June, 

 and again in the middle of August. It is gregarious in its 

 habits, princijjally in the earlier stages of its groAvth. 



It feeds on the nettle. 



This butterfly varies in the expanse of its wings from an 

 inch and three quarters to two inches and a quarter; the 

 fore wings are of a rich red orange colour, but the base is 

 dark. There are three large black patches on their front edge, 

 and between these the ground colour is much paler than on 

 the general surface, being light yellowish orange; beyond the 

 outermost one is a white triangular-shaped mark. Near the 

 base of the middle part is a large irregular spot, and above 



