8 BRIMSTONE. 



There are two broods, one in May, the other in the autumn. Many 

 of the autumnal brood live through the winter, and are to be seen 

 in the spring even so early sometimes as February and March, called 

 forth from their retreats by the heat of the returning sun. 



The Brimstone is a very discursive insect, and is to be found in 

 gardens, lanes, and fields, especially in those in which clover is 

 grown. 



The caterpillar feeds on the buckthorn, fRhamnus catharticus ; J the 

 berry-bearing alder, fRhamnus frangulus ; J and the broad-leaved 

 buckthorn, (Wiamnus alaternus.J 



The expanse of the wings in this species varies from rather more 

 than two inches to three inches and a half. In the male the whole of 

 the upper wings is a splendid sulphur yellow colour, with an 

 orange spot above the centre of the fore wings, and a larger one 

 similarly on the hinder wings. A line of the same colour, enlarged 

 here and there into a minute dot, borders the upper corners of the 

 fore wings; underneath, the colour is much fainter, with a cast of 

 green in it: the spot is replaced by a ferruginous dot, whitish in the 

 centre, between which and the margin spoken of is a row of brownish 

 dots. 



The female is much paler in colour, resembling more that of the 

 under side of the male. 



The caterpillar is green, dotted or irrorated on the back with black; 

 there is a pale green or whitish line on each side, shading off on the 

 upper edge into the green of the rest of the body. 



The chrysalis is green, with several reddish dots. It is thickest in 

 the middle, tapering off in front. It is suspended by the tail in an 

 upright position, and retained by a silken thread round the middle of 

 the body. Found July 10th. The chrysalis state lasts about a fortnight, 

 for example, one from July 26th. to August 8th. 



A variety, described as a separate species, by the name of "Gonep- 

 teryx Cleopatra,' has the upj)er wings more or less variegated with 

 orange. One of these was taken by John FuUerton, Esq., at Thrybergb 

 Park, near Rotherham, June 2Tth., 1860. 



The engraving is from specimens in my own collection. 



