64 LARGE TORTOISE-SHELL. 



ungenial season, " when 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 upper 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 running through the margin to the extremity 

 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 cateipillar is blackish or brownish, vvitii a yellow line along the 

 side, and yellow spines. 



The chrysalis is rather dark greenish brown, with small golden spots. 

 It is frequently found beneath the coping of walls, underneath the trees 

 on which the larva has fed, as well as attached to the tree itself. 



There are several varieties of this species, the black markings being 

 more or less difi'used. 



The figure is taken from one in my own cabinet. 



