65 



SMALL TORTOISE-SHELL. 



PLATE XXX. 



Vanessa urlica. Fabricius. Ochsenheimer. Stephens. 



" " Duncan. Westwood. 



Papilio urlicw, Linn^us. Lewin. Donovan. 



" " Albin. Wilkes. 



This is one of our most common species, and therefore but little 

 thought of in comparison with others of greater rarity. It is, however, 

 a handsome insect, and in its general markings very much resembles 

 the Large Tortoise-shell, though the difference of colour instantaneously 

 distinguishes the two. 



It is plentiful at Brighton, Charmouth, Anstey, Bisterne, Heme Bay, 

 and Broomsgrove, etc. 



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

 June and beginning of July, and the latter end of August or Septem- 

 ber. 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 fltful 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, principally in 

 the earlier stages of its growth. 



It feeds on the nettle. 



This butterfly varies in the expanse of its wings lioni 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 this iu 

 the direction of the outer corner, two smaller ones; the outer edge is 



K 



