GREAT TORTOISE-SHELL. 163 



undulating lines of brown, and an obscure row of 

 bluish crescents towards the tip. Three pale spots 

 are observable on the anterior part of the upper 

 wings, and one near tne middle of the hinder pair. 



" The caterpillar is bluish or brownish, with a 

 lateral stripe of orange ; the spines are slightly 

 branched and yellowish. While young, these larva? 

 live together under a silken web, which they spin 

 for their protection ; but they disperse after they 

 have changed their first skin. They feed on the 

 willow and elm, and also on some kinds of fruit- 

 trees, particularly the cherry. The chrysalis is 

 flesh-coloured, with golden spots near the neck."* 



Although abundant in most parts of the conti- 

 nent of Europe, the Great Tortoise- Shell (or Elrn 

 Butterfly, as it is sometimes called), cannot be rank- 

 ed among the most common of our day-flying Le- 

 pidoptera; at least, it is scarce in many districts, 

 and appears in plenty in others only in certain years. 

 It occurs in all the southern counties of England, 

 and in the Isle of Wight ; we have traced it as far 

 north as Dunkeld, and have seen notices of its ha- 

 ving been frequently observed in many of the inter- 

 mediate counties. There seems to be but one flight 

 in the season, which usually takes place about the 

 middle of July. On the Continent, it appears both 

 in spring and towards the close of summer. 

 * Encyclop. Methodique : Papillon, p. 305, 



