VANESSA. 101 



affects thistles and the nettle ; while the other three keep 

 almost entirely to the latter. All the caterpillars are some- 

 what conspicuous, and therefore readily found. They can 

 easily be reared, and imagines in perfect plumage may be 

 thus secured. But should several of the caterpillars be 

 seen with one intent hurriedly moving away from the 

 food-plants, let these be taken, for they are just on the 

 point of turning into chrysalides, and the perfect insect 

 may from them be obtained without the trouble of rearing 

 the caterpillars. 



The chrysalides of all the Vanessas are similar in form, 

 being very angular, and adorned with metallic, usually 

 golden, spots, whence the term chrysalis, derived from 

 a Greek word meaning "gold," was bestowed upon them, 

 and has been since extended to the pupae of all butter- 

 flies. The chrysalides of this genus are suspended by 

 their anal extremities, without any covering whatever to 

 protect them from the weather; indeed, such a covering 

 would be quite unnecessary, as the pupal state is passed 

 in the height of summer. 



The perfect insects are on the wing during the later 

 months of summer and the early autumn. As the cold 

 weather approaches, they retire to some sheltered spot, 

 and there hibernate during the winter, appearing again 

 towards the end of spring, when the eggs are laid 

 which are to produce the summer's brood. Often one 

 a Small Tortoiseshell especially that' has taken refuge 

 in the roof of some large building, is roused from its 

 winter's sleep, and flutters about quite out of place, 

 when the room has become unusually warm, may be on 

 the occasion of some Christmas festivity. 



On account of their ability to live through the winter, 

 we should look with peculiar favour on the Vanessas 

 and a few other butterflies that hibernate like them, for 



