VANESSA POLYCHLOROS. 105 



along the hind-margin of the wings. The fore-wings 

 have seven dark brown spots ; the hind-wings have 

 three brown spots near the base, and an extra band 

 of brown. The under-surface (Fig. 98), which is 

 mottled with brown, has on each hind-wing a white 

 mark resembling a comma or C, which gives the 

 insect its name. Some specimens have a pale ochreous 

 ground-colour to the under-surface, while others have it 

 dark grey. The former may belong to the suspected early 

 brood. 



V. polychloros, Linn. (Large Tortoiseshell, or Elm 

 Butterfly) (Figs. 102 to 105), is one of our larger and 

 finer butterflies, not so gorgeous indeed as some, but suffi- 

 ciently striking and handsome nevertheless. It is widely 

 but very sparingly distributed through England and Wales, 

 and has been taken in Scotland near Melrose, in Kincar- 

 dineshire, in Aberdeenshire, and in Argyll, at least. It 

 would be of little use to give localities in England, but 

 it may be noted that the Large Tortoiseshell is considered 

 to occur in the East and in the Midlands more abundantly 

 than elsewhere. It must, however, in any case be looked 

 upon as one of our scarcer butterflies. 



The eggs are laid in May on a considerable number 

 of different trees, the Elm (Ulmus) of one species or 

 other being that usually selected. Other food-plants 

 mentioned by various authorities are Sallow, Willow, and 

 more than one species of osier, all belonging to the genus 

 SaliX) the Aspen (Populus trcmula), the Cherry (Prunus 

 cerasus), and two Pears, the White Beam-tree (Pyrus Aria) 

 and the Common Pear (Pyrus communis). The larvae 

 are full-fed soon after the middle of June and the 

 imagines are out about mid-July. They retire early in the 

 autumn to hibernate for the winter, and reappear about 

 May or a little earlier. 



