VANESSA ANTIOPA. 113 



twenty-eight, half being in the Home Counties Essex, 

 Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent and one in Oxon, which 

 has not yet been mentioned; in 1881, five, three of 

 them being in Middlesex; in 1882 and 1883, none; in 

 1884, three, one being in Dorset; in 1885, three; in 

 1886, one; in 1887, three; in 1888, eleven; in 1889, 

 seven; in 1890, none; and in 1891 and 1892, one each. 

 From the returns furnished it would seem therefore that 

 the counties most favoured by this exquisite butterfly 

 have been Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hants, Sussex, Middlesex, 

 Yorks, Cambs, and Norfolk ; while Westmoreland, Salop, 

 Rutland, Hereford, Northants, Bedford, Monmouth, and 

 Wilts have been entirely unrepresented. 



Antiopa may appear at most unlikely times and in 

 most unexpected places. It sometimes feeds at night, 

 for records exist of its having been taken both at sallows 

 and at sugar. One of the characteristics of this butterfly 

 is a decided partiality for ripe fruit, for it has been found 

 feeding on ripe gooseberries, plums, pears, peaches, and 

 greengages at least. Like some others of its kind it has 

 been seen to settle on a freshly-watered road ; while a 

 manure-heap and dried cow-droppings as well as trees 

 affected by the larvae of the Goat-moth (Cossus ligniperdd) 

 have lured it to its doom. Antiopa is by no means shy 

 of visiting our streets, and even here its fondness for 

 things sweet has not deserted it, for the attraction of a 

 stray sugar-tub or an empty rum-cask has afforded its 

 pursuer opportunity to approach. 



In spring after the winter's sleep is over the eggs of 

 this butterfly are laid on the White Willow (Salix alba), 

 and occasionally on the Birch (Betula alba) and Nettle 

 (Urtica dioica). The larvae are found in June and July, 

 the pupae in July, and the imagines from August. 



The larva (Fig. 115) is about ifin. in length and has 



i 



