294 . LEPIDOPTERA. 



Cynthia Atalanta, L. Atalanta Butterfly. (Fig. 120.) 



Wings black above, spotted with white near the tips of 

 the first pair, on which is also an orange-red band across 

 the middle; hind wings with a marginal orange-red band, 



Fig. 120. 



on which is a row of black dots, the two nearest to the hind 

 angle having a pale blue centre. 



Expands from 2J to 3 inches. 



The Atalanta butterfly was probably introduced into 

 America from Europe with the common nettle, which it in- 

 habits. It deposits its eggs in May upon the youngest and 

 smallest leaves of this plant, being cautious to drop only 

 one upon a single leaf. The young caterpillar is guarded 

 against injury from the poisonous prickles of the leaf by the 

 numerous branching spines with which it is covered, and 

 which, being longer than the prickles, prevent its body 

 from coming in contact with the latter. The head is cov- 

 ered with a tough shell, which sufficiently protects this part, 

 while its strong and horny jaws are adapted for cutting 

 and chewing the leaves and their prickles with impunity. 

 As soon as the caterpillar is hatched, it spins a little web 

 to cover itself, securing the threads all around to the edges 

 of the leaf, so as to bend upwards the sides and form a 

 kind of trough, in which it remains concealed. One end 

 of the cavity is open, and through this the caterpillar thrusts 



