DESCKIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 107 



The spiny larva is yellowish-grey, with a black dorsal 

 line and abroad brownish lateral stripe, below which there 

 is a yellowish line ; the third and fourth segments have 

 four spines, the fifth to twelfth have seven spines ; it 

 feeds gregariously on the tops of stinging nettles from 

 May to August. In some years there appears to be a 

 constant succession of the larvae. 



The perfect insect appears in June, and is then con- 

 stantly to be seen till the approach of winter ; it lives 

 through the winter, appearing in December and January 

 if the weather be sunny and warm enough ; in March, 

 April, and May it becomes of more frequent occurrence. 



With the exception of the common white butterflies, 

 this is the only butterfly that penetrates into the heart 

 of London and other large towns. I have frequently 

 seen it in the City. 



FAMILY II. NYMPH ALID/E. Subfamily Vanessidi. 

 GRAFT A C- ALBUM. THE. COMMA BUTTEEFLY. 



Formerly this was common in the Metropolitan dis- 

 trict, but now it is very rarely seen there. It still 

 occurs, however, at Dorchester, Bristol, Gloucester, 

 Worcester, Leominster, Burton-on-Trent, Wavendon 

 near Newport -Pagnel, Peterborough, York, and Carlisle ; 

 in some of these localities it is extremely plentiful. 



The expansion of the wings, which have a remarkably 

 jagged outline, is from about 2 to 2 inches. All the 

 wings are deep fulvous, with narrow dark brown mar- 

 gins, and with several black and brown spots of various 

 sizes ; the undersides are dusky-brown, but in the centre 

 of the underside of the hind- wing is a white mark like 

 the letter C. 



