Tortoise-shell Butterfly. 



585 



TORTOISE-SHELL BUTTERFLY. 

 (Vanessa urticce.) 



THE Caterpillar, which feeds on the nettle, is about an 

 inch in length, covered with bristles, and of a reddish 

 brown colour. After having changed its skin three times 

 when in the shape of a Caterpillar, it crawls up to a 

 branchiDg part of the stalk; and, hanging itself by the 

 hinder part or tail, swells and bursts in such a curious 

 way, that the Caterpillar's skin drops to the ground, 

 and the chrysalis, or aurelia, remains suspended; till 

 after a fortnight of torpor it bursts its skin again, and 

 escapes into the air, under the beautiful form of a 

 variegated Butterfly. The golden line which shines 

 through the pupa case of this Butterfly is supposed to 

 have suggested the words chrysalis and aurelia, both of 

 which signify golden. The wings of the perfect insect 

 are about two inches in extent, of a deep orange colour 

 above, and their base and hinder margin black, with a 

 series of blue crescents. These Butterflies, which are 

 very common in England, appear in spring, and at the 

 end of June and beginning of September. 



