ROADSIDE LIFE. 



251 



margin of the fore wings is usually decidedly angular 

 or notched, as if a part had been cut away. A large 

 proportion of the species hibernate in the adult state, 

 and some of them are the first butterflies to appear 

 in the spring. The following are some of. our more 

 common species: — 



The red admiral, Vanessa atalanta {Va-nes'sa at-a- 

 lan'td). — The larva of this species feeds chiefly on 

 nettle and on 

 hop. The adult 

 is represented 

 by Fig. 224. 



The painted 

 beauty, Vanessa 

 hunter a ( V. hun'- 

 te-rci). — The up- 

 per surface of 

 this butterfly is 

 represented by 

 Fig. 225 ; on the lower surface there are two eye- 

 like spots on each hind wing. The larva feeds on 



everlasting {Gna- 

 phaliuni) and allied 

 plants. 



The cosmopoli- 

 tan butterfly, Va- 

 nessa cardui (V. ear'- 

 du-t). — This butter- 

 fly resembles the 

 preceding very 



closely in color and 

 markings, but can be distinguished by the fact that 

 on the lower surface of each hind wing there is a 

 17 



Fig. 224.— The red admiral. 



Fig. 225,— The painted beauty. 



