78 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



from the end of April till the end of May, and sulphur-coloured in 

 some other species. 



One species, extremely common, which appears with but short 

 interruption from the beginning of spring till the end of autumn, is 

 the Brimstone Butterfly {Rhodocera \Gonepteryx\ rhamni). The wings 

 are a lemon yellow, with an orange-coloured spot in the middle of 

 each, and the front border terminated in a series of very small iron- 

 coloured spots. The body of the butterfly is black with silvery hairs. 



Fig. 148. — Thecla betula;. 



The Colias edusa^ or Clouded-yellow, so called from the colour of 

 the upper part of its wings, is not uncommon in meadows and fields 

 in early autumn throughout Europe. The upper side of the wings is 

 of a marigold yellow ; the upper ones having towards the middle a 

 large spot of black. At the extremity of each wing is a broad black 

 band, continuous in the case of the male, interrupted by yellow spots 

 in the female. The back of the body is yellow ; the legs, as well as 

 the antennae, rosy. 



The family of the LyciBuidce comprises a great number of species, 

 some of which we will mention. 



The Thedce, or Hair-streaks, which the French call Petits Forte- 

 queues^ on account of the tails which grace the hind margin of the hind 

 wings, inhabit woods, their larvae feeding, according to the species, on 

 the birch, the oak^ the plum-tree, the bramble, &c. 



The Thecla betuhe (Fig. 148), or Brown Hair-streak, is somewhat 

 rare in Great Britain. 



