62 



BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



Forres, but except in the very soulh is a rave 

 butterfly in Scotland." It is present in 

 every English list i have received, and scarcely 

 a correspondent has thought it worth his while 

 to make any observation on its abundance or 



rarity. It has no predilection for particular 

 situations, except as attracted by flowers, and 

 in the country those of teasels and thistles, 

 and in gardens those of Michaelmas daisies 

 see in especial favourites. 



16. Red Admiral (Pyraineis Atalanta). Upper side. 



Under side. 



16. RED ADMIRAL The hind margin of 

 the fore wings only is angled, and these very 

 obtusely ; all the wings are scalloped ; the 

 colour is intense velvety black ; the fore wings 

 have a transverse oblique scarlet band from 

 the middle of the costal margin to the anal 

 angle ; the females have a small round white 

 spot in this band ; beyond this band and 

 nearer the tip of the wing are six snowy- 

 white spots of different size and shape ; the 

 hind wings have a scarlet band on the hind 

 margin, and in this band are four black spots 

 and one long blue spot at the anal angle. The 

 under side presents such a beautiful combina- 



tion and blendings of grays, pinks, and 

 'browns as Nature only can produce and words 

 cannot describe. My artist and engraver 

 have exerted themselves to the utmost to pro- 

 duce a faithful representation of this wonder- 

 ful object, and have succeeded as well as 

 human hands can succeed. 



LIFE HISTORY. The EGG is solitary, laid in 

 May and June, here and there, on the leaves 

 of the stinging-nettle ( Urtica dioica) : almost 

 immediately after emerging from the egg the 

 little CATERPILLAR draws together the leaves of 

 the nettle, and feeds in concealment; as it 

 increases in size it requires more space, and 



