142 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



gave rise to the popular name of the butterfly. In the male they 

 are quite or nearly black, but those of the fore wings of the female 

 are decidedly brown in colour. At the terminations of the wing 

 rays there are triangular patches of dark scales, the bases of which 

 unite on the outer margins of the wings. 



Another peculiar feature of this insect is the scanty distribution 

 of scales on the wings. This is particularly so in the case of the 

 female, whose wings are semi-transparent in consequence. 



The butterfly is on the wing during June and July, at which 

 time its eggs are laid on the hawthorn (Cratcegus Oxyacantha) 

 or on fruit trees apple, pear and plum. 



A vigorous search of these trees in the proper localities may 

 reveal to you a nest of the gregarious larvae, all resting under the 

 cover of a common web of silk. These remain thus under their 

 silken tent throughout the hottest hours of the day, and venture out 

 to feed only during the early morning and in the evening. . 



When the leaves begin to fall in the autumn, they construct a 

 more substantial web to protect themselves from the dangers of the 

 winter, and in this they hybernate till the buds burst in the 

 following spring. They now venture out, at first during the mildest 

 days only, and feed voraciously on the young leaves, returning to 

 their homes to rest. Soon, however, they gradually lose their 

 social tendencies, till at last, when about half or three-quarters 

 fed, they become quite solitary in their habits. 



In May they are fully grown, and change to the chrysalis state 

 on the twiga of their food trees. 



The larva is black above, with two reddish stripes. The sides 

 and under surface are grey, the former being relieved by black 

 spiracles. 



The pupa (page 45) is greenish or yellowish white, striped with 

 bright yellow, and spotted with black. 



It is probable that the reader will never meet with this insect in 

 any of its stages. But, though it may have left us, it is still very 

 abundant on the Continent, where it does great damage to fruit 

 trees ; and the foreign pupae may be purchased of English 

 dealers. 



The Large White (Pieris Brassicce) 



We pass now from one of the rarest to one of the most abundant 

 of British butterflies. Everybody has seen the 'Large White,' 

 though we doubt whether everybody knows that this insect is not 



