168 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



tributed, indeed, are its localities, and so few, comparatively, its 

 appearances, that it would be useless to attempt to give any hints 

 as to where it may be looked for. It is, however, a very common 

 butterfly in many continental countries, and foreign specimens may 

 be obtained from any dealer in entomological wares for a few pence 

 each. 



This rare British gem is illustrated in fig. 2 of Plate IV. Here 

 it will be seen that nearly the whole of the surface is covered with 

 a rich velvety purple brown, bordered with a black band containing 

 blue spots ; and outside this is a border of white, finely dotted and 

 streaked with black. The continental specimens may be easily dis- 

 tinguished from the genuine Britishers by a darker border with a 

 decidedly yellow tinge. 



The eggs of this species are generally laid on the young leaves of 

 the willow (Salix alba}, in the spring, by females that have hyber- 

 nated, but sometimes the nettle (Urtica dioica) and the birch 

 (Betula alba) are selected for the food of the larvae. 



The caterpillar is black and spiny, and has a row of seven rather 

 large reddish-brown spots on the back, commencing at the fifth 

 segment. 



The chrysalis, like those of the other members of this family, 

 is angular and suspended by the ' tail.' The perfect insect appears 

 in August, and may be seen from that month till October. 



The Red Admiral (Vanessa Atalanta] 



There seems to be a tendency with many to under-estimate the 

 beauty of certain natural objects because they happen to be so very 

 common, and this is particularly the case with some of our most 

 familiar butterflies. The beautiful Red Admiral (Plate IV, fig. 3) 

 may possibly suffer in this respect ; for, not only is it one of the 

 commonest of our butterflies, but it fearlessly hovers among the 

 flowers of our gardens, often venturing into the very heart of thickly 

 populated towns. 



The bright scarlet bands and white blotches of this gorgeous 

 insect stand out boldly on the rich velvety black ground of the 

 wings, and the additional touches of blue in the anal angles of the 

 hind wings add to the effect. The under side of the fore wings is 

 somewhat similar to the upper surface, but is relieved by brown 

 and blue ; and this side of the hind wings presents most beautiful 

 and indescribable blendings of various shades of brown, grey, and 



