170 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



in July or August, when it suspends itself after the manner of the 

 other Vanessas previous to undergoing its changes , 



The chrysalis is angular, coloured with brown and grey, and 

 adorned with brilliant gold spots. 



The perfect insect may be seen at large throughout late summer 

 and the autumn, and the eggs are laid by females that survive the 

 winter. 



The White Admiral (Limenitis Sibylla) 



The White Admiral (Plate IV, fig. 5) is neither so pretty nor so 

 common as its red namesake, but it is nevertheless a fine insect, 

 although the chief beauty is reserved for the under surface. Above, 

 the ground colour is a very dark rusty brown, relieved by bands 

 and spots of white. The under surface is beautifully marked with 

 silvery blue, bright orange brown, and white, the latter being 

 arranged just like the corresponding colour on the upper side. 



It will be observed that this butterfly does not belong to the 

 Vanessa genus ; so, while we may look for family resemblances, 

 we shall observe a few features in which it differs from the preced- 

 ing species, 



It is not by any means abundant, being unknown in Scotland 

 and Ireland, and confined in England almost exclusively to the 

 oak woods of the south, where its food plant the honeysuckle 

 (Lonicera Periclymenum) abounds. Here it may be seen during 

 July, gracefully sailing among the trees and across the open spaces. 



The caterpillar is very different from those of the Vanessas. 

 Its colour is dark green, with a narrow white stripe along each 

 side. There are very conspicuous branched spines on the third and 

 two following segments, also on the eleventh and twelfth ; and 

 smaller spines on most of the others. All the spines are of a 

 brownish colour, with pink tips. While it is yet very small it pre- 

 pares its winter quarters by bending round the remains of a leaf on 

 which it has been feeding, securing the edges by silken threads, 

 and then binding it to the stem of the plant. Soon after, the petiole 

 becomes detached from the stem, and the little caterpillar then 

 rests suspended in its snug swinging cradle, where it remains 

 perfectly secure till the following April, when the warm sun calls 

 it out to feed on the opening leaves. It continues at this till about 

 the beginning of June, and then changes to a beautiful angular and 

 eared chrysalis, of a bright green colour, marked with brown, and 

 having brilliant silvery spots and streaks. 



