83 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



is nearly heart-shaped, and bears two large hairy tubercles, one 

 on each side, resembling ears. It is found in June and July, 

 and consumes the foliage of various trees, shrubs, and herba- 

 ceous plants, such as the elm, willow, currant, hazel, honey- 

 suckle, and common nettle. 



GENUS VANESSA. 



Vanessa, Fabr. in Illiger, Mag. Insekt., vi., p. 281 (18-7); 

 Latr., Enc. Me'th., ix., pp. 10, 291 (1819); Doubl., Gen. 

 Diurn. Lepid., p. 195 (1848); Schatz, Exot. Schmett, ii., 

 p. 124 (1887). 



Type, V. polychlorus (L.). 



Antennae, with the club gradually thickened and rather long, 

 the last joint short and obtuse. Palpi thickly clothed with 

 broad scales in front, and set with long stiff bristles all round ; 

 eyes hairy. Wings dentated, the fore- wings with a slight projec- 

 tion below the tip and with a slight concavity below, the inner 

 margin nearly straight ; hind-wings with a short projection in 

 the middle of the hind margin. 



Larvae gregarious, spiny, except on the first segment behind 

 the head ; pupa frequently metallic. 



This genus is peculiar to the northern hemisphere, and 

 though not very numerous in species, contains some of our 

 commonest and handsomest Butterflies, such as the Peacock 

 and the Tortoise-shells. Most of the species inhabit the tem- 

 perate climates of Europe, Asia, and America, but one or two 

 extend as far south as India, Ceylon, and the Malay Peninsula ; 

 as well as to Mexico in the New World. 



Most of the species appear in summer, and hibernate, reap- 

 pearing in spring, often in fairly good condition. 



