94 LLOYD S NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Butterfly, which measures three inches across the wings, 

 is of a deep purplish-chocolate colour, with the hind margins 

 broadly white (or yellow in Continental anJ American speci- 

 mens). Within this pale border runs a broad black band con- 

 taining a row of large blue spots ; and within the band there 

 are two short white (or yellow) streaks on the costa of the fore- 

 wings. The under surface is of a deep dead black, relieved only 

 by the white border and the white marks on the costa of the 

 fore-wings. The Butterfly appears in July and August, and 

 hibernates, so that it may be found again in spring. 



The larva, like the other species of the genus, is gregarious, 

 feeding on willow, birch, and poplar in summer. It is black 

 and very spiny, with a row of large red spots on the back, 

 intersected by a black line, and the legs are red. 



No other species is known which closely resembles V. antiopa^ 

 though its black under surface recalls that of V. io. 



In Germany it is called " Trauermantel," and hence some 

 of the American entomologists give it the name of the " Mourn- 

 ing Cloak." 



Haworth in his " Lepidoptera Britannica," p. 28, remarks re- 

 specting the irregular appearance of V. antiopa, and of other 

 Butterflies : " There is something very extraordinary in the 

 periodical but irregular appearance of this species, as well as 

 of Papilio edusa and P. cardui. They are plentiful all over 

 the kingdom in some years ; after which P. antiopa in par- 

 ticular will not be seen by anyone for eight or ten or more 

 years, and then appear again as plentiful as before. To sup- 

 pose they come from the Continent is an idle conjecture ; 

 because the English specimens are easily distinguished from 

 all others by the superior whiteness of their borders. Perhaps 

 their eggs, in this climate, like the seeds of some vegetables, 

 may occasionally lie dormant for several seasons, and not hatch 

 until some extraordinary but unforeseen circumstance awakes 

 them into active life." 



