96 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



are several blue markings. The under surface of all the wings 

 is of a deep dead black, as in V. antiopa. The Butterfly 

 appears in summer and autumn, and hibernates, reappearing 

 in spring. 



The caterpillar, which feeds on the two common species of 

 stinging nettle in summer, is black and very spiny. It is 

 dotted with white, and the fore-legs are red. 



This Butterfly has no resemblance to any other known 

 species on the upper surface, but in the black under side it 

 shows a certain affinity to V. antiopa. 



GENUS PYRAMEIS. 



Pyrameis, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett, p. 33 (1816); Uoubl., 

 Gen. Diurn. Lepid., p. 202 (1849); Schatz, Exot. Schmett., 

 ii., p. 125 (1887). 



Type, P. atalanta (Linn.). 



Antennae with the club short, and pointed at the end ; palpi 

 long, gradually narrowed to a point, and clothed with soft and 

 short hair ; wings regularly denticulated ; fore-wings some- 

 times with a slight projection below the tip, the hind-margin 

 below very slightly concave ; inner margin nearly straight ; 

 hind-wings with the hind-margin rounded, and without projec- 

 tions. Larva spiny. 



This genus is not numerous in species, but they have all 

 a strong family likeness, and belong to two groups represented 

 by our common British Butterflies, the Red Admiral and the 

 Painted Lady. Both of these are insects of very wide distri- 

 bution, but the other species of Pyrameis are found isolated 

 in widely separated parts of the world, the largest and hand- 

 somest being from the Sandwich Islands and New Zealand. 



Our species hibernate occasionally, but not habitually, and 

 therefore are much less frequently met with in spring than in 

 summer and autumn. 



