276 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



This Butterfly measures from 2*4 to 3^ inches across the 

 wings. It is yellowish-white, with seven black streaks running 

 from the costa of the fore-wings, the first basal divided by a 

 pale line, the third and fifth short, the rest crossing the wing, 

 or nearly so, the two last being close together, and the last 

 marginal. The hind-wings are dentated and tailed, the inner- 

 margin is dusky, and there is a black streak from the costa to 

 the eye-spot, which is situated on the inner-margin towards the 

 anal angle, and is black, with a large blue pupil, and is sur- 

 mounted by an orange stripe, bordered above with yellow. 

 There is a festooned black marginal line, enclosing blue lunules, 

 and the space between this and the eye-spot is also blackish, 

 except a patch of yellow below the eye ; the incisions, and 

 tip of the slender tail, are also yellow. On the under side, the 

 hind-wings are lighter, and the principal black streak is double, 

 and intersected by a yellowish line. 



The larva is thickest just before the middle, tapering most 

 behind. It is smooth and green, dotted with red, with yel- 

 lowish-white lines and intermediate oblique streaks. It feeds 

 on almond, sloe, plum, apple, pear, and oak in June and Sep- 

 tember, but seems to prefer the sloe. The pupa is pale yellow. 



The Butterfly is double-brooded, being found from May to 

 August. It is far less widely distributed than Achiviis viachaon, 

 inhabiting Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, and 

 Western Asia as far as Persia and the Altai. Spanish speci- 

 mens are whiter, with broader dark markings, and are called /. 

 feisthamelii. In France it is known as "Le Flambe," from the 

 flame-like shape of its markings, and in Germany as the " Segel- 

 falter" or Sail-Butterfly, either from its sail-like wings, or from 

 its sailing flight. In Holland, North-Western Germany, and 

 on the north coast of Germany it is either absent or extremely 

 rare ; and although it is traditionally a British insect, it seems 

 to have disappeared about the time that entomology began to 



