THE BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY, 185 



drawing of a very well-known insect, the BRIMSTONE 

 BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni), the popular name 

 being derived from the beautiful deep yellow of the 

 male. The female is very much paler, as if the colour 

 had been washed out of her, and in both sexes 

 there is a little orange-red spot on each wing, the 

 position and shape of which are indicated in the illus- 

 tration. In this genus the wings are boldly angled at 

 their tips, from which circumstance the name of 

 Gonepteryx^ or * angle-winged,' has been given to it. 



Gonepteryx rhamni. 



This is one of our earliest Butterflies, sometimes 

 making its appearance even in winter, should the sun 

 happen to shine brightly. These early specimens are, 

 in fact, the Butterflies which are developed in the 

 autumn of the preceding year, and which had retired 

 to some secluded spot wherein to hibernate. The 

 warmth and light of a bright, sunshiny day awake 

 them from their torpor, and tempt them into the open 

 air. 



The larva of this Butterfly feeds on the buckthorn 

 (Rhamnus\ from which it derives its specific name of 

 Rhamni. The colour of the larva is green, but the 



