1 90 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



COMMA BUTTERFLY, scientifically termed C. Album, 

 or the White C. These names are given to the 

 insect because on the under 

 surface of the lower wings 

 there is a curved mark, very 

 much like the letter C in 

 shape, and of the purest white- 

 There is not the least diffi- 

 culty in identifying this insect, 

 even without taking the trouble 

 to inspect the under surface, 

 for both pairs of wings are so 

 Graptac. album. deeply scalloped that there is 



no possibility of mistake. The upper surface of the 

 wings is warm red-brown, mottled with black, both 

 the ground hue and the markings being subject to 

 considerable variation. 



A better known example of this family upon our list 

 is the GREAT TORTOISESHELL ( Vanessa polychloros). 



This handsome insect is well named, as its rich 

 mottlings of black and warm chestnut-brown bear no 

 small resemblance to the colours of the tortoiseshell. 

 In some parts of England this species is tolerably 

 common, while in others it is never found. 



It is common in Kent. Lieut-Col. C. J. Cox, 

 who has given great attention to this insect, told 

 me an anecdote of the mode in which it deposits 

 its eggs. He watched a female deposit an egg or 

 two on a leaf, and wishing to rear the insect from 

 the egg, he cut off the branch and removed it The 

 Butterfly, however, continued to fly up and down 



