SMALL TORTOISESHELL. 91 



THE SMALL TOETOISESHELL BUTTEEELY. 

 (Vanessa Urticce.) (Plate IX. fig. 2.) 



THIS pretty species is much commoner than the last, 

 being, in fact, the most plentiful of all the genus, and 

 found everywhere, in gardens, by weedy road-sides and 

 waste grounds, &c. 



Its markings are very similar to those of the last, but 

 the colouring is much more gay and brilliant. 



The distinguishing mark of this species the pos- 

 session of a pure white spot near the upper corner of 

 the front wing has been already pointed out under 

 F. Polychloros. 



The blue crescent-spots of the border are much more 

 marked than in the last, and extend along the edge of 

 the front wing. The orange colour also approaches a 

 scarlet, and the yellow spots have a brighter hue than 

 in Polychloros. 



The caterpillar, which is found feeding in large com- 

 panies on the nettle, is of greyish colour, with a black 

 line on the back, and brown and yellow stripes on the 

 sides. Thorny, like rest of the genus. 



The chrysalis is generally of a brown hue, spotted 

 with gold, but I have seen it gilded all over, making a 

 very splendid appearance. 



Hybernated individuals of this butterfly are seen 

 during the spring months, but the first emergence 

 from the chrysalis takes place in June, and the insect 

 is seen on the wing constantly from that time till 

 October. 



The following interesting notice of the capture of a 

 swarm of these butterflies in mid-winter, is quoted, 

 from the Zoologist, p. 5000. The writer is a Mr. 

 Banning, resident near Ballacraine, in the Isle of 

 Man : 



" Whilst standing in my farm-yard on the day fol- 

 lowing Christmas-day (1855), it being unusually fine 

 and warm, I was suddenly astonished by the fall of 



