CAMBER WELL BEAUTY. 169 



The caterpillar, like most of those belonging to 

 this genus, is gregarious, and consumes the foliage 

 of various trees, particularly the birch, willow, and 

 poplar. The colour of its body is black, with a se- 

 ries of spots along the back, and the eight interme 

 diate legs red. 



" This fine species," says Mr Curtis, " is render- 

 ed rare and remarkable in this country by its pe- 

 riodical appearance, the cause of which has never 

 hitherto been ascertained. The most probable con- 

 jecture is (as Mr Haworth has observed), that * then- 

 eggs in this climate, like the seeds of some vege- 

 tables, may occasionally lie dormant for several sea- 

 sons, and not hatch until some extraordinary but 

 undiscovered coincidence awake them into active 

 life.' Until four or five years since, V. Antiopa 

 had not been seen for nearly forty years, when it 

 was exceedingly abundant in different parts of the 

 kingdom. In the year 1819, a few were taken in 

 Suffolk, and Mr Samouelle captured one the follow- 

 ing spring that had lived through the winter, since 

 which period it has not been seen. It has received 

 its English name from having been first observed at 

 Camberwell, whither it might have been attracted 

 by willows, upon which the larvae feed. The but- 

 terfly is found in the beginning of August. It fre- 

 quents woods, and is strong and rapid in flight."* 



" This species has been once taken in Scotland, 

 near Beith in Ayrshire." James Wilson, Esq. 

 * British Entom. ii. 96. 



