LARGE TOPPER. 221 



transverse series of simple black spots, beyond which 

 the colour is ash-grey, inclining to blue ; the under 

 wings are ash-coloured, slightly tinged with light blue, 

 and having a bright coppery band at the hinder mar- 

 gin, with a row of i'tack spots on each side of it ; be- 

 fore this there is an irregular row of black spots, 

 cinctured with bluish-white, then a transverse black 

 streak, and five remote black spots near the base. 

 The fringe round the external margin and abdominal 

 edge of the wings is white. 



The caterpillar is described to be of a green colour, 

 with white dots, and is said to feed on a kind of 

 dock. 



" This splendid species," says Mr Curtis, " was 

 first discovered in Wales by the celebrated botanist 

 Hudson. It has subsequently been captured in 

 considerable abundance by Messrs Standish, who 

 went to Wittlesea Meer, Huntingdonshire, in expec- 

 tation of finding it. They inform me that the end 

 of July is undoubtedly the right season for this in- 

 sect, although they met with it the beginning of 

 August, flying among reeds, about the centre of the 

 Meer near Yaxley ; that it is very active, and in 

 windy weather conceals itself amongst the highest 

 reeds. Upon these the caterpillar probably feeds, as 

 they found the butterfly upon that plant just emerg-eK 

 from the chrysalis, drying its wings.' * Donovan 

 states that the specimens from which his figures were 

 drawn, were obtained from Scotland. 



* British Entom vol. i. foL 12. 



