THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. 117 



in the centre of the wing are two pretty large sky 

 blue spots. The lower wings are of a pale reddish 

 brown, with the margins considerably indented, and 

 a deep, black, broad border, with sub-caudal wings. 

 There are on each of the lower wings a large oval 

 sequilaterous eyelet, of deep black, surrounded by an 

 ash-coloured ring, bounded on its outer extremity by 

 another ring of black : the spots on the centre are 

 deep blue, with a white semilunar one at top. 



This insect is subject to considerable variety, in 

 some of which the margins are deep brown. The 

 under side of this butterfly is almost entirely black. 



The caterpillars of the Papilio lo are produced from 

 eggs which are deposited in the spring of the year 

 on nettles. The larvas are of a fine deep black, thickly 

 beset with sharp spikes, and finely powdered with 

 minute white specks. The belly legs are of a tawny 

 brown, and the others black. They live in society, 

 and are seen in the early part of summer feeding on 

 nettles. Shortly after the little animals are hatched, 

 they begin to spin for themselves a large and com- 

 modious web, into which they fly for shelter on the 

 approach of rain, which the exquisite sensibility of 

 their nervous system enables them to foresee a con- 

 siderable time previous to its falling ; they therefore 

 may be depended on as excellent prognostics of 

 changes in the state of the atmosphere. They also 

 take refuge under this covering during the night. 



When they have attained their full growth, which 

 is about the beginning of July, they seek out some 

 proper place where they can safely assume their 



