201 



THE SMALL COPPER BUTTERFLY. 



Papilio Virgaurea. 



PLATE XLVII. 



Papilio Virgaurese, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 793, No. 263 



Donovan's Br. Ins. pi. 172. 



THE wings are angulated, the upper side of a fine 

 brown, or red copper colour, with a black margin ; 

 under side, light brown, with several white spots, 

 some having a black spot near the centre. 



A specimen of this rare insect has been taken at 

 Cambridge. It has always had a place in the cabinets 

 of the principal English collectors ; but we cannot 

 learn by whom it was first discovered in this country. 

 This and the Hippothae have been frequently con- 

 founded with each other ; but, on comparison, a 

 material difference will be discovered. 



Harris has made one error, which is of importance 

 to the English collector to correct ; he says, " the 

 Papilio virgaurece, copper, feeds on grass, found in 

 June and August in meadows ; is shining copper, 

 spotted with black." From this it appears he could 

 mean no other than the common Copper Butterfly, 

 which is found in June and August in meadows. 





