118 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



species of thistle, but sometimes also on the nettle and 

 other plants. 



The chrysalis is brown and grey, with silver spots. 



The butterfly first appears about the end of July, and 

 is seen till the end of September, and occasionally in 

 October. I took a beautiful fresh specimen in October, 

 while strolling through a nursery garden at Wands- 

 worth. 



Those seen in early spring are hibernated specimens. 



The appearance of this butterfly in any given locality 

 is a matter of great uncertainty, though it capriciously 

 visits, and even abounds occasionally in almost every 

 place. 



It is a bold insect, and, though agile in its move- 

 ments, not difficult to catch, for, if disturbed or missed 

 at the first stroke, it returns to the charge quite fear- 

 lessly. 



THE EED ADMIEAL. 

 (Vanessa Atalanta.) (Plate VIII. fig. 1.) 



IN grand simplicity and vividness of colour, the Eed 

 Admiral perhaps surpasses every other British butter- 

 fly, and reminds one forcibly of some of the gorgeous 

 denizens of the tropics. Intense black and brilliant 

 scarlet in bands and borders are the two chief elements 



