POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



VANESSA. 

 Generic Distinctions. See page 129. 



VANESSA ATALANTA. (Plate VII.) Red Admiral, or the 

 Admirable. This insect is common in most parts of Eng- 

 land, and in Scotland, where it is said to appear as early as 

 July. The surface is a deep glossy black, the superior wings 

 having a broad band of red running from the anterior margin 

 obliquely across the surface nearly to the hinder edge, where 

 it curves inwards ; beyond, there are six white spots and a 

 faint blue stripe ; the under wings have a wide red border, 

 on which there is a series of small black spots, and two 

 patches of blue at the inner angle; on the under side of the 

 anterior wings the band is ochreous-red ; towards the base 

 of the wings there is a waved streak of blue, and two others 

 of red, one of which is united to the central band ; beyond 

 the latter are two blue stripes, and the tip of the wings is 

 tawny, with two small white spots; the hinder wings are 

 marked with undulating lines and spots, composed of brown, 

 black, and grey, with a yellowish tinge. The caterpillar is 

 greenish- black, with a line of yellow on each side, and feeds 

 on the nettle, preferring the seed to the leaves ; it usually 



