242 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



LEPIDOPTERA. NYMPHALIDJE. 



VANESSA. 



Generic Distinctions. See page 129. 



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

 the A dmirable. This insect is common in most parts of 

 England, 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 



