BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS IN AUTUMN 55 



when we wander out into the lanes. But in the case of the 

 peacock's tail, for example, it can scarcely be supposed that 

 the effect of all these eyes is to multiply terror in the 

 beholder, as well as to fulfil the other traditional purpose of 

 exciting the admiration of the peahen. It is also very 

 doubtful whether its similar markings protect the peacock 

 butterfly. Its chief enemies are flycatching birds ; and 

 both the spotted flycatcher and the sparrow occasionally 

 hunt a peacock butterfly across the garden with no sign 

 of alarm, though the butterfly usually escapes from them by 

 sheer size and speed and agility of flight. Protection may 

 be an occasional effect of this eye-pattern in Nature ; but it 

 certainly does not appear to supply the main thread or purpose 

 of its development. 



The other British Vanessae are the red admiral, painted 

 lady, comma, and Camberwell beauty. The last species is 

 very seldom seen in 

 this country, though it 

 is a common garden 

 butterfly in most parts 

 of the Continent. Its 

 caterpillar or chrysalis 

 has never been found 

 here, though a few 

 winged specimens have 

 been caught when they 

 had apparently only 

 just left the chrysalis. 



Probably many of the specimens seen in England have 

 travelled from the Continent ; it is certain that large 

 swarms of painted ladies arrive from time to time in this 

 way. Painted ladies are exceedingly common in some 

 summers, and very scarce in others ; their numbers are 



PAINTED LADY 



