TORTOISE-SHELL BUTTERFLY. 43 



here do her " golden pinions ope and close," as if she designed 

 to enhance their living splendour by contrast with the death- 

 like branches. Well! be thou Butterfly of " devil" or of 

 " witch," as our brethren of Scotland are wont to call thee (we 

 suppose for thy winter-braving hardihood), thou art a glorious 

 creature, and thy tamer name of " little Tortoise-shell" does 

 but sorry justice to thy glowing beauty. 



This " little Tortoise-shell" which, in common with others of 

 her hardy sisterhood, has survived the winter, her radiant robes 

 laid up in ivy or some other close green wardrobe, belongs to 

 the beautiful genus " Vanessa" or Fan-winged Butterflies, 

 which, while in their state of spiny Caterpillars, feed for the 

 most part upon nettles. They are distinguished by their warm 

 rich colours, their angular scalloped wings, with points at the 

 hinder margin, and the shortness of their fore-legs, which do 

 not serve the purpose of walking. 





9!n tfje apparent beatfj of tointer. 



