188 PEACOCK'S EYE AND ALDERMAN. 



points, is, like the last, a feeder on the nettle, and is found, 

 commonly in July, throughout the south of England. An old 

 naturalist styles this lo-Butterfly, the Omnium Regina, and 

 she well deserves the title. The above is an autumn Butterfly, 

 and so also is the Vanessa Atalanta, known, likewise, as the 

 " Alderman," the " Admiral," and the " Admirable ;" l and 

 admirable truly are the " colours " displayed by this " Admiral 

 of the Red," as he proudly unfurls them in the August or 

 September sun, and challenges the autumn flowers to eclipse 

 his glory. Nor is there one among them neither velvet 

 dahlia, nor golden mary-flower, nor many-coloured-aster, 

 which can boast of hues at once so rich and varied. The deep 

 black of his upper wings is enlivened by a broad cross band 

 of brilliant scarlet, white spots, and a scalloped edging of the 

 same ; while on the secondary pinions the scarlet, which 

 instead of a bar forms a border, is enriched by a line of 

 black spots, a black and white scalloped edging, and a small 

 blue crescent at the inner extremity of both wings. Their 

 under surface, if less rich, is even more varied in colour, and 

 more finely pencilled than the upper. 



The caterpillar of this beautiful insect, which is greenish 

 black and spiny, is a solitary feeder on the nettle, found not 

 uncommonly in July and August. By means of a silken 

 thread he draws together, edge to edge, a single leaf, out of 

 which he thus forms himself a temporary tent or case, with 

 openings at either end which go on widening before the jaws 

 of its occupants. When he has thus fairly " eaten himself out 

 of house and home," he betakes himself to another leafy abode 

 of similar construction. This " Alderman " caterpillar is found 

 sometimes feasting on the seeds of the nettle ; but still under 

 cover of the upper leaves. 



Closely allied to this beautiful genus, Vanessa, though 

 belonging to that of Cynthia, is the " Painted Lady," 2 or 

 1 Vignette to Butterflies in General, 3 Cynthia Cardui. 



