TORTOISESHELL AND PEACOCK 



admiration, and a fund of interest and wonder is 

 created. The general " tortoiseshell " appearance of the 

 adult, with the frecklings of light blue on the outer mar- 

 gins and the kaleidoscopic change when the wings are 

 closed, are well known. It is from the Autumn brood 

 that the early rovers of Spring appear, and as the winged 

 jewel spreads open its gay-coloured appendages upon the 

 ground, and exercises them up and down, the observer 

 is Ukely to be entranced at the wondrous sight taking 

 place within a pace of where he stands. 



Peacock. — (Vanessa to.) This gorgeous butterfly is 

 a first-cousin of the Tortoiseshell, and it resembles it in 

 selecting the same food-plant (stinging nettle), and the 

 gregarious larvae are somewhat similar, although decidedly 

 blacker. Fortunately, it is a common inhabitant of our 

 country, but it appears to have disappeared from some of 

 its northern strongholds. It haunts wayside flowers 

 and gardens, and is fond of alighting in a road, or path- 

 way, and spreading open its wings like its last-mentioned 

 relative. Early in Autumn the handsome Peacocks 

 appear in full force, those observed earher in the year 

 being hibernated specimens which reached maturity the 

 previous August, or September, The fluted and ribbed 

 egg is similar in shape to that of the Small Tortoiseshell, 

 and is of olive-green colour. The polished black larva 

 is plentifully supplied with feathery hairs, and the 

 segments of the body are clearly defined. The pupa 

 varies in colour, and although many full-grown larvae 

 may be under observation in a nettle-bed, it is with 

 difficulty one finds the pupae as they are so cleverly 



hidden. The warm fulvous colour of the imago is 



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