BUTTERFLIES 227 



Family : Nymphalidce. Genus : Apaturince. 



12. The Purple Emperor (Apatura iris). Unmistakable ; fond of flying in 

 tops of oaks. 



Food plant Sallow (occasionally willow and poplar). 



Larva Dull green, oblique yellowish stripes ; two horns on head. 



Pupa Whitish ; suspended head downwards from food plant ; striped, 

 and two horns. 



Eggs Green, ribbed, cylindrical. August to September. 



Locality Oak woods in South and Midlands, and Lincolnshire and North- 

 amptonshire. 



The males of this species can be attracted by means of a piece of decaying 

 flesh. The pupa is very like the larva in its full-fed stage. 



Family : Nymphalidce. Genus : Nymphalina. 



13. The White Admiral (Limenitis sibylla, or Camilla}. Easily recognized 

 by its white markings on dark wings. 



Food plant Honeysuckle. 



Larva Dark green, yellow dots ; reddish bristles or spines. 



Pupa Remarkable shape ; brownish, with metallic spots. 



Eggs Pale green. July. 



Locality South and East, especially New Forest. 



Said to be getting rarer, but I have seen many specimens in the New Forest. 



14. The Comma (Polygonia C -album}. Easily identified by irregular 

 outline of wings and the white comma under hind-wings. 



Food plant Nettle, currant, hop. 



Larva Fore-part black, rear white ; yellowish spines ; two clubs on head. 

 Pupa Brownish, silvery or golden spots. 



Eggs Green to yellow ; ribbed. May and August. Hibernates. 

 Locality Chiefly Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, and Monmouthshire. 

 I well remember the first pupa (from a Midland hop-field) which I obtained, 

 with its wonderful silver spots. 



15. The Large Tortoise-shell (Vanessa polychoros). Unmistakable. 

 Hibernates. 



Food plant Elm, willow, sallow, and other trees. Nettle. 



Larva Black with spines ; lives in companies. 



Pupa Grey, often pink tinge, shaded with brown; metallic spots; sus- 

 pended by tail. 



Eggs Dead-green ; seven or eight ribs ; June to August. 



Locality Fairly generally distributed, but not in Ireland. 



This species also is associated with an incident of my schooldays, when I 

 thought I had found a great rarity. 



