152 BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



atalanta), Plate XV., Fig. 2. The name 

 is said to be a corruption of ' Admirable,' 

 and, if so, the attribute is justly applied. 

 Its prevailing hues are black and scarlet. 

 Sometimes one sees several of them together, 

 forming a lovely group, the scarlet bands 

 glowing like fire against the velvety-black 

 setting. They are not easily caught. In 

 the long struggle with France this insect 

 was named the British butterfly, in opposi- 

 tion to the Large White which was called 

 French. The comparatively sluggish flight 

 of the latter enabled schoolboys to show 

 their patriotism by killing the Whites with 

 less effort to themselves than if they had 

 to slay Red Admirals. 



On hillsides and downs near the sea one 

 may seek the Grayling (Satyrus semele), 

 Plate XV., Fig. 3. It has no connection 

 with the fish mentioned in Tennyson's 

 Brook, its name being somewhat un- 

 happily derived from its colour. It is not 

 grey but brown. It is only when one looks 

 at the under side that he sees the grey 

 tinge which justifies the name. Particular 

 attention must be paid to the eye-spots, as 



