128 THE PAINTED LADY. 



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 occupant. When he has thus fairly " ate 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 be- 

 longing to that of Cynthia, is the " Painted Lady,"* or "Belle 

 Dame, " a butterfly, as its name imports, of exceeding elegance. 

 Its upper wings, brown towards the base, and redder towards 

 the middle, are variegated and tipped with black, and marked 

 at the apex with a spot of white. 



In some seasons our "Painted Ladies" are abundant, in 

 others scarce ; but of all the Lepidopterce, these are considered 

 to have the widest geographical range, having been seen in 

 America, Africa, and Asia, also frequently out at sea. Their 

 caterpillars are feeders chiefly on the great spear-thistle, whose 



* Cynthia, Cardui. 



