132 



long and attenuated line, which causes a rupture of the skin close to the head ; 

 the skin then is seen slowly to ascend, exposing the bare and soft shining parts 

 below, from which a flat and forked pair of horns grow out perceptibly as 

 one beholds this wonderful process ; the skin continues to glide slowly up- 

 wards ; and as the soft parts become exposed they are seen to swell out 

 laterally, and assume the very singular projections of the chrysalis, the skin 

 of the old head, gliding up the body, marks the progress of the disclosure, as 

 the colour of the old and new surfaces are at this time alike, but the new is 

 rather more shining and semi-transparent ; occasionally, during the bulging 

 out of the soft parts, a kind of convulsive heave or two occurs, but otherwise 

 it remains still, until the creature is uncovered as far as the ninth or tenth 

 segment ; it then curves its anal extremity by a sudden twist laterally, and in 

 a moment dexterously withdraws the tip of the anal segment from the clasp- 

 ers by an opening on the back of the skin at that part. At this critical 

 moment one has time to see that the naked, shining point, is furnished with 

 black hooks, and to expect its fall, but in another moment it has forcibly 

 pressed the curved tip with its hooks against the stem, close to its previous 

 attachment of the anal claspers, which have proved strong enough for the 

 occasion. The creature now seems endowed with wonderful power and 

 vigour ; it swings boldly to and fro, and undulates itself as if to gain longer 

 swings, when presently the old skin that remains is seen to burst away and 

 fall off, the chrysalis gradully becoming quiescent. The entire metamorpho- 

 sis, from the first waking to the last movement, occupies nearly seven 

 minutes. 



The White Admiral occurs throughout Central Europe, and is also found 

 in Northern Asia, but as it frequents woods is always local. It is unknown 

 in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, and its range is restricted to the 

 woods of the Eastern and Southern counties, coming up on the east coast as 

 far as Lincolnshire, but is not found west of Dorsetshire, and scarcely extends 

 to the Midlands. It is distinguished for its exceedingly graceful flight, 

 which is only excelled by that of the Purple Emperor. 



The first account we have of the White Admiral, being a British species, 

 is in John Kay's " Historia Insectorum," published in 1710. He informs us 

 that it was taken in Essex, not far from the town of Tolesbury, by D. Mor- 

 ton, and sent to him on July llth, 1695. 



In Petiver's "Papilionum Brittannise Icones," 1695, we read "White 

 Admiral. Found about Dullidge and Wickham, near Croyden, as also at 

 Henly-upon-Thames." 



Wilkes, in his " Aureleian," informs us " That the White Admirable But- 

 terfly is to be taken about the 20th of June, in Coomb Wood." 



