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This butterfly resembles the Small Tortoise-shell in its general markings, 

 but the colouring is much darker and duller, and it is a much rarer and 

 more local species. It varies in the expanse of its wings from two inches 

 and a quarter to three inches. Sometimes an unusually small individual may 

 be met with smaller than an unusually large one of Urtica. The prevailing 

 colour is a rusty brown, there being at the hind margins a dark band in 

 which are situated semi-circular blue spots. There are three large black 

 spots along the costa of the fore-wings. Near the lower corner of the front 

 wings is an extra black spot one character which distinguishes it from 

 Urtica, and on the basal portion of the hind-wings are tawny hairs. The 

 underside is of an ash colour, with a broad waved band across the wings. It 

 is the most constant of all our British butterflies in its markings, and the only 

 specimen at all approaching variation I have seen is one in my own cabinet, 

 in which the spots on the upper wings are rather suffused. A form on the 

 continent, with confluent spots is called Testudo, Esp., and another is called 

 Pyromela, Ere. 



The egg resembles a short, squat barrel, ribbed with eight or nine longi- 

 tudinal even ridges, which extend over the flattened top, but appear to cease 

 on reaching the base ; the space between the ribs is transversely fluted, but 

 much more finely than in the egg of Urtica, although the latter is not 

 half its size ; the colour apparently is a dull green. The eggs appear to be 

 deposited in close, regular order, on a twig of elm, after the style of Clisio- 

 camjja neustria. 



The caterpillar is bluish, but more or less sprinked with ochreous brown 

 freckles on the black, and is clothed with ochreous branching spines. Elm 

 appears to be its favourite food in this country, but many others appear to be 

 eaten occasionally, viz., cherry (the tree generally preferred in France), pear, 

 willow, aspen, wych elm, and white beam tree. It appears also that it will 

 eat nettle, as an occasional caterpillar has been found in company with those 

 of Urtica. 



The chrysalis is similar to others of the genus in general appearance, but 

 the points at the head are more distinct than usual, being widely separated 

 and well pointed. The butterfly emerges in July, but retires early for hiber- 

 nation. They pair in April or May, and the eggs are laid in large batches 

 on the twigs of the selected plant. The caterpillar is full-fed by the end of 

 June. It does not remain more than a couple or three weeks in the chrysalis 

 state. 



Ichneumon luctatorius has been reared from it on the continent. 



Vanessa Polychloros is a butterfly that frequents the borders or outskirts 

 of large woods, or lanes well bordered with trees suitable for the caterpillars. 



