158 HALF-HOURS IN THE GEEEN LANES. 



in the more southern or eastern parts of England, is 

 the Brimstone (Rhodocera rhamnt). It is a largish 

 butterfly of a darkish primrose or sulphur colour, 

 and with both front and hind wings drawn out into 

 a point. The hind wings, in this respect, approach 

 that form which distinguishes and gives its name 

 to the Swallow-tail. The eggs of the Brimstone 

 butterfly you may find about the middle of April 

 on the twigs of the blackthorn, the only shrub 

 on which the caterpillar feeds. The butterfly 

 emerges from the chrysalis in July or August, and 

 may be seen abundantly after then. It will even 

 hybernate, or lay up, during the winter, and on some 

 warmer day than usual will turn out for a few hour's 

 sun, perhaps at the expense of a paragraph in the 

 county newspaper. Indeed, the sexes usually keep 

 apart from the time of their leaving the chrysalis 

 state until the following spring, when they begin 

 to couple. Hence yon may see them in March, 

 among the earliest butterflies, animating the yet 

 dull lanes in company with the Tortoiseshell and the 

 Peacock. We have several species of butterfly 

 besides those just named, that hide up during the 

 winter, and turn out in the early spring, up to which 

 time they have foresworn the married state. After 

 entering matrimony they still linger on ; but their 

 work is over, and their faded wings tell of their 

 speedy dissolution. Sometimes they will even live 

 to see their young broods on the wing a rare oc- 

 currence with insects. The best time of the year, 



