160 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



strange indeed if you don't find its eggs on almost 

 every cluster of nettles, and, later on in the summer, 

 its angled chrysalis dangling from beneath the ledge 

 of every wall or paling. Mr. Newman tells us that 

 the eggs of this species are so much the colour of 

 the nettle leaves that it is difficult to detect them 

 another instance of this protective power so largely 

 employed by the insect tribes. It is in the spring 

 of the year that the larger Tortoise-shell is most 

 common, and on fine days you may then see pairs 

 flirting and coquetting, for it is not until now their 

 sexual instincts begin to manifest themselves, and 

 they have passed the winter, indeed, the whole 

 period since they left their chrysalides, in bachelor- 

 hood and spinsterhood. In the latter end of April 

 or beginning of May our lanes are quite lively with 

 their gambols, for they love places removed from 

 human dwellings and on the outskirts of woods. 

 The wild cherry tree seems to be the favourite spot 

 for the eggs to be laid upon, as well as the aspen, 

 poplar, elm, and different species of willow. 



Kecently British entomologists were on the look 

 out for specimens of the Camberwell Beauty ( Vanessa 

 antiopa) an insect that is very eccentric in its 

 appearance, in this country at least, but whose 

 handsome appearance would be apology enough for 

 admiring it, even if it were much more common. 

 Our true British specimens, although rare, seem to 

 have obtained a varietal distinction. The border is 

 of a pearly or French grey, whereas in the con- 



