82 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



A somewhat rare variety is represented on Plate 49. It 

 was reared from one of three caterpillars casually picked up at 

 Erith, and is now in Mr. Sabine's collection. Somewhat similar 

 specimens have been figured elsewhere. One of these was bred 

 from a caterpillar found at Ashton in 1867, and another was 

 captured in Jersey in 1893. All these varieties seem to be 

 modifications of the form named klemensiewiczi by Schille, and 

 which was figured by Esper as a variety of atalanta in 1777. 

 This form has also resulted from temperature experiments on 

 the chrysalis, of the kind previously adverted to. 



The egg when first laid is green in colour, but as the cater- 

 pillar matures within the colour changes to greenish-black, with 

 the ten ribs showing up more or less transparent. The egg is 

 laid in an upright position on nettle leaves and young shoots, 

 but not in batches like those of the Tortoiseshell, etc. 



The caterpillar varies in colour. Some are blackish freckled 

 with white, with two yellow stripes, sometimes broken up, on the 

 sides ; and the rows of branched spines yellow, except those 

 nearest the head, which are black or tipped with black. Others 

 are greyish, or grey marked with yellowish-green. Others, 

 again, are dark brownish, with the spines on the back pale, 

 and those on the sides black ; or all the spines may be shining 

 black (Hellins). 



The chrysalis is greyish, prettily ornamented with gold along 

 the centre of the back and on the thorax and head. The pro- 

 jections are also tinged with metallic gloss. It is generally 

 suspended under a canopy of nettle leaves. 



The caterpillars do not live in companies like those of the 

 Peacock and Tortoiseshells, but each individual constructs for 

 itself a kind of tent (see Plate 48) by spinning together the 

 leaves of its food-plant, the common stinging-nettle. Although 

 the caterpillar is well concealed in such hiding-places when 

 newly made, it " gives itself away " when it has partly consumed 

 its home. It has been found on pellitory (Par is tar ia officinalis), 



