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18 



under side of the superior wings is of a fine pink or rose colour, clouded with black ; something 

 similar to the upper side. The inferior wings are of a buff colour, handsomely clouded with 

 brown spots, many of which are triangular. The fan edges are beautified with four or five eye- 

 like spots. The upper side of the female is shewn at (f), and the male is seen at (c), shewing the 

 under side. 



The caterpillars feed on the thistle and burdock, under a fine web, as represented at (c) : 

 they are of various colours ; some being darker than others, as at (a). They change into the 

 chrysalis state, hanging by the tail, as at (d) and (b), about the end of July ; and the fly appears in 

 about three weeks. The male chrysalis is embellished with gold, and the female appears as 

 ornamented with silver. 



Expansion of the wings Q\ — °l\ inches. 



The caterpillars of this species are not gregarious, like those of the majority of 

 the genus Vanessa, but feed solitarily on the nettle, mallow, &c. as well as the plants 

 mentioned above. The perfect insect, as more especially noticed under Colias 

 Electra, is one of those whose periodical appearance is very irregular, occasionally 

 appearing in great profusion, and even breeding in the metropolis itself. 



Like other nearly allied insects it passes the winter in the winged state* and 

 appears again when revived by the warmth of the following spring. 



The author of the " Journal of a Naturalist," mentions some interesting in- 

 stances of its irregular appearance, owing to causes infinitely beyond the com- 

 prehension of the entomologist, seeming to require a succession and variety of 

 seasons, and their change, and then springing into life we know not how. This was 

 particularly obvious in the summer of 1815, and the two following, which were 

 almost unceasingly cold and rainy, scarcely a moth or butterfly appeared ; and in 

 the early part of 1818, the season was not less ungenial ; a few half-animated 

 creatures alone struggled into being; yet this " Painted Lady" was fostered into life 

 and became the commonest butterfly of the year. Some years ago, he also notices, 

 that a quantity of earth was raised in cutting a canal, and in the ensuing summer, 

 on the herbage that sprung up from this new soil on the bank, this butterfly was 

 found in abundance, where it had not been observed for many years before. 



This sudden appearance in vast numbers of this butterfly is followed occasionally 

 by their migrating in swarms : thus an immense swarm of this species of butterfly 

 forming a column from ten to fifteen feet broad, was observed in the district of Grand- 

 son, Canton de Vaud, in 1828. They traversed the country with great rapidity, 

 from north to south, all flying onwards, low, equally and closely together, and not 

 turning from their course on the approach of other objects. This fact, in connexion 

 with the solitary habits of the larvae, is remarkable. Professor Bonelli of Turin, 

 also observed a similar flight of the same species in the end of the March preceding 

 their appearance at Grandson. Their flight was directed from south to north, and 

 their numbers were immense. At night the flowers were literally covered with 

 them. Towards the 29th of March their numbers diminished, but even in June a 

 few still continued. They had been traced from Coni, Raconni, Susa, &c. A similar 

 flight of butterflies is recorded at the end of the last century, by M. Loche in the 

 Memoirs of the Academy of Turin. (Mag. Nat. .Hist. No. 4.) 



A correspondent of the Entomological Magazine, vol. ii. p. 114. states, that on 







j 



