38 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



to be most active and hungry, Gillmer adding (in litt.) that the larva of 

 the allied species, L. Camilla, after hybernation, grows very quickly, and 

 is already fullgrown in Germany by the middle of May. Buckler 

 further says (Larvae, &c, i., p. 37) of L. sibylla, that, after hybernation, 

 the larva feeds on the leaves of young and tender shoots of honeysuckle, 

 clearing the leaves from the apex to the foot of the shoot. It rests on the 

 stem when not eating, and, spinning a considerable amount of silk, 

 ascends the stem to feed, and descends after each meal to its resting- 

 place ; Gillmer similarly notes (in litt.) that the larva of N. populi, 

 whilst resting, sits closely against a branch, but, when almost fullgrown, 

 chooses the upperside of a leaf, on which it rests safely with its prolegs 

 well inserted in the silken web with which it covers the leaf. From 

 here it goes forth to feed, and returns when its appetite is satisfied. 

 This remark is similar to that made by Scudder (Butts. New Engl., 

 i. p. 274) concerning Basilarchia archippus, of which he notes that it 

 never remains upon its feeding-ground when its appetite is satiated, 

 but, when young, retires to the untouched midrib, and, when larger, to 

 a twig ; in either case, it stops when it has reached its favourite 

 resting-place, and rests immovable, heading away from its food. 

 Appetite returning, it wheels about, hurries to the old feeding-spot, and, 

 its meal finished, returns again to its accustomed station for a new siesta. 

 Two of our best known European species, Najas populi and 

 Limenitis sibylla, are single-brooded, and the larvae show no sign 

 of dividing into "forwards" and " laggards " ; on the other hand, 

 almost all the summer larvae of the graceful L. Camilla develop into 

 " forwards," in the warmer latitudes it haunts, and at low altitudes, so 

 that, in favourable seasons and places, the second brood is frequently 

 almost as large as the first, although the number of "forwards" marked- 

 ly decreases in the higher latitudes and altitudes where it ranges. 

 According to Gartner (Stett. Ent. Ztg., xxi., pp. 296-7), a very fair 

 percentage of the early summer larvae of Neptis aceris become " forwards " 

 and develop a second brood. Of the American species, Basilarchia 

 arthemis, B. archippus, and B. astyanax, Scudder observes (Butts. New 

 Engl., i. p. 256) that a fair number of the summer larvae develop a 

 " forward " habit, but that the second brood is always less numerous 

 than the first (see also op. cit., pp. 285-6, pp. 302-3). Edwards further 

 observes that the southern Basilarchia eros has developed an almost 

 entirely "forward" larval habit, the species tending to be continuously- 

 brooded, the longest hybernating period not lasting more than 60 days. 



CHAPTER VI. 



FAMILY HABITS IN BUTTERFLY LARVjE THE APATURIDS. 



In our consideration of the Limenitid larvae, we have pointed out 

 the remarkable similarity in the habits of the European and American 

 species. In the case of the larvae of the Apaturids, there is con- 

 siderable difference in the habits of the species belonging to the two 

 areas. The European species have larvae that are characteristically 



