70 Beautiful Butterflies. 



expansion, where they measure in some instances as 

 much as three inches across ; near the tips is an in- 

 distinct wave of purple, which catches the eye in 

 certain lights, and all round the margins of both pairs 

 is a fringe of white arranged like a chain of little 

 crescents. 



The inner sides of the wings can hardly be described ; 

 they are beautifully mottled and variegated with black, 

 brown, buff, steely blue, and other metallic tints ; the 

 ground colour is lighter than that on the outer side, the 

 red and white markings of which gleam through like 

 flashes of different coloured flame. 



Oh, a glorious fellow is the Red Admiral ! and so 

 bold and fearless, too, as an admiral should be ; you 

 may come close up to him as he sits sunning himself 

 upon the flowers, and examine him at your leisure ; 

 but do not attempt to touch him, unless you really 

 want a good specimen for your cabinet ; and even in that 

 case, it is better, perhaps, not to risk the spoiling of 

 these magnificent wings, but to search for a caterpillar : 

 they are not difficult to find among the nettles where 

 they feed. The colour is dusky green, with a yellow 

 line running along each side ; it is sparingly covered 

 with short hairs, and its length varies from an inch and 

 a quarter to one and three quarters ; it often conceals 

 itself by drawing together several of the nettle leaves 

 by means of silken threads. 



