1 18 Beautiful Butterflies. 



the Lepidopterous order, there is a marked difference 

 between the male and female ; the latter is considerably 

 the longest, and instead of the wings being entirely of 

 a bright copper colour, except just a narrow black 

 margin and a small, irregularly-shaped spot on each, 

 they are covered with dusky black at the bases, and 

 have wide margins, and many large spots of the same, 

 which greatly detract from the brilliant appearance of 

 the insect. 



The Caterpillar is short and thick, swelling up in the 

 middle, and tapering off to a point at each end ; the 

 colour is bright green, with a dark line along each side, 

 and little dots like a white powder sprinkled all over it. 

 The food to which it is most partial is a kind of water- 

 dock. The chrysalis, according to Mr. J. F. Stephens, 

 " is at first green, then pale ash-coloured with a black 

 dorsal (that is, back) line, and two abbreviated 

 (shortened) white ones on each side ; in shape it bears 

 a close resemblance to a shell twisted and pointed at 

 one end and open at the other. 5 ' 



Curtis says of this splendid fly that " it was first dis- 

 covered in Wales by the celebrated botanist Hudson; 

 it has since been captured in considerable abundance in 

 Wittlesea Mere, Huntingdonshire. July is undoubtedly 

 the right season for this insect, although it is met with 

 in the beginning of August, flying among reeds about 

 the centre of the Mere near Yaxley ; it is very active, 



