THE PEACOCK 5 



and are covered with thorny black bristles. About 

 the middle of June they turn into flesh-coloured 

 chrysalids, marked with a number of bright golden 

 spots, which you may sometimes find hanging by 

 their tails on tree-trunks and park palings. 



PLATE ill 

 THE PEACOCK (I and 2) 



You cannot possibly mistake this beautiful insect 

 for any other British butterfly, for on each of its 

 four wings it has a large eye-like spot, very much 

 like the markings on the tail of a peacock. But 

 the under-side of the wings is quite differently 

 coloured. It is almost as black as charcoal. And 

 the consequence is that when the butterfly sits on 

 the trunk of a tree, with its wings folded over its 

 back, you cannot possibly see it unless you look 

 at it sideways. 



Peacock butterflies are very common in August 

 and September, and again in spring, after they 

 have passed through their long winter sleep. 

 They are very fond of sitting on thistle blossoms 

 when the sun is shining, with their wings widely 

 spread. And you may often see them resting on 

 ivy bloom, or sipping the sweet juices of over-ripe 

 plums. During the winter they hide away in 

 outhouses, and sheds, and faggot-stacks. The 

 caterpillars, which feed in large companies on 



