214 THE BUTTERFLY VIYA1UUM. 



changes in colour which it undergoes after its issue 

 from the pupa; and, secondly, the curious modifica- 

 tions which it exhibits under the influence of climate. 



As regards the changes of colour, they are the 

 following, as first noticed and described by M. de 

 Selys, of Liege, in a very recent work. It appears, 

 from these accurate and curious observations, that 

 when the insect first comes from the pupa case, the 

 wings are almost colourless; that soon after they 

 attain their full dimensions, they assume a ferru- 

 ginous brown, not opaque, and somewhat resembling 

 the brown wings of the mature female. In this 

 stage Charpentier made it a distinct species, as 

 C. Vesta. In the next change the brown becomes 

 nearly opaque, and exhibits a fine flush of purple in 

 some lights. In the last and mature stage the 

 wings are opaque, except at the base and tip, and 

 of the rich purple shown in Plate VI. No. 4. 



Males of this species, in either of the younger 

 stages, have had distinct names conferred upon them 

 by our earlier entomologists, the different stages of 

 the female leading to similar misapprehensions. The 

 male, in its youngest state was made a distinct va- 

 riety, as Far. a, and in its second stage, when the 

 nervures begin to darken, it was made Var. 7. 



The following variations from the effect of cli- 



