vanessa] NYMPHALIDAE 



2. V. urticae, L. 50-56 mm. Forowings with terminal 

 projection above middle ; deep orange, basally blackish sprinkled 

 with yellowish ; throe black costal blotches separated by yellow 

 blotches, third followed by a white spot ; two black spots in 

 disc posteriorly ; a black dorsal blotch ; a blackish terminal 

 fascia including a series of blue spots. Hindwings with pro- 

 jection central ; orange, basal half black mostly yellowish- 

 sprinkled ; terminal fascia as in forewings. Wings beneath as 

 above, but as though very faded. 



Britain to the Orkneys, Ireland, plentiful ; Europe, N. and 

 WC. Asia, Japan ; 6, 8-5. Larva black, densely irrorated with 

 yellow ; often a suffused yellow double dorsal stripe, enclosing 

 black dorsal line ; lateral line yellowish, often faint ; subspira- 

 cular yellowish, distinct ; seven rows of dark greenish or black 

 bristly spines ; head black, irrorated with yellowish : on Urtica, 

 feeding gregariously ; 5, 7, 8. 



3. V. polychloros, L. 62-67 mm. Differs from V. urticae as 

 follows : wings more brownish-orange, forewings with spot be- 

 yond third blotch light yellowish, and an additional black spot 

 before tornus ; wings beneath with long scattered bristles. 



Britain to Caledonian Canal, local, scarce in Scotland ; 

 Europe, N. and WC. Asia ; 7-5. Larva blackish or dark grey ; 

 dorsal area suffusedly irrorated with ochrcous-brownish, enclos- 

 ing a black dorsal line; sides pale-sprinkled; subspiracular line 

 brownish -ochreous; seven rows of browuish-ochreous bristly 

 spines ; head black : on elm, aspen, cherry, etc., feeding gre- 

 gariously ; 6. 



4. V. io, L. 58-68 mm. Forewings with terminal projection 

 above middle; brown -red, termen dark fuscous; two black 

 costal blotches separated by a yellowish spot ; beyond second 

 a round blotch edged anteriorly with yellowish interrupted 

 above with black, posteriorly with blue, followed by black 

 spotted with blue; a series of five pale blue spots partly 

 traversing this. Hindwings with projection central ; brown- 

 red, terminally dark fuscous ; a round black blue-spotted sub- 

 apical blotch, edged with pale yellowish. Wings beneath dark 

 fuscous strigulatcd with black. 



Britain to Caledonian ('anal, Ireland, rather common ; 

 Europe, Asia Minor, NC. Asia ; 8-5. Larva black, with trans- 

 verse series of white dots; six rows of black bristly spines; 

 head black : on Urtica, feeding gregariously in a web ; 6, 7. 



5. V. antiopa, L. 70-80 mm. Forewings with terminal 

 projection above middle ; dark fuscous, slightly reddish-tinged ; 



