of Guernsey and Sark. 



65 



on the side of a cliff, there is one of these declivities, occa- 

 sioned by some former landslip, covered with herbage, which 

 slopes down to the beach. A pathway leads to the base. On 

 the 9th of May, 1844, a hot, sunny day, each side of this 

 pathway was completely carpeted with a profusion of the 

 yellow flowers of the common Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vul- 

 neraria, var, maritimia), when I visited the spot ; and these 

 flowers were the resort of an abundance of these fritillaries. 

 which fluttered about them, or rested on their corollas, expand- 

 ing and sunning their wings and presenting a most charming 

 picture of entomological loveliness. The great abundance of 

 the narrow leaved plantain, which also grows there, affords 

 food for their caterpillars. ,, 



"The spring of last year (1845), on the other hand was 

 so very backward, that on visiting that locality at a date 

 some fortnight later than the above, so far from either flowers 

 or butterflies being visible, the caterpillars were still feeding, 

 and I could discover but few chrysalids. The caterpillars 

 evidently prefer stunted plants, for at the base of the declivity, 

 where the plantain grows luxuriantly, not one is to be seen." 



" They are black and spiny, with red head and legs ; 

 being hatched in August, they pass the winter in societies, 

 under a kind of tent, formed by a compact web, brought round 

 and over the stems of grasses, I have found several of these 

 societies on the 27th of August. The individuals which com- 

 posed them being about a quarter of an inch long, rolled up 

 like little balls. All these societies occurred at the base of the 

 declivity ; where the herbage grows most luxuriantly ; 

 and when the caterpillars have attained sufficient strength 

 in the spring, they are invariably seen ascending to the 

 higher parts of the slope. And herein I imagine that I 

 recognise a beautiful instance of natural instinct, both in the 

 butterfly and caterpillar. The former deposits its eggs low 

 down in the declivity where the young brood may rest most 



