164 



where it slopes into the sides, the ribs (seven, eight, or nine in number) com- 

 mence ; these continue over the top for about half its diameter and increase 

 in prominence as the egg itself diminishes, until at last, they quite stand out 

 like clear glass beading ; the space between the ribs is boldly fluted ; the 

 colour is a pale yellowish green. — Eev. J. Hellins, in " Entomological 

 Monthly Magazine/' Yol. VIII. p. 53. 



The caterpillar is yellowish grey, with a black dorsal blue, and spines 

 branched, and of a greenish colour. The general appearance of the skin is 

 velvety, the head has a shining skin, but is so studded with whitish grey bul- 

 bous based bristles that it looks greyish. The caterpillars at first are strictly 

 gregarious, feeding on the leaves of the common stinging nettle (Urtica 

 dioica), but, as they grow larger they wander away from each other, and do 

 not return to close company, though remaining on the same clump of nettles. 



The chrysalis is of a brownish colour, mottled with black and spotted with 

 gold, particularly on the most prominent parts. It is much humped and 

 angulated ; and occasionally is very brilliant and apparently gilded all over, 

 but this appearance appears to be caused by the. presence of parasites. It is 

 generally, but not always suspended from the underside of the stalks of the 

 food-plant. 



The following Hymenopterous parasites have been bred from it, viz. Lim- 

 neria unicincta, Apenteles sjourius, and Pteromalus pup arum ; and, also a 

 Dipterus one, viz. Exorista vulgaris. Ichneumon luctaterins also has been 

 reared from it on the continent. 



There are two broods of the butterfly in the year. The. first appears on 

 the wing in June ; and the second in July or August, which hibernates to 

 reappear in spring, and then mingles freely with the freshly emerged speci- 

 mens of early summer. Caterpillars also have been found both in May and 

 July. A third brood has occasionally appeared. 



Vanessa Urtica is common everywhere throughout Europe, Western, and 

 Northern Asia, and North Africa. It is common in all parts of the British 

 Isles, except the Orkneys, Shetlands, and the Outer Hebrides, but, as the 

 food-plant is rather a weed of cultivated ground, than of waste or barren 

 land, the butterfly is more abundant among the habitations of men, than in 

 the wilder and more desolate parts of our islands. It is also a fearless and 

 sociable species, frequently coming into inhabited rooms for hibernation, and 

 has even been known to fly to lamp light at Christmas, when a room has 

 been made unusually hot. Three specimens which took up their quarters on 

 the ceiling of my staircase in August, 1886, with their wings folded and 

 hanging downwards ; remained perfectly stationary till Good Friday, the 8th 

 of April, 1887, when they awoke from their winter's sleep, and took their 



