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completely carpeted with a profusion of the yellow flowers of AnthylUs vul- 

 neraria, 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, expanding 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 larvse. The 

 spring of last year, 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 larvse were still feeding, and I could 

 discover but few chrysalides. These latter are found adhering, just above the 

 surface of the ground, to the knotted stems of the plantain, which here con- 

 sists of aged plants, each with but a few stunted leaves ; and occasionally on 

 the underside of large stones, which have fallen from the cliff, and they are 

 suspended and partly surrounded in the latter case with a fine web. They 

 are also generally to be found in pairs. The caterpillars evidently prefer these 

 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 heads 

 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 composed 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 cater- 

 pillars have obtained sufficient strength in the spring, they are invariably seen 

 ascending the higher parts of the slope. And herein I imagine that 1 recog- 

 nize a beautiful instance of natural instinct, both in the butterfly and cater- 

 pillar : the former deposits its eggs low down the declivity, where the young 

 brood may rest most securely sheltered, and least exposed to the wintry 

 storm, but when the caterpillars are sufficiently advanced in growth, they 

 ascend to the higher parts of the steep to feed and undergo their transfor- 

 mation ; were the chrysalis formed below they probably would have too much 

 moisture and too little sun ; whereas by being formed higher up they have a 

 sufficiency of both to bring them to maturity." 



This butterfly is single brooded ; but there is a succession of them, varying 

 in duration according to the season. The earliest date on which I Have 

 met with it is May 1st, the latest in July ; but in the latter case the specimens 

 were bred in captivity. I never remember to have seen it so late in the state 

 of liberty, not later indeed than the middle of June here. They are very 

 difficult to rear ; and those that I have bred, are not only disclosed much 

 later than in the state of freedom, but are not nearly so fine and perfect. 



