REES AND BUTTERFLIES AT KEW 
55 
Turning to tire humble bees, the partiality to lavender and 
elecampane was very pronounced. Elecampane has a bold 
yellow flower. After these came the purplish heads of teasel 
and the blue monkshood. Somewhat astonishing it was to find 
the humble bees so fond of the foul-smelling knotted figwort 
with its brown carrion-like blossoms. It is commonly said that 
flies and wasps are the agents of cross-fertilisation in this case. 
The wasp, too, frequents the flame-coloured gladiolus. On 
looking for references, however, it is found that the nectar- 
producing qualities of the figwort have caused American bee- 
keepers to call it “ Simpson’s Honey Plant.” Another surprise 
was that the deliciously-scented blossoms of the East Indian 
safflower {Carthamus) attracted only a solitary bee. So, too, 
the spur-valerian and meadow-sweet were unoccupied, but the 
best days of the latter were over. 
Butterflies next came under review. Cabbage-whites zig- 
zagged aimlessly backwards and forwards, lively blues came 
and went, small tortoise-shells — curiously named by cockney 
boys “ cherry-eaters” — sunned themselves on the neighbouring 
wall. But it was the Red Admiral that would not be denied, 
Vanessa Atalanta, as the books say, the specific name well 
chosen and recalling the airy speed of the Eastern princess of 
whom the fable speaks. A fine specimen of the Admiral, 
measuring nearly three inches when outstretched, alighted on 
the densely packed florets of some hemp-agrimony. A mere 
idler might overlook the handsome butterfly as a large tortoise- 
shell, but the brilliant scarlet band is distinctive. This band 
starts from the thorax, or mid-division of the body, runs along 
the edge of the upper wing, bends semi-circularly through the 
middle of both wings, and finally forms a border to the lower 
one. Within the zone is an area of velvety black, and outside, 
in the angle at the tip, are several snowy-white spots. The 
sinuous edges are gracefully outlined with patches of blue. 
When the insect alights and closes its wings vertically the 
under sides show a marvellous mottling of blacks, greys, yellows, 
reds and ambers. We have here probably an instance of pro- 
tective colouration, since the hues assimilate well to those of 
a dead leaf or a piece of elm bark, the elm being a favourite 
with the Admiral. The insect has also been known to frequent 
fallow fields, and its wings, when extended, harmonise with the 
reddish loam ; when folded, the general tone corresponds to the 
shadows cast by the tiny lumps of earth. 
The food plant of the caterpillar, an inconspicuous dark 
larva, with yellow streaks, is the nettle. What a change from 
this crawling insect to the gaudy Admiral sailing by, and what 
a long, elaborate preparation for so short a life in the perfect 
state ! The Admiral is very tame ; he simply will not leave the 
hemp-agrimony, or, if driven away, returns again and again. 
There is some strange fascination in the flower, for I have 
watched the insect in far-away counties and the bewitchment 
