SMALL TORTOISE-SHELL. 
165 
spots. The body and base of the wings are clothed 
with long brownish hairs, and the antennae are va- 
riegated with white. 
The caterpillars of this species feed on the nettle, 
and for some time after they are excluded from the 
egg, live together in little family associations, but 
disperse as soon as their increasing Bize renders a 
larger supply o‘ food necessary. They are of a 
blackish colour, with four yellowish stripes, two 
along the back, and one on each side ; the body be- 
set with strong branched spines. 
This is by far the most common insect of the 
genus, occurring abundantly in all parts of England, 
and extending to the northern extremity of Scotland. 
Considerable numbers pass the winter in a torpid 
state, and issue from their retreats on the first warm 
days of March. In the south of Scotland, where 
it is known by the name of the Devil's Butterfly, 
and Witch's Butterfly, we have occasionally observed 
it on the wing even before that period, and it has 
been noticed in the Isle of Wight on the 8th of Ja- 
nuary.* There appear to be at least two broods 
annually, one in June, and another in September. 
In the south of Europe it is likewise a prevalent 
species, and in Italy it continues on the wing in 
fine weather the whole winter. Its metamorphoses 
are admirably delineated by Swammerdam under 
the name of the Common Dutch Day Butterfly.f 
* Loudon’s Mag. of Nat. Hist. v. p. 595. 
+ Book of Nature, pi. xxxiv. and xxxv. 
