294 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
Cynthia Atalanta, L. Atalanta Butterfly. (Fig. 120.) 
Wings black above, spotted with white near the tips of 
the first pair, on which is also an orange-red band across 
the middle ; hind wings with a marginal orange-red band, 
Fig 120. 
on which is a row of black dots, the two nearest to the hind 
angle having a pale blue centre. 
Expands from 2.j to 3 inches. 
The Atalanta butterfly was probably introduced into 
America from Europe with the common nettle, which it in- 
habits. It deposits its eggs in May upon the youngest and 
smallest leaves of this plant, being cautious to drop only 
one upon a single leaf. The young caterpillar is guarded 
against injury from the poisonous prickles of the leaf by the 
numerous branching spines with which it is covered, and 
which, being longer than the prickles, prevent its body 
from coming in contact with the latter. The head is cov- 
ered with a tough shell, which sufficiently protects this part, 
while its strong and horny jaws are adapted for cutting 
and chewing the leaves and their prickles with impunity. 
As soon as the caterpillar is hatched, it spins a little web 
to cover itself, securing the threads all around to the edges 
of the leaf, so as to bend upwards the sides and form a 
kind of trough, in which it remains concealed. One end 
of the cavity is open, and through this the caterpillar thrusts 
