140 
NYMPHALIDAE 
but has in addition metallic blue markings between the band 
and the white costal blotch. Across the cell is a blue stripe, 
followed by two crimson stripes ; the band is likewise a 
beautiful crimson, which becomes paler at the anal angle 
and terminates in a straw-yellow blotch ; the base of the 
costal margin is striped with blue and black ; the apex is 
variegated with olive, yellow-ochre, lilac, black and white. 
The hind wing is exquisitely variegated with eight distinct 
colours, viz. blue, lilac, green, maroon, ochre, cream, black 
and white, the whole producing a wonderful reticulated pattern 
of extreme beauty. The most striking markings are a series 
of sub-marginal green-centred spots encircled with black and 
resembling a peacock's eye feather. 
Life of Imago. The life of the Red Admiral may extend 
over six months in the case of those which pass the winter 
months in hibernation. 
Aberration. As in other Vanessids, very striking aberra¬ 
tions are decidedly uncommon. In very rare cases, the black 
spots in the red band of the hind wing are absent. The 
colour of the bands is liable to vary, ranging from crimson 
to light scarlet, occasionally ochreous-yellow, and in extreme 
cases white. The band of the fore wing is sometimes separated 
by a black bar through the middle. 
Genus VANESSA, Fabricius , 1807 
THE PAINTED LADY 
Vanessa cardui (Linn., 1758). 
(Plate XI, facing page 144) 
The true home of this elegant butterfly is northern Africa 
and the Riviera; whence it annually migrates in numbers, 
in certain years in excessive abundance. It is not indigenous 
to the British Islands, and it has no hibernating stage. A 
succession of broods occurs throughout the year, which are 
continuous in the sub-tropical climate of the Mediterranean 
region, but the advent of cold in late autumn in this country 
exterminates this species until a fresh arrival of immigrants 
