THE PAINTED LADY 
141 
takes place. The first specimens reach the British coasts in 
May and June; in some years they appear in quantities in 
various localities, while in others they occur here and there, 
mostly as single specimens widely dispersed over the southern 
counties. Probably a year never passes without the arrival 
of a few. 
Haunts. The spring immigrants generally appear singly, 
frequenting a particular patch of ground, often a space of 
only a few yards square by some roadside, hedgerow or 
garden, where the butterfly takes up its pitch, making short 
and rapid flights to and fro, and sitting on the bare ground 
with expanded wings, basking in the sun. Usually, after 
remaining in the same spot for about ten or fifteen days, it 
will then disappear. Each year the identical patch of ground 
will be chosen by each individual migrant, and the actions 
and behaviour of each is identical. 
These early arrivals seem much less attracted by flowers 
than do the late summer and autumn butterflies, which 
delight in feeding on various blossoms, especially Clover, 
Lucerne, Scabious, Thistles, Valerian, Ivy-bloom and other 
autumnal flowers. 
V. cardui frequents flowery fields (especially those of 
Clover and Lucerne), waysides, gardens and waste lands 
abounding in wild flowers. The flight of this butterfly is 
both powerful and rapid. 
Distribution. During the years when it occurs abundantly, 
the Painted Lady may be found throughout the whole of 
the British Isles. No other butterfly has such a wide 
geographical range as has V. cardui, which extends practically 
throughout the world. 
In certain years great numbers arrive on our shores in the 
spring, resulting in an abundance of British-born specimens 
appearing about the end of July and August. In these great 
migratory years, a vast migration takes place generally through¬ 
out Europe, and flights of these butterflies invade this country 
in the autumn, when these aliens mix with the home-bred 
specimens. It appears remarkable that the greatest invasions 
of V. cardui have occurred during the wettest summers for 
many years. In the wettest years recorded, viz. 1879 an d 
1903, vast swarms occurred all over Europe. 
