Genus AGLAIS, Dal mart, 1816 
THE SMALL TORTOISESHELL 
A gluts urticac (Linn., 1758). 
(Plate XII, facing page 161) 
The small Tortoiseshell is the commonest of the British 
Vanessids and is one of the earliest of our butterflies to 
reappear in the spring after hibernation ; it has been found 
on the wing in every month of the year. 
Haunts and Distribution. This familiar butterfly occurs 
throughout the British Islands, except the Shetlands. In 
the early spring the hibernated examples are commonly found 
frequenting roadsides and country lanes, where they are fond 
of basking in the sun as they rest with expanded wings on the 
paths or wayside plants, and taking short and rapid flights to and 
fro. In summer and autumn it is a common garden butterfly, 
and is greatly attracted by Buddleia, Michaelmas Daisies, Scabi¬ 
ous and other autumnal flowers. Except in the arctic regions, 
the Small Tortoiseshell occurs throughout Europe and Asia, 
to Japan. 
Migration. Previous to 1928 there was no authentic 
instance known of A. urticac migrating to this country. I 
therefore recorded in The Entomologist , Vol. LXII, p. no, 
an interesting observation made by Mr. Springett on 
September 5th, 1928, while fishing about three miles out at 
sea off Fairlight, Hastings. The wind was strong from the 
south-east; .he counted over twenty, and stated: “They 
seemed as though they wanted to settle on the boat. They 
all came almost in a straight line across the Channel, and 
appeared to settle on the cliffs/’ In August, 1929, while 
staying at Swanage, Dorset, there was then taking place a 
large immigration of A. urticac. I observed large numbers 
flying in from the sea from the south-east. On reaching the 
shore, these immediately settled and fed on the first flowers 
they found. A small bed of Valerian had numbers of fresh 
arrivals feasting on the blossoms.. The butterflies increased in 
number daily for about a week, and all arrived singly ; some¬ 
times two or three might be seen coming in from the sea at 
the same time. 
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