THE COMMA BUTTERFLY 
175 
whole of the southern half of England and Wales. This 
butterfly has never occurred in either Scotland or Ireland. 
Its range abroad extends throughout the Palaearctic regions, 
except for the Arctic. It frequents openings and rides in 
woods, lanes, gardens and other places abounding with 
flowers. The Comma seems particularly attracted to Bramble 
bloom. Thistles, Buddleia and other autumnal flowers, and 
has often been found feasting on rotten fruit. It appears 
to spend much of its time resting with expanded wings on 
foliage in the sunshine, and taking from time to time short, 
rapid flights. 
Time of Appearance. Hibernated examples appear on the 
wing as early as March in fine warm spells of weather ; the 
normal time is from early April until the end of May or the 
beginning of June. The first brood appears in July; the 
butterflies of the second brood appear in August and continue 
on the wing until about the middle of October. 
Hibernation. Unlike most other hibernating butterflies, 
the Comma does not seek the shelter of some snug retreat to 
pass its long winter's sleep, but rests on branches and trunks 
of trees and other situations fully exposed, trusting to its 
remarkable resemblance to its environment for its protection. 
The ragged formation of its wings, combined with the 
colouring of the under surface, renders it almost invisible 
while at rest on the bark of trees or among withered leaves. 
It is an instance of perfect protective resemblance. 
Egg Laying. The eggs are laid singly on the upper surface 
of the leaf, from about the middle of April until the end 
of May. 
A captive female I kept under careful observation started 
depositing eggs on April 17th, when she laid twenty-three, 
and others on 21st and 23rd. She afterwards laid at intervals 
until June 1st, when ten were laid ; in all 275 were deposited. 
She died on June 3rd, having lived in captivity for fifty days. 
Assuming that she emerged from the pupa at the end of the 
previous August (probably earlier), her life extended over 
nine months. 
The food plants of the larvae are various. In a wild state 
the eggs are laid on the Common Stinging Nettle and on 
the Hop ; but in captivity the larvae will readily feed on 
