
192 THE INSECT WORLD. 
towards the tip of the wing; the whole on a lightish ground. 
The lower wings are of a reddish tawny colour, with many black 
spots, a circular row of which borders the wing. The caterpillar is 
bristly, brownish, with yellow lateral broken lines. It lives in 
solitude on many species of thistle, on the artichoke, the milfoil or 
yarrow, &c. It makes for itself a web, rather like a spider’s nest, 
and lives therein. The pupa is greyish, with numerous golden 
dots. The perfect insect shows itself, almost without interruption, 
from spring till autumn. It flies rapidly, and in certain seasons is 
abundant. 
The Vanessa (Grapta) C-album (Fig. 165), or Comma butter- 
fly, is not common in this country. Above, its wings are tawny, 
spotted with black. Below, they 
are more or less brown, with 
different tints, and sometimes 2 
little blue. On the underside of 
the lower wings is a white spot 
of the form of a C. “ This spot,” 
says old Geoffroy, ‘“ caused this 
butterfly to have the name of 
gamma given to it, and its colour 
Fig. 165.—The Comma Buttertly (Vanessa Of Diable enrhumé (sic), as also 
ma 2 the singular cut of its wings, has 
caused it to be called by others Robert le Diable.” Its caterpillar 
lives on the nettle, the honeysuckle, the currant, the hazel, and 
the elm. It is of a reddish brown, with a white band on the 
back. Réaumur calls it the Beadle, comparing it to the church 
beadles, who usually dress in glaring colours. 
These brilliant Vanesse, of which we have just briefly described 
some remarkable species, have been the cause of superstitious terror. 
This must at first sight seem incredible, but it has arisen thus: 
When they have just quitted the pupa, a red-coloured liquid drops 
from them. Ifa great many butterflies are hatched at the same 
time, and in the same place, the ground becomes, as it were, 
sprinkled with drops of blood. Hence the origin of the pretended 
showers of blood which, at different periods, have terrified the 
ignorant, too much imbued with religious superstitions. | 
At the beginning of the month of J uly, 1608, one of these sup- 



