S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

PLATE XXVIII.
67
PEACOCK.
Vanessa io, FABRICIUS. OCHSENHEIMER.
STEPHENS. DUNCAN. WESTWOOD.
Papilio io, LINNJJUS. HAWORTH. LEWIN.
Jnachis io, HUBNER.
DONOVAN. ALBIN. WILKES. HARRIS.
As the student in Entomology, or indeed in any branch of
Natural History, meets for the first time with one new species
after another whose distinctive appearance it had never even come
into his mind before to conceive, he repeatedly exclaims, not
indeed perhaps in the words, but in the admiration of his
mind, "Wonders never cease:" well do I remember the intense
pleasure which, when a boy, the first sight of the Peacock,
the Red Admiral, and the Brimstone afforded me. I wish
others to experience the same gratification, and shall be truly
glad if my "History of British Butterflies" furthers the cause
of the gladsome science which it is intended to illustrate.
This truly splendid species is common throughout the greater
part of the country, though less so as you advance farther
north. In the south of Scotland it is but sparingly met with.
The perfect insect appears in the middle of July, and by no
means unfrequently survives until the following spring, hyber-
nating during the winter in sheltered "nooks and corners."
The caterpillar is found in the beginning of July.
It feeds on the common nettle.
In this grand fly the wings expand to the width of
from two and a half to three inches; the fore wings are of
a rich dark brownish red; on their front margin there are two
black nearly triangular-shaped marks, the inner one smaller than
L