S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

82 PAINTED LADY.
of Switzerland in such vast numbers, that their transit occupied
several hours, in a manner 'mirabile dictu.'
The caterpillar is found in the middle of July.
It feeds on the thistle, (Carduus lanceolatus,) the nettle,
(Urtica dioica,) the mallow, (Malta sylvestris,) and the
artichoke, (Cynara scolymus.J
The wings expand to the width of from two inches and a
quarter to two and three quarters, or a little over. The fore
Avings are brown at the base, the tip blackish, with five white
spots, the largest of which adjoins the front edge, and the four
others—two small ones between tAvo larger, the upper of which
latter also adjoins the front edge—form a curved line, between
which and the margin is a slender interrupted whitish line,
the margin itself being white, indented crescent-wise. The
rest of these wings is fulvous orange, with a suffusion of pink
more or less extended from the upper inner part, and with
three indented black united spots. The hind wings have the
base and the inner margin brown, the remainder fulvous, with
many black marks arranged in three roAvs, the inner one forming
a series of round larger and smaller spots, and the outer one
adjoining the margin, which is whitish.
Underneath, the fore wings are marked nearly as above, but
the tawny colour is more diffused; the dark spots are smaller,
and the tip of the wing is dark stone-colour, instead of black.
The hind wings are mottled in the most charming manner with
pale olive brown, yellowish buff, and Avhite; the veins being
white. Near the hind margin is a row of slender blackish blue
marks, above which are four eyes; the tAvo middle ones being
smaller than the two outer ones, Avhich are encircled Avith black.
The caterpillar is solitary, of a bro\vn colour, with interrupted
yelloAv lines along the side, and spined.
The chrysalis is brown, with ash-coloured lines and golden
spots.
This Butterfly varies considerably both in size and in the
amount and depth of the pink colour on the wings.