S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

BRIMSTONE.
mouth: W P Cocks, Esq. has, however, taken it there in 1845
and also in 1850. In Scotland it appears to be unknown.
There are two broods, one in Mav, the other in the autumn.
Many of the autumnal brood live through the winter, and are
to be seen in the spring even so early sometimes as February
and March, called forth from their retreats by the heat of the
returning sun.
The Brimstone is a very discursive insect, and is to be found
in gardens, lanes, and fields, especially in those in which clover
is grown.
The caterpillar feeds on the buckthorn, (Rhamnus cathar-
ticus/J the berry-bearing alder, (Rhamnus frangulus;) and the
Rhamnus alaternus.
The expanse of the wings in this species varies from rather
more than two inches to two inches and a half. In the male
the whole of the upper wings is of a splendid sulphur yellow
colour, with an orange spot above the centre of the fore wings,
and a larger one similarly on the hinder wings. A line of the
same colour, enlarged here and there into a minute dot,
borders the upper corners of the fore wings; underneath the
colour is much fainter, with a cast of green in it: the spot is
replaced by a ferruginous dot, whitish in the centre, between
which and the margin spoken of is a row of brownish dots.
The female is much paler in colour, resembling more that of
the under side of the male.
The caterpillar is green, dotted on the back with black; there
is a pale green or whitish line on each side, shading off on
the upper edge into the green of the rest of the body.
The chrysalis is green, with several reddish dots. It is
thickest in the middle, tapering off in front. It is suspended
by the tail in an upright position, and retained by a silken
thread round the middle of the body. The chrysalis state lasts
about a fortnight.
A variety, described as a separate species, by the name of
'Gonepteryx cleopatra,' has the upper wings more or less varie­
gated with orange.
The engraving is from specimens in my own collection.
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