British Butterfiles Part 11

Mr. Curtis says, "They only fly when the sun shines, and their flight is neither swift nor continued, for they frequently alight among the gra.s.s, and falling down to the roots, their sombre colour perfectly conceals them."

The following notice of their locality, &c. from {108} personal observation, is quoted from a communication to the _Intelligencer_, by a well-known entomologist, Mr. R. S. Edleston, of Manchester. He says:--

"I and my friend, Mr. Hugh Harrison, in the middle of June made the ascent to Sty Head Tarn; for the first time in my experience, the weather was everything we could desire--calm and sunshine; this, combined with the dry season of last year and the long drought for months during this, enabled us to collect on ground in other years a dangerous mora.s.s. The result was, we captured _Ca.s.siope_ in abundance, some of them in superb condition, just emerged from the chrysalis. A very short time on the wing suffices to injure them. They vary considerably in the development of the black spots on the fulvous patch, almost obsolete in some through all gradations to the fullest development; the patch varies in like manner, and also in form; lastly, they vary in size."

The caterpillar is yet _unknown_.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ has the wings above of a dark brown colour. Each wing bears near its extremity a bar of deep but dull red, divided into sections where the brown veins cross. In each section is usually a black spot, but sometimes these are absent, and a few red spots take the place of the bar.

The hind wings are smoothly rounded in their outline, and not toothed or scalloped as in the last species (_Blandina_). The _males_ generally appear towards the end of June, but a few sometimes earlier. The females, however, come later. {109} being found in July, and some even as late as August. The following localities for it are recorded:--Rannoch, Perthshire; Lake District; Sty Head Tarn; Langdale Pikes; Red Skrees Mountains, near Ambleside; Gable Hill. But other stations for it will probably be added to our list in time.

THE MARSH RINGLET, OR SMALL RINGLET b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Coenonympha Davus._)

(Plate VI. fig. 6.)

This species, which is another North-country b.u.t.terfly, varies so much in its colouring of sober drab or brown, with black eye-spots, that its varieties have been described as distinct species under the names of _C.

Polydama_, _Typhon_, and _Iphis_, now, however, all placed together under the name of _Davus_.

These variations appear to depend in great measure upon local differences of elevation, lat.i.tude, &c.

From this excessive variability also it is very difficult to give a clear _general_ description of the markings, though the insect may be distinguished from other British species that approach it in appearance by the obscure yellowish-drab tint of the upper surface, marked with indistinct eye-spots, and more especially by having on the under surface of the hind wings an _irregular_ {110} _whitish_ band across the centre, and outside of this a row of about six clearly defined black eye-spots with white centres, situated each in a pale ochreous ring.

The _b.u.t.terfly_, which appears in June and July, is exclusively met with in the North (including North Wales), and inhabits the moors and marshy heaths, or "mosses," in a great many localities in Scotland and the northern counties. The following are among those recorded:--

SCOTLAND.--Shetland Isles; Isle of Arran; Pentland Hills; Ben Nevis; Ben Lomond, near Oban; Ben More.

ENGLAND.--Lake District of c.u.mberland; Yorkshire; Beverley; Cottingham; Hatfield Chase; Thorne Moor; White Moss, Trafford Moss, Chat Moss, near Manchester; Chartly Park, near Uttoxeter; Delmere Forest, Cheshire; between Stockport and Ashton; near Cromer, in Norfolk; near Glandford Brigg, Lincolnshire.

IRELAND.--Donegal mountains.

NORTH WALES.--Between Bala and Ffestiniog.

Ashdown Forest, in Suss.e.x, has been given as a locality, on doubtful authority, certainly; but from what I have seen and know of that district and its productions, I think it is not at all impossible that _Davus_ may be really found there. We have there, at any rate, the heath-covered, yet swampy, moorlands that the insect loves, and also in plenty the plants one finds most abundant in the northern moorlands; such {111} as Vacciniums, Cotton-gra.s.ses, the three common Heaths, &c. &c. with great variety in the elevation, some of the ground lying very high.

THE SMALL HEATH b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Coenonympha Pamphilus._)

(Plate VI. fig. 7.)

This is the pretty little tawny-coloured b.u.t.terfly that mixes with the sportive group of "Blues," Meadow Browns, &c. on heaths, downs, and gra.s.sy fields.

The general colour of the upper surface is a tawny yellow or buff, shaded with a darker tint of brown at the edges and at the bases of the hind wings. On the under side it may be distinguished from _C. Davus_ by the _absence of the clearly defined black eye-spots_ which the latter has. It is usually much inferior in size to the last.

The _caterpillar_, which feeds on the common gra.s.ses, is of a bright apple-green colour, with three darker green stripes bordered with a whitish tint, the largest stripe being that on the back.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ abounds all over the country, from June till September.

{112}

THE WHITE ADMIRAL. (_Limenitis Sybilla._)

(Plate VII. fig. 1.)

This elegant b.u.t.terfly is one of those in which the choicest ornamentation is bestowed upon the _under_ surface, to the comparative neglect of the upper. Above, a dark sepia-brown tint, banded and spotted with white, is all that greets the eye; but beneath there is a piece of the most exquisitely harmonious colouring, though the hues that compose it are still of a subdued and secondary nature;--silvery blue, and golden brown blended with a cooler brown and black, are placed in vivacious contrast with bands and spots of pure silvery white.

The _caterpillar_ (Plate I. fig. 4), which feeds on the Honeysuckle, is a pretty and singular looking creature; general colour bright green, with reddish branched spines, and white and brown side-stripes.

The _chrysalis_ (Plate I. fig. 21) is also a very beautiful and curious object, very k.n.o.bby and angular, of dark green general colour, and ornamented with _bright silver_ spots and stripes.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ is found from the end of June till the end of July; its favourite resorts being oak-woods in the southern counties. {113}

Localities:--Colchester; Epping; Hartley Wood, near St. Osyth, Ess.e.x; near Rye, and in other parts of Suss.e.x; at several places in Kent; near Winchester; and in Black Park, where Dr. Allchin informs me he took a large number in one day.

The superlatively graceful motions of this b.u.t.terfly on the wing, as it comes floating and sailing through the wood openings, have long been celebrated; and the story has been often quoted from Haworth, of the old fly-fancier, who, long after he had become too feeble and stiff-jointed to pursue or net a b.u.t.terfly, used to go and sit on a stile which commanded a well-known resort of his favourite _Sybilla_, and there, for hours together, would he feast his eyes on the sight of her inimitably elegant evolutions.

THE PURPLE EMPEROR. (_Apatura Iris._)

(Plate VII. fig. 2.)

By universal suffrage, the place of highest rank among the b.u.t.terflies of Britain has been accorded to this splendid insect, who merits his imperial t.i.tle by reason of his robe of royal purple, the lofty throne he a.s.sumes, and the boldness and elevation of his flight.

A glimpse of this august personage on the wing is enough to fire the collector with enthusiastic ambition {114} for his capture; sometimes a matter of the easiest accomplishment, sometimes just as hopelessly impossible, according to his majesty's humour of the moment.

Cowardice is not one of his attributes, and if he has formed a preference for any especial spot, he will risk loss of liberty and life rather than forsake it.

The old mode of capturing this prize was by a ring net fixed at the end of a pole some twenty or thirty feet long, and so sweeping him off as he sat on his leafy throne, or in one of his evolutions when he quitted his seat for a turn in the air.

This method still is practised, and succeeds occasionally, but the weapon is an unwieldy one, both in use, and for carriage to the place of action; and science has now placed in our power another plan, by means of which I believe that by far the greater number of recent captures have been made.

The plan alluded to, is to take advantage of the creature's royal taste for game--for in that light I take his predilection for decomposing animal matter, now a matter of notoriety; and so potent is the attraction of the _haut-got_ for the royal palate, that if any animal, or part of one, not too recently slaughtered, be suspended near the known haunts of the insect, ten to one but its savour will bring him down to earth to taste the luxurious morsel, and so engrossed does he become when thus engaged, that he may be swept off by the net without difficulty. In the s.p.a.ce of two or three days large numbers of Emperors have been caught by means {115} of this novel and singular trap, and the seemingly coa.r.s.e and unb.u.t.terfly-like taste that leads them to it.

The wings of the male only have that splendid glow of changing purple that gives him his name and honours, the empress having in its place a sober garb of brown; she, however, considerably exceeds her lord in dimensions and expanse of wing. From her stay-at-home habits, sitting all day in her oak-leaf bower, she is comparatively seldom seen or captured. I believe collectors generally take about ten males to one female.

On the under side the colouring of both s.e.xes is similar, and affords a striking contrast to the dark upper surface, having the white markings arranged as on the upper side, but rather broader; and, instead of the dark brown or purple, a lively pattern of orange-brown, greyish brown, and black. On the front wing is a purple-centred eye-spot, and a smaller one is seen near the lower angle of the hind wing.

The firm, muscular appearance of the wings, gives promise of great strength in those organs, fully borne out in the powerful and bird-like flight of the creature, who has also a habit of soaring, about midday, to vast heights in the air, and there engaging in contests, sportive or pugnacious, with his brother, or rival, Emperors.

In the _caterpillar_ state also the Purple Emperor is a remarkable creature, of the form shown in Plate I. fig. 5, bright green, striped with yellow on each side, and bearing on his head a pair of horns or tentacles.

{116} Though the perfect insect is chiefly found on the oak, the caterpillar feeds generally on the broad-leaved Sallow, though it has been occasionally found on the Poplar.

The _chrysalis_, which may be found on the same trees, suspended to the under side of a leaf, is shown at Fig. 22, Plate I. and is of a light green colour.

The _b.u.t.terfly_ appears in July, and is found in oak woods in many localities of the South. The following are a few of these:--Near Colchester, extremely abundant, Epping, Great and Little Stour Woods; Kettering, Barnwell Wold, Northamptonshire; Bourne, Lincoln; Leicester; Reading, Newbury, Berks; Herefordshire; Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire; Warwickshire; Suffolk; Monkswood, Hunts; Clapham Park Wood, Beds; Darenth Wood, Chatham, Tenterden; Ticehurst, Balcombe, Tilgate Forest, Arundel, near Brighton; Lyndhurst; Stowmarket; Isle of Wight.