British Butterfiles Part 5

CYNTHIA Cardui.

VANESSA Atalanta.

-- Io.

-- Antiopa.

-- Polychloros.

-- Urticae.

GRAPTA C. Alb.u.m.

Sub-fam. ARGYNNIDI.

ARGYNNIS Paphia.

-- Aglaia.

-- Adippe.

-- Lathonia.

-- Euphrosyne.

-- Selene.

-- Dia.

MELITaeA Cinxia.

-- Athalia.

-- Artemis.

Fam. ERYCINIDae.

NEMEOBIUS Lucina.

Fam. LYCaeNIDae.

THECLA Betulae.

-- Pruni.

-- W. Alb.u.m.

-- Quercus.

-- Rubi.

CHRYSOPHa.n.u.s Phlaeas.

-- Chryseis.

-- Dispar.

POLYOMMATUS Boeticus.

-- Argiolus.

-- Alsus.

-- Acis.

-- Arion.

-- Corydon.

-- Adonis.

-- Alexis.

-- aegon.

-- Agestis.

-- Artaxerxes.

Fam. HESPERIDae.

PYRGUS Alveolus.

NISIONADES Tages.

STEROPES Paniscus.

PAMPHILA Actaeon.

-- Linea.

-- Sylva.n.u.s.

-- Comma.

It will be seen by the above list that seventy species are given as British. Of these, five species, viz. _Papilio Podalirius_, _Erebia Ligea_, _Argynnis Dia_, _Chrysopha.n.u.s Chryseis_, and _Polyommatus Boeticus_, have been so rarely taken as to be refused a place among the _regular_ denizens of our island. So that we can only reckon up the small number of _sixty-five species of true British b.u.t.terflies_.

These it now remains to describe individually, but, prior to entering on that task, I would say a few words {60} on the acquirement of scientific nomenclature and systematic arrangement, a knowledge of which will facilitate even our recreations in natural history, while it is absolutely essential to carrying out the really scientific study of any department.

It is true, that the painting of a b.u.t.terfly and the fragrance of a flower can give deep pleasure to a mind quite unconscious of their Latin names, their genus, order, or anything of the kind; but the interest of natural objects is, I am sure, greatly augmented when we acquire some insight, however dimly, into the wonderful mechanism of creation's plan, its infinite gradation of forms, and their curious, subtle relationships, to which a _good_ system of cla.s.sification serves, in some degree, as an index. I say, "_in some degree_," as a system framed in perfect accordance with that of nature is a discovery rather to be desired than hoped for, with the limited knowledge at present permitted to us.

Though these Latin names are generally considered as unwelcome excrescences on the pages of _popular_ natural history works, I would yet advise the young entomologist to master them for once, and accustom himself well to their use. He will not find the task a very difficult one, if I may judge from the repeated instances in which I have heard the almost infantile progeny of my naturalist friends glibly mouthing these redoubtable words, and applying them with the most precise accuracy.

Among collectors it is customary in familiar {61} conversation to use only the second, or _specific_ name of the insect's Latin t.i.tle; thus, in speaking of the common Swallow-tailed b.u.t.terfly, they call it "_Machaon_"

only, which at once distinguishes the one they mean from the other, or scarce Swallow-tailed b.u.t.terfly, which they would speak of as "_Podalirius_." The Pearl-bordered Likeness Fritillary may be called "_Athalia_," and so on. I think it will be allowed that these Latin names are not harder to learn, remember, or p.r.o.nounce, than the long-winded English t.i.tles; and, when acquired, bring their possessor the advantage of being able to converse with precision on their subject with all naturalists, whether British or Continental; for these names of science are current in all European languages.

Another piece of advice is: don't _waste time_ in trying to puzzle out the _meaning_, the why or the wherefore of b.u.t.terflies' scientific names. Now and then, certainly, they have some allusion to the insect's appearance, or to the plant on which it feeds; thus, for instance, _Gonepteryx Rhamni_, the entomological name of the Brimstone b.u.t.terfly, means the "_Angle-winged_ (b.u.t.terfly) _of the Buckthorn_," and this is very appropriate and descriptive; but in general there is no more connexion between the name and the character of a b.u.t.terfly, than there is between a ship's name--the "_Furious_," the "_Coquette_," or the "_Pretty Jane_," as it may be--and the moral disposition or personal appearance of the vessel that bears it.

Also, don't _waste money_ and encourage dishonesty, by {62} giving the absurdly large prices put upon _British_, or _pretended_ British specimens of b.u.t.terflies, or other insects that are rare in this country though common on the Continent; when, for all purposes of science, or the pleasure derived from their beauty, _avowed_ Continental specimens, at one-twentieth of the price, will do just as well. In putting these into your cabinet, however, always attach to the pin underneath the insect a label, bearing some mark to denote the specimen's foreign origin.

{63}

CHAPTER VI.

THE BRITISH b.u.t.tERFLIES SEPARATELY DESCRIBED.

THE SWALLOW-TAILED b.u.t.tERFLY. (_Papilio Machaon._)

(Plate III. fig. 1.)

There is no possibility of mistaking this n.o.ble insect for any other of our native species, after a glance at its portrait. Its superior size, conjoined with the possession of a pair of _long_ tails on the hind wings, would at once mark it distinctly, independently of the peculiar markings and colour.

In the colouring of the wings, a broad simplicity prevails, the general ground-tint being a clear creamy yellow, with the bars and marginal bands of the deepest velvety black. The broad bands of black on the front wings are powdered towards the centre with _yellow_ scales, and those on the hind wings with _blue_ scales. The only other colour on this side is a spot of rust-red at the inner angle of the hind wings.

The under side is very similar in colouring to the upper, but the black markings are less decided and sharp, and there are several additional rust-red spots on the hind wings. {64}

The _caterpillar_, which is a very handsome creature, is found feeding on various umbelliferous plants; among which, its chief favourites in this country appear to be the Wild Carrot (_Daucus Carota_), the Marsh Milk-parsley (_Selinum pal.u.s.tre_), and Fennel (_Anethum Foeniculum_). In colour it is bright green, with velvet-black rings, which are spotted with red. A distinguishing mark of this caterpillar is a reddish-coloured forked appendage just behind its head, which, when the animal is alarmed, gives out a strong-scented fluid, supposed to be for the purpose of alarming some of its enemies.

The _chrysalis_, again, is a very pretty object, especially when of its ordinary colour, which is a lively green, shaded in some parts into bright yellow; but there is a frequent variety marked only with various shades of brown and buff. Living specimens of both of these are before me at this moment, and when they a.s.sume the perfect state, I shall be curious to mark whether these differences are continued in the respective b.u.t.terflies.

These chrysalides are most interesting objects to keep during the winter months. As the spring advances, the colours of the b.u.t.terfly begin to appear faintly through their thin green envelope, and the pattern of the upper wings, which only are visible, becomes at last distinctly perceptible, of course in miniature. When this is the case, we should begin to watch for the release of the beautiful prisoner.

If you visit his cage the first thing every morning (for his exit most frequently takes place in the early part of {65} the day), you may be fortunate enough on one of these occasions, to find the creature either actually emerging, or just out of his case; cutting an odd figure, and evidently neither very proud of himself nor much at his ease, his wings being tiny things, hardly bigger than those of a humble-bee, and hanging limply from his comparatively ponderous and gigantic body; which they are nevertheless destined, ere many hours are over, to carry with most enviable celerity through the air.

The rapid increase in size of these organs is a matter of marvel; you can literally see them grow, and within about an _hour_ they will have reached their full expanse. The creature attaches itself, back downwards, to the lid of its cage, or to the under side of any convenient _horizontal_ surface, that the wings, by their own weight, may aid in their dilatation, and that they may dry without creasing, as they will sometimes do, when the insect, being under a slippery bell-gla.s.s, for instance, is unable to reach the desirable point of suspension, which it always evinces extreme anxiety to do. By the time the sun is well out, our pet will have his wings thoroughly plumed for flight; and here a difficulty sometimes presents itself to the entomologist. What is to be done with our new-born Machaon?

It is probably a splendid specimen for the cabinet, and the collector may long to grace his "series" with its virgin splendours. But then there will creep over him the unwelcome sensation, that it is a somewhat cowardly proceeding to foster a bright being into a life that might be all joyousness, {66} and then, taking advantage of his domesticated position, to cut short that life, almost ere commenced, and to forbid those wondrous wings to carry their possessor to even one short day's enjoyment of sunshine and nectar, and the doubtlessly exalted pleasure of mere airy motion itself. Fairly chasing down a b.u.t.terfly is all well enough; but this is quite another thing.

Every one must, however, choose for himself, as to taking the sentimental or the entomological view of the matter.