The butterfly first appears about the end of July, and is seen till the end of September, and occasionally in October. I took a beautiful fresh specimen in _October_, while strolling through a nursery garden at Wandsworth. Those seen in early spring are _hybernated_ specimens. The appearance of this butterfly in any given locality is a matter of great uncertainty, though it capriciously visits, and even abounds occasionally in almost every place. It is a bold insect, and, though agile in its movements, not difficult to catch, for, if disturbed or missed at the first stroke, it returns to the charge quite fearlessly. * * * * * THE RED ADMIRAL. (_Vanessa Atalanta._) (Plate VIII. fig. 1.) In grand simplicity and vividness of colour, the Red Admiral perhaps surpasses every other British butterfly, and reminds one forcibly of some of the gorgeous denizens of the tropics. Intense black and brilliant scarlet in bands and borders are the two chief elements {119} of this splendour, relieved delightfully by the cool white spots at the outer and upper corners, and by the choice little bits of blue at the inner and lower angles and near the margins. The painting of the under surface entirely beggars description. There is, in addition to the red band, a good deal of blue on the upper wing, and the lower wing is covered by an intricate embroidery of indescribable tints--all manner of browns, and greys, and blacks, with golden and other hues of metals, are here pencilled and blended with magic effect. The _caterpillar_, which feeds on the common nettle, is thorny, yellowish grey in colour, with light yellow lines on each side and black markings. The _chrysalis_ is brownish, with gold spots. The butterfly usually comes out in August, and may be met with till early in October. The hybernated specimens of this are more rarely seen than those of any of the other common _Vanessas_. Like others of its genus, the Red Admiral is familiar, and even saucy, in its manners, seeming to prefer the haunts of men to the solitudes that other insects love, flaunting boldly before our face in gardens and highways, where most we meet it. It is found commonly all over the country. * * * * * {120} THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. (_Vanessa Io._) (Plate VIII. fig. 2.) The form and markings of this species, so distinct from every other of our butterflies, will be seen by reference to the plate; and as to its colouring, I will not do it the injustice to attempt a description of its rich perfection, more especially as almost every reader may hope to add the insect to his collection during his first year's hunting, and then he can study its beauties for himself.