TRANSACTIONS
OF THE
EPPING FOREST AND COUNTY OF ESSEX
NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.
I.—Is Vanessa Polychloros the prototype of V. Urticae?
A Query suggested by the Aberrant Form of a speci-
men of V. Urticae of Polychloros type.
By William White.
[Read February 26th, 1881.]
The caterpillar of the Vanessa exhibited was taken at
Highgate-Hill in 1879, included in the larval "web"
of a community of Urticae, and was reared throughout its
existence with the rest of the brood entirely upon nettle
(Urtica). During the larval stage there was nothing notice-
able in its appearance to distinguish it in any way from
its companions. In the chrysalis form it bore the specific
characters of Urticae as regards its angular projections and
general contour, but the colours were somewhat richer in
VOL. II.