THREE-ANGLE WINGS: LOWER SURFACE
The American Tortoise-shell (see [page 182])
The Red Admiral (see [page 160])
The Violet-tip (see [page 150])
From a drawing by W. I. Beecroft
See [page 163]
The Red Admiral or Nettle Butterfly
Vanessa atalanta
Among the weedy plants which have been intimately associated with mankind ever since his slow upward progress in civilization began, the nettle has probably played almost as important a part as the thistle. While it lacks the winged seeds of the latter it is even more effectually protected from the attacks of vertebrate enemies on account of its irritating hairs. At any rate, nettles of various kind are widely distributed over the earth's surface, and consequently it is not surprising that the Nettle Butterfly or Red Admiral should be almost as cosmopolitan as the Thistle butterfly. The two species are closely related in structure and habits and the life-history of the one is very similar to that of the other.