The Scottish Naturalist. 41 



Vanessa Cardui h scarce in most seasons — indeed since I 

 commenced collecting in 1870, it has never been plentiful. On 

 one occasion Mr Herd disturbed one early in spring out of a 

 rabbit hole, the roof of which he broke down with his foot while 

 clambering along the hill face. 



V. Atalanta. — Not uncommon in some seasons, but cannot 

 be called plentiful, although its food-plant is more than com- 

 monly so in the woods. As however the farmers do not allow 

 it to exist on the sunny side of the fields, the shady situations 

 where it is most prevalent may not suit this sun-loving insect 

 as a nursery for its offspring. I can corroborate the love of 

 Atalanta for old sugared trees, as I have seen fiv^e or six con- 

 gregated on one which had been sugared two nights previously 

 for noctu^. 



V. Antiopa. — One of these handsome insects was taken in 

 my garden, which lies at the foot of Moncreiffe Hill, in October 

 1872. It had frequented the place during the month of Sep- 

 tember, and on one occasion I watched it sunning itself on the 

 wall for five minutes, while a friend ran home for my net. It 

 decamped, however, just as the net arrived, but was subse- 

 quently captured and brought to me. On the same day that 

 that I first saw Antiopa at Moncreiffe, Dr. Buchanan White and 

 Col. Drummond Hay saw one near Dunkeld. I cannot think 

 that this fine insect breeds with us in the north, and I must 

 confess it seems to me probable that the individual specimens 

 which were scattered over Scotland in 1872 were the stragglers 

 of a flight such as those of other butterflies which have been 

 frequently met with in warmer climates, that have been blo\vn 

 across the channel to the south of England. If they bred 

 with us more than single individuals would be seen together, 

 and the larva would be observed. 



V. Ui'ticce. — Common everywhere in the open places up to 

 the summit. A specimen came in to the light in my study at 

 12.30 A.M. on August 5th, 1872. I was standing at the open 

 window at the time, and saw it enter. 



Argynnis Aglaia. — Local and uncertain in its appearance. 

 Fairly common in 1870 and i87i,in one or two localities from 

 600 feet down to 100 ; since then, however, it has been scarce. 

 The food-plant, Viola sylvatica, is very plentiful, and I cannot 

 account for its absence since 1871, as I have noticed it in the 

 colder climate of Blair Athole in undiminished numbers, 

 though almost entirely absent here. 



