The Scottish Naturalist. 17 



There has been a considerable amount of discussion as 

 to the birthplace of the " Camberwell Beauties," of 1872 — 

 whether they are immigrants from continental Europe, or 

 whether they are British-born. 



Mr. Stainton (Ent. Monthly Mag., Oct. 1872, p. 105) shows 

 that central European specimens are yellow-bordered (at least 

 before hibernation), but north European ones are white-bordered, 

 and for this reason he inclines " to the opinion that the recent 

 invaders have come to us from Scandinavia." Mr. Stainton, in 

 support of this belief, alludes to the various recorded instances 

 of migrations of butterflies, and to the fact that in the parts of 

 Belgium nearest Britain, from which country, as being so much 

 nearer Britain than Scandinavia, the butterflies might have been 

 supposed to have come, Vanessa Antiopa is said to be scarce, 

 and to be yellow-bordered. 



Mr. Doubleday, in the same magazine, (Nov. 1872, p. 138), 

 takes a directly opposite view to Mr. Stainton's. He believes 

 that every one of the butterflies was bred in this country, and 

 cites Moses Harris as implying that Vanessa 'Antiopa was 

 not uncommon in this country a century ago. He also states 

 that there is a peculiarity in the appearance of British specimens 

 which at once distinguishes them from continental ones. 



In *' Science Gossip " for November, Mr. C. G. Barrett 

 reviews the recent records of the capture of this butterfly, and 

 points out that both yellow and white-bordered specimens have 

 occurred in several English counties. Mr. Barrett then con- 

 siders the question of origin, and though apparently desirous to 

 believe that it is British, yet confesses himself unable to decide. 

 In favour of British origin, he brings forward the fact of the 

 simultaneous appearance of specimens on the coast and inland, 

 the fineness of many of the specimens &c. 



Writing in the Ent. Mo. Mag., for November, I expressed my 

 inclination to more than half accept Mr. Stainton's view of 

 invasion from Scandinavia, but now with the light obtained 

 from further records, I have no hesitation in saying that I 

 believe the majority of, if not all, the specimens are British- 

 born. Against Mr. Stainton's theory, the simultaneous appear- 

 ance of the majority of specimens throughout the country 

 about August 22nd, the fine condition, and the fact that 

 a friend, who was travelling in the Scandinavian peninsula 



