226 Sketches of the Natural History 



time, been published in your pages. For my own part, I 

 think nothing can be more interesting than to have the 

 localities of such productions clearly ascertained. Some of 

 the butterflies which my list contains, and which are reckoned 

 as rare, are the very commonest in my neighbourhood; 

 whilst others, which are counted common, are here exceed- 

 ingly scarce. In pointing out what is to be had in my neigh- 

 bourhood, and comparing it with the lists of other neighbour- 

 hoods ; in fact, in acting the part of pioneer, I save the time 

 of, and spare useless labour to, the naturalist, who, without 

 such guides, might be led to explore a neighbourhood in 

 expectation of finding productions which it did not possess. 



1 1 . Argynnh Pdphin, Silver-washed fritillary ,- 1 2. A. 

 Agldia, Dark green fritillaiy ; 13. A. Adippe, High brown 

 fritillary. — The Argynnes are, in this neighbourhood, almost 

 entirely confined to the mountain side, and are very abun- 

 dant. A. Paphitf I have generally found resting on the 

 blossom of the common blackberry, and have often admired 

 his fine flight, as he has taken his circuitous progress, sweep- 

 ing the area of several fields, and then returning and settling 

 upon the same blossom again. His flight appears to be taken 

 almost without effort, and is effected with the greatest leisure 

 and coolness imaginable ; but, if once disturbed, he darts off" 

 with the impetuosity of the swiftest hawk. A. Aglaitf and 

 A. Adipp^, I have found only in one little mountain glen ; 

 the former sporting about the unmown hay, and the latter on 

 the fern which clothed the precipitous sides of the dingle, or 

 unceasingly threading the mazes of a little mountain rill, 

 which winds through its bottom. 



14. Cynthia cdrdui, Painted lady. — I have never seen this 

 fly living, but I have a few specimens in my possession which 

 were captured in this neighbourhood a few years back; and a 

 friend informs me that he has taken a few specimens, during 

 the past season, not many miles from my abode. 



15. Vanessa yltaldnta, Red admiral ; 16. V. to y Peacock : 

 17. V. urtlcce, Small tortoisehell ,- 18. V. c. album, Comma. — 

 The above-named vanessas generally abound. During the 

 last season, however, the V. Atalanta and V. c. album 

 were scarce: indeed, I took no more than two or three 

 specimens of either ; but I saw the former on the wing so late 

 as the 25th of November. I think, generally speaking, the 

 spring brood of the V. c. album furnishes the finest • spe- 

 cimens ; but, in the early captures of all the vanessas, there 

 are many specimens taken, which, by their weatherbeaten 

 appearance, bear evident proofs of their having outlived the 

 winter. 



19. Hippdrchio. Hyperdnth?ts, Ringlet ; 20. H. Pdmphylus, 



