Retrospective Criticism. 375 



( Apatura Wis) is, from his habits, almost beyond the ordinary 

 reach of the entomologist. " He invariably fixes his throne" 

 (observes Mr. Haworth, Lepidoptera Britannica, p. 19.) 

 " upon the summit of a lofty oak, from the utmost sprigs of 

 which, on sunny days, he performs his aerial excursions," 

 &c. : but this accurate observer goes on to remark, " when 

 the purple emperor is within reach, no fly is more easily 

 taken, for he is so very bold and fearless that he will not 

 move from his settling place until you quite push him off; 

 you may even tip the ends of his wings, and be suffered to 

 strike again." I once took a specimen of Apatura I'm in 

 the Isle of Wight, as it sat on the top of some low oak copse- 

 wood, with no better entomological apparatus than my hat. 



[Notes in relation to Mr, Conway's Communication on But- 

 terflies, p. 224—228.] Mr. Conway (p. 224.) doubts 

 whether Gonepteryx rhamni be double-brooded or not. 

 Certain it is we have the insect twice in the year, viz., in the 

 early spring, and again towards the end of July and August ; 

 but whether the vernal specimens are such as have survived 

 the winter in the winged state, or have burst from the 

 chrysalis in the spring, is a point on which entomologists 

 seem to be not quite agreed. The same gentleman asks, 

 also, whether all the early ones are females ? I answer, 

 decidedly not. The earliest example I ever saw was a male, 

 and many of that sex I have observed this (and usually do, 

 every) spring. Mr. Conway's remarks on the deeper tinge 

 of that portion of the under side of the primary wings which 

 is usually covered with the lower wings, when the insect is at 

 rest, are ingenious and plausible enough : but the theory, I 

 apprehend, will not hold good ; because, in perfectly fresh 

 specimens, the portion of the wings alluded to is found also 

 to be of a brighter yellow than the remainder of the same 

 surface, and in the female specimens the corresponding 

 portion is likewise of a purer white. 



In p. 224. Colias Edusa is called the " clouded sulphur." 

 The English name of C. Edus# is " clouded yellow, or 

 orange." " Clouded sulphur " is the proper English name 

 of C. Europ6m<?, a very rare insect, which has been admitted 

 into the British catalogue on rather doubtful authority. (See 

 Vol. V. p. 333. note f.) 



Pontic " rapi," p. 224., is, doubtless, a mere misprint for 

 P. «napi." 



Melitae'a Dictynna, pearl-bordered likeness, is enumerated 

 in Mr. Conway's list ; and he says he has " always found it in a 

 bog at a considerable elevation on the mountain side." (p. 22.5.) 



b b 4 



