BUTTERFLIES. 203 



on the opposite slope, and some Rustic passes along the ridge in his 

 sabbath attire, with frock which looks as white as snow. And now again, 

 the bell peals for evening prayer, and then to separate to repose, a repose 

 how complete, how untouched by the turmoil of the world or the bitter 

 consequences of ambition ! Such a view of life may be despised, but it 

 is unoffending, and leads to a felicity more lasting. Is it not then worthy 

 of industry, that we quit the din of population, and retire to peace 

 amid our native hills and the converse of a few congenial souls, who. 

 like ourselves, can find the true enjoyment of a country sabbath. 



Pembroke Square, Kensington, January 3rd., 1857. 



BUTTERFLIES. 



BY OEORGE R. TVVINN, ESQ. 



I am not a professed Entomologist, but a great admirer, nevertheless, 



"Of that wonder of wonders, — the bright- winged fly! 

 That flits to and fro in the azure sky," 



and my calendar generally contains notes of such as cross my path. The 

 accompanying brief list comprises those whose appearance I have noted at, 

 or within a mile of Birmingham; and they are all observed, (the Small 

 Tortoise-shell excepted,) by me, for the first time here, during a period of 

 three years. 



March 30th. — The Brimstone Butterfly, (Gonepteryx rhamni,) in the 

 grounds at the Elms. The following day two specimens were seen. 



May 7th. — The Bedford Blue, (Polyommatus alstis,) flying over our lawn. 



May 9th. — Three specimens of the Small Tortoise-shell, (Vanessa urticce,) 

 basking upon a bed of opening sweet-williams. 



June 6th. — A solitary Orange Tip, (Mancipium cardamines,) which lived 

 for several days in the greenhouse. 



June 12th. — Near the top of Stoney Lane, I tried to capture a prize; 

 for a pair of Purple Emperors, (Apalura Iris,) were revelling amid the lofty 

 trees and sunlight. I should much have liked these, but having no regular 

 implements for securing them with me, I was unsuccessful. Westwood 

 (ed. 18r>4) says, "This perfect insect is found in the middle of July, in 

 various parts of the south of England: — Epping Forest, Great and Little 

 Stour Woods, Wrabness, and Ramsay, Essex; Badly, Dodnath, and Raydon 

 Woods, in Suffolk; Clapham Park Woods, Beds.; Brinsop Copse, Heref; 

 Emborne Copse, Berks.; in Warminster, Wilts.; New Forest, Christchurch, 

 Hants.; Monks' Wood, Cambridge; near Hertford, and Coombe and Darenth 

 Woods, have been given as its localities; to which we may add that it is 



