6 DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA OF ST, ANDREWS. 



men is a very perfect one — "probably does not extend beyond the Frith of 

 Forth," and this is the only recorded instance that I know of its having been seen 

 or taken on this side of the Forth. 



Vanessa atalanta. — I have only seen one specimen of the Red Admiral here, 

 which was on the 18th and 19th of October. It is a very active insect, never 

 resting long on one spot. On the 18th it alighted several times close beside me 

 on the ground, on flowers, on the trunks of trees, &c, in the garden, but was so 

 active that I could not catch him. He at last flew out of the garden, and did 

 not again return that day. On the 19th I again found him in the garden, when 

 I secured him for my cabinet. 



Hipparchia megcera. — This insect is extremely abundant here, especially dur- 

 ing August and September, before and after which month it is not so abundant. 

 The first specimen I saw this year was on the 3rd of June, and the last on the 

 19th of October. The last time I saw it in 183C was on the ISth of October. 

 I have taken specimens with 2 small ocelli, besides the large one on the under 

 side of the anterior wing. 



Hipparchia janira. — Very abundant in the month of August, at the side of 

 the Kinnes burn, and flying over corn-fields. 



ffijqtarchia hyperanihus. — Not very abundant here. Cut I saw and took it 

 in great abundance about 16 miles west from this in the parish of Abdie on the 

 10th of July, flying in a meadow, over the long grass. 



Lyccena jMceas. — I have had great difficulty in procuring a perfect specimen 

 of this beautiful and active little Papilio (which is very abundant on the banks 

 of the Kinnes burn in August and beginning of September), owing, I suppose, to 

 its pugnacious habits, ofwhichlhad an example on the 24th of August. A 

 bold little fellow seemed to think himself the sovereign of a head of flowers of the 

 Common Ragwort (which they delight to settle upon), over which he kept con- 

 stant watch, offering instant battle to any other insect that attempted to alight 

 within his dominions. Whilst I watched him he beat off others of his own spe- 

 cies, as well as Polyommatus alexis and Hipparchia megcera. The specimens I 

 have taken of this littlu Butterfly var} r in the intensity of copper, as well 

 as as of the dark colour, and on the 14th of September I caught three specimens 

 of a variety with 4 blue spots on the dark part of the posterior wing, which spots 

 are encircled by a zone of a golden colour. 



Polyommatus alexis. — As stated above, this insect was very abundant on the 

 links about the end of July. I have also taken specimens at the burn and in the 

 garden. 



Law Park, near St. Andrews, 



November 13, 1837. 



