KOTES OS THR NATURAL HISTOriY OF SOUTHAMPTON. 235 



course of the summer we captured specimens of many of the ssarcer butterflies, 

 which were never obtained in previous seasons. Among them I may men- 

 tion the Silver Streak, (^Argynnis Paphia,) only one specimen of which, and 

 that very much battered, had till this year fallen into my hands. I may 

 safely say that, had we been so disposed, we might have possessed ourselves 

 of some scores, both of this and the Dark Green, {Argynnis Aglaia^ which 

 are not, generally speaking, very common. We also captured the Glanville, 

 (Melitoea Ginxia,) rather frequently, which is said by Rennie to be very 

 uncommon; and the Hair Streaks, (Thecla Quercus and Thecla Eubi,) were 

 more than usually abundant. Several, I may indeed say a good many speci- 

 mens of the Marbled White, {Hipparchia Galathea,) were this year seen, 

 while only one or two were noticed throughout the whole course of the 

 succeeding summer. This was likewise the only year in which we ever met 

 with the Wood White, (Leucopltasia Sinajns,) of which we obtained several 

 specimens in the New Forest, as well as one or two in the copses nearer 

 the town. 



There is one remarkable circumstance connected with the Entomology of 

 Southampton, which I am quite at a loss to account for, namely, that though 

 during the season, (August and September,) the Clouded Saffron, (Colias 

 Edvsa,) is very plentiful in the immediate vicinity of Netley Abbey, not a 

 specimen of it is to be seen elsewhere. They are rarely to be met with at the 

 distance of a mile from the ruins, and I have sought, for them in vain on 

 the western side of the Itchen. In a field, however, a few hundred yards 

 beyond the Abbey, this insect may be captured at the rate of a dozen per 

 diem. The caterpillar is said to feed on grass; and I am not aware that 

 there are any peculiarities of herbage which will account for their being so 

 strangely local. 



The summer of 1847, too, while other butterflies were not more than 

 usually numerous, appeared to be very favourable to the production of the 

 Admiral, {Vanessa Afalanta,) In our garden there were two Strawberry 

 trees, {Arbutus Unedo,) which seemed to be very favourite resorts with them^ 

 and on which they alighted in great numbers. Four, five, and even more 

 might frequently have been observed on one tree at one time, and that all 

 the day long: the havoc which we made among them by the capture of 

 scores not appearing to diminish their numbers. 



In the hope that it may be interesting to some of your entomological 

 readers, I append a list of such butterflies as I have caught in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Southampton. — 



Primrose, (Gonepteryx Rhamni.) — Common. 



Clouded Saffron, (Colias Edusa.) — Near Netley Abbey. 



Gahhage, (Pontia Brassicae.) — Very common. 



Turnip, (Pontia Rapae.) — Very common. 



Green-veined, (Pontia Napi.) — Very common. 



Wood Lcidy. (Mancipium Cardamines.) — Common. 



