PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 19 



one, which is generally paler in colour than the brood appearing in 

 the end of June. I have met, however, with more variations of all kinds 

 in this species than in almost any other butterfly ; and I should think 

 that, in any ordinary season, I could have collected an almost complete 

 series of gradations from the type to the greatest deviation from it, 

 within the limits of the district which I have mentioned. 



Vanessa polychloros. This insect I have taken several times, particularly in the 

 neighbourhood of Astley; but have never found it in any great abun- 

 dance. One or two specimens may be obtained in ordinary seasons 

 from the above-named locality, and very probably more than that num- 

 ber if carefully hunted for ; I never looked particularly for them. 

 urticae. Very common. 

 io. Ditto. 

 antiopa. Not found ; but I strongly suspect it might be met with, as 



these are places very favourable to it. 

 atalanta. Very common. 

 Cynthia cardui. Far from uncommon, particularly about Astley, and on the 



right side of the Severn generally. 



Apatura iris. I have not taken this insect myself in this district, and am rather 

 surprised at it, excepting for the reason that I have not made express search for 

 it. I have very little doubt that it is to be found, and should be glad if any one 

 could inform me that it has been caught there. The locality is, at the least, as 

 favourable as those in the neighbouring county of Warwickshire, about Coleshill, 

 and Merivale Abbey, and Coventry ; and in Leicestershire, about Bardon Hill, 

 on the confines of Charnwood Forest ; in which places it is to be found, or, at 

 least, was, between 1840 and 1843, when I was hunting in those neighbourhoods. 

 The only other locality which I personally know as producing it, is near War- 

 minster, in Wiltshire ; but none of these places are more favourable than this 

 district in Worcestershire, where there are oaks and sallows in abundance. It is 

 chiefly to be met with in the southern counties of England, but by no means 

 exclusively. I am acquainted with one or two other districts towards the middle 

 of the country, where I expect it may be found, though I have not seen it there 

 myself; but being, unfortunately, very short-sighted which is a bad failing for 

 a Lepidopterist my failure, especially in such a case as that of the A. iris, is 

 not of any great consequence, nor can it weigh much against the districts in 

 question. 



Limenitis Camilla. Unquestionably very rare ; but to be found about Bewdley 

 Forest occasionally, and scattered over the wooded district between the valleys 

 of the Severn and the Teme. It seems, however, to be somewhat fitful and 

 uncertain in its appearance. 



Also, the following note, from the same gentleman, in reference to a cholera- 

 like disease which he had found to attack Lepidopterous larvae : 



"On June 21, I took eleven fine and apparently healthy caterpillars of the 

 Lasiocampa roboris, not far from Dover, within a distance of about two miles. 

 The next day I gave two of them to a friend, and kept the rest. They have been 

 constantly supplied with abundance of fresh food, and have eaten well ; and one or 

 two of them have moulted since I had them, and seemed healthy and lively after- 

 wards. About a fortnight ago one of them seemed sluggish and ill the finest of 

 the whole number and, in a day or two, died its skin tearing, and the inside 

 running out. Since that time four others have died in the same way, as well as 

 the two which I gave my friend. The four remaining ones seeming very languid 

 and weak, I examined them carefully, and found them infested by numbers of 

 minute white mites, semi-transparent, with smooth, globular bodies, six legs the 

 posterior pairs considerably longer than the others, and two rather long antenna. 

 They concealed themselves principally at the roots of the hairs, and in the folds of 

 the skin, between the segments of the body, and ran very quickly if disturbed. I 

 found many of them on the body of the caterpillar which moulted a few days ago, 

 and died this morning ; and numbers on the remaining four which yet survive. 

 I cannot, as yet, determine whether they live entirely on the surface of the body, 



