206 



were they with the luscious juices pumped up by their deeply inserted proboscis, 

 that they might be approached, and even captured with little address or difficulty ; 

 and it was delightful to see the smart, healthy, and invigorated percussion of their 

 wings against each other, and hear the clacking sound, which like a clapping of 

 hands, might be considered as indicative of the pure and unalloyed pleasure these 

 humble retainers at the bounteous table of nature were privileged to enjoy without 

 measure or reserve. 



The Black Hair-streak ( Thecla prunij. One of our ablest writers, Mr. 

 Curtis, tells us that this insect was almost totally unknown to the Entomologists 

 of Great Britain until lately. When in Yorkshire, a year or two ago, according 

 to his account, and near Ripley, according to Mr. Stephens, it was taken in abun- 

 dance ; the hedges of the latter locality being enlivened by myriads hovering over 

 flowers and bramble blossom, in one particular spot, while other hedges at no great 

 distance were perfectly free, though the brambles were in plenty. My own evi- 

 dence will go with these authorities towards the establishment of the fact of the 

 partial locality and occasional profusion of these elegant little butterflies. In Eng- 

 land I had never seen one living, and it was not till I arrived at Ems, and was 

 ascending the hill, in a glade of which I saw the purple Emperor above-mentioned, 

 that I met with a single specimen ; the first I saw arrested my steps, and I 

 watched it for a minute or two, with that indescribable satisfaction known only to 

 the Naturalist, be he botanist, ornithologist, or entomologist ; but the pleasure of 

 novelty was soon satiated, by finding that my little friend was but the avant cou- 

 rier of a host, billetted over a region of underwood, a few paces in advance. When 

 settled, they close their wings and display to the utmost advantage the bright 

 orange border and caudal appendage to the lower wing, and allow themselves to 

 be captured without much difficulty. In subsequent rambles I not unfrequently 

 found them, but never in such abundance as in this place. 



And here I should close my lepidopteral remarks were it not that I would ex- 

 press my regret and inability to describe one other species of Papilio which came 

 under my observation in only one particular spot, half-way down the long hill lead- 

 ing into the valley of Ems, on the road from Ehrenbreitstein. Once or twice, like 

 little meteors, an insect had glanced by, more resembling some I had seen as be- 

 longing to tropical climates than natives of Europe. At last a pair happened to 

 meet, and while fluttering together, I was fortunate to capture one, which was, 

 much, to my mortification, rubbed to pieces before I could secure it in a safe po- 

 sition. I have in vain looked through the plates of Godart's extensive work on 

 Continental Lepidoptera, and hitherto have had no opportunity of consulting other 

 works or cabinets, to ascertain the name of certainly the most beautiful as well 

 as rarest of the Papilio tribe I met with during my excursion. 



Yellow Beetle ( Trichius fasciatus, Don., p. 140). Rare in this country, 

 though less so on the western than eastern coasts, according to Stephens, who 



