EEV. C. M. PEEKINS BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 65 



my love of sport in these early days, which gradually developed 

 into a love of science, not exceeded the fear of being' scolded, my 

 chance of ever writing a paper on the subject of butterflies had 

 been vciy slight indeed Most of this first family are very strong 

 on the wing, and require some exertion in catching, and many a 

 hard straight-ahead chase have I had after the clouded yellow, 

 generally to be beaten in the long run — but I must not describe 

 my chases, or I shall soon weary you with the length of them ; 

 but rather, as I proposed, will now give you some account of each 

 of our British species. 



Of this family I must take Vapilio Machaon first, a truly superb 

 insect, having rich black, blue, and red markings on a cream yellow 

 ground, with two long pointed spikes projecting from the lower 

 wings, whence we give it in English the name of swallow-tail. 

 This insect in its natural freedom I have not known, but have 

 bred specimens sent me from the fens of Cambridgeshire, which 

 are its natural haunts. Though said to be common in the fenny 

 districts, where its food plant, Peucedannm ixdmtre, grows luxu- 

 riantly, and reported to be taken not unfrequently in jjlaces near 

 which are no large fens, I think it very unlikely we shall ever 

 meet with it, unless we make a trip on purpose to its feeding 

 grounds. So strong on the wing is this insect, that I have been 

 told it not unfrecjuently soars like the lark to a very considerable 

 height, and this in my opinion may well account for the specimens 

 reported to be taken in strange localities, for with its own natural 

 strength, aided too by wings more powerful than its own, it may 

 be borne away with a sudden gale in its heavenward flight many a 

 long mile from its native home. Next in order comes the sulphur 

 or brimstone butterfly already alluded to, Gonepteryx Rliamni ; 

 common wherever I have been through the southern counties, and 

 abundant in this neighbourhood, both in spring and autumn, I 

 shall at once dismiss it, only remarking further that I believe I 

 have seen it flying every month through the year. Colias Edusa, the 

 clouded yellow, follows, — a glorious insect, having a rich broad band 

 of black to its safl'ron wings ; more often seen than caught ; indeed, 

 you may congratulate yourself if you net it, unless you happen 

 to meet with it in a field of blossoming clover. And while speaking 

 of this insect I will mention a phenomenon which I believe has 

 never yet been satisfactorily explained, which is, that some butter- 

 flies appear in certain years by thousands in places where, for many 

 years preceding, and the year or years immediately following 

 this profusion, not one has been observed. I collected butterflies 

 in the neighbourhood of Wotton-imder-Edge, a town in Gloucester- 

 shire, for some dozen years before 1858, and I knew an old 

 collector there, who had collected for very many years before 

 I began, yet neither of us had ever seen there one single specimen 

 of the clouded yellow, until 1858, when they showed themselves 

 in hundreds on all sides of the town, and enabled us to obtain 

 plenty for ourselves and more to give away. Last year the same 

 phenomenon occurred again. Their name might be legion, yet in 



VOL. II. — PT. II. 5 



