OBSERVATIONS ON THE HYBERNATION OF GONEPTERYX RHAMNI. 105 



day. Since the beginning of the year we have had samples of all kinds 

 of weather, including a few bright sunny days, but until to-day the 

 butterfly has not moved. It has now crawled an inch or so higher up 

 the stem. 



January 25th. — Frosty, but sunny ; temperature 28°F. at 10 a.m. 

 The butterfly has crawled right to the top of the stem, and, to me, is 

 very conspicuous, so am afraid it will be noticed by passers by and 

 disturbed. 



January 27th. — Yesterday was another frosty day, and last night 

 it was bitterly cold, the mercury falling to 16°F., the lowest tempera- 

 ture recorded by my thermometer this winter, and it is now, at 11 a.m., 

 26"F. The butterfly has fallen off its exposed perch on to a stem 

 below ; it lies flat on its side on a leaf and looks very helpless, but is 

 still able to cling on by its claws to the stem. 



January 28th. — A rapid thaw set in, commencing yesterday after- 

 noon, followed by very wild weather, a regular gale, with rain, snow, 

 sleet, and hail in turn. The butterfly has managed to get below the 

 leaf upon which it lay, and is now holding on to the stem below with 

 its head pressed against the overhanging leaf. 



January 29th. — The weather greatly improved, and the butterfly 

 has crawled up well under the protecting leaf, to which it now partly 

 clings, and is well hidden from view. 



February 5th. — The last few days have been wet and windy, but 

 to-day is bright at times, and the sun, when it shines, is nice and warm. 

 The butterfly has not moved. 



February 6th. — It blew rather hard in the night, but the wind 

 dropped towards dawn. After a showery morning, we had a lovely 

 sunny afternoon, and it has been very mild all the day. The butterfly 

 has crawled up the stem and is clinging to a green shoot sprouting 

 from the top, quite exposed to the weather and to view. 



February 7th. — Last night was again rather windy until dawn, 

 when the wind dropped. Weather very mild and dull. The butterfly 

 has not moved. 



February 8th. — Blew hard in the night and very showery, with 

 some hail until 10 a.m. The wind, which is from the north-west, 

 continued in gusts until the evening. Weather from 11 a.m. very 

 pleasant and sunny, with cloudy intervals, but after 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. 

 several showers of rain and hail, followed by a clear starlight night. 

 Temperature at midday 45°F. The butterfly has not moved since the 

 6th, but on looking at it to-day, I notice that it is holding on by all 

 three pairs of legs to the leaves. 



February 9th. — The butterfly has slightly altered its position so as 

 to face the sunniest aspect; it is, again, only clinging by the second 

 and third pairs of legs, and is holding the front pair in the manner 

 I described on January 1st. 



February 11th. — Fine during the morning, but showery in the 

 afternoon, and a terriflc hailstorm about 3 p.m. The butterfly remained 

 in its exposed position throughout the morning, but when I looked at 

 it again after the hailstorm, found it had crawled down the green 

 shoot to take shelter among the leaves on the leeward side, and was 

 still only using the last two pairs of legs. 



February 17th. — The weather during the last few days has been 

 fairly bright and sunny, but showery at times, and generally windy at 



