Q I .Irtimai y, 



gives tlie same results. Vols, ii, iii, and iv, r/alii is a blank, but in vol. v, 1S70, both 

 imagines and larvae are reported over the greater part of England, and even in 

 Perthshire ; they were found at Leominster, Gloucestershire, Chepstow, Edgbaston, 

 Derby, Herefordshire, Notts, Durham, Staleybridge, Middlesex, Plymouth, Witham, 

 Bolton, Weston-super-mare, Ipswich, Perthshire, Newcastle, Tooting, Durdham 

 Downs, Kent, and Wallasey. Now, although the larvae were common in September 

 in many of the above places during 1871-2-3, not a single capture was made of 

 imagines ; in 1875, two imagines were noted in Norwich only ; from 1875 to 18S8, 

 thirteen years, not a single record is to be found ; and but for the two imagines at 

 Norwich, seventeen years had passed, and no capture of larva? had been certified, 

 either from Deal or Wallasey ! 



It is worth noting that out of the eight reported captures of imagines in 1857-8, 

 four of them were captured in September ; but we have not a single record of larvae 

 of gain being found in England that could have produced these September moths. 

 On the continent, where they get more sun and warmer autumn, yes, always two 

 broods ; but in England, never. When we do get larvcB in this country ; it has always 

 been, end of August to mid September ! 



Thus, according to record, we have (in modern times) had three galii years, 

 viz., 1859, 1870, and 1888, and this is all that can be shown ; and it must rest on 

 those who make the statement, that "galii is to be found in England every year," 

 to prove their case by facts ; a mere assurance that they are to be so found is not at 

 all satisfactory. 



The size, too, of all the caught examples of D. galii, when compared with 

 English bred and fed examples, points conclusively to their probable origin as being 

 South European, they are much larger than those from our English-fed larva;. Who 

 ever saw a bred English male 3^ inches expanse, or a female of same origin measuring 

 3| inches full ? Any of our largest galii look quite small beside them ; it is striking 

 when seen together. 



A great point is always made by those who hold to the " native " theory, of the 

 improbability of the parent moths reaching so far as Wallasey, and crossing England 

 and the channel to do so; but, truly, is that an insuperable flight for such insects 

 as galii or C. nerii ? There is not a shadow of doubt but that the latter insect does 

 immigrate here from time to time, and so, doubtless, does galii. Does any one 

 believe that in Ireland and Scotland galii exists every year in the larva state ? 

 I much doubt if any one holds to this ; then must they not immigrate to reach those 

 points ? and if a few do this, as is proved, what is there to make it a matter of sur- 

 prise if, at fairly long intervals, part of a migratory flight crosses England in any 

 direction ; doubtless, a flight of insects would be controlled by direction of the wind, 

 hence it is called the " blown over " theory. We all know that, however strong the 

 flight of a Lepidopterous insect may be, if started up in a strong wind gust, it 

 is carried away by its force, and that would necessarily give a bias as to the direction 

 of migration. It is, doubtless, a different force to that of seasonal migration of 

 birds, but migration of insects is much too well authenticated for any one to doubt 

 its existence. Hawk-moths have been captured 8Uo miles from land, why then 

 doubt the passing of our " silver streak ?" 



Of the great number of galii that occurred all over, or, at least, a considerable 

 area, of England in 188S, it is, perhaps, of little moment as to whether they were 



