NOTES ON LUFFIAS. 91 



iisually the case in this district, where I have seen it literally in 

 thousands. The feature of this butterfly corner was, however, the 

 absence of Vanessids, a solitary Pj/ramcis atalanta being the sole visitor, 

 although I saw a single /'. cardui later. Linunitis Camilla flew round 

 the walnut trees and one or two huge Papilid viavhaon stayed for a 

 moment on their evidently important journeys. Altogether it was a 

 sight rarely to be witnessed and ever to be remembered. One can only 

 regret that there were not more lepidopterists to take advantage of the 

 unusual treat thus oft'ered. The fields beyond gave Hljqianhia briseis, 

 and the Coliads were in moderate numbers, but so active and Avary that 

 one got but few specimens as a result of the maximum of exertion, and 

 here, in the fields even, A'. <lr!/as kept up its marvellous numbers, whilst 

 H. Kciiidc evidently liked the clover floAvers ; Kirhia aet/iiojis, too, was 

 everywhere, whilst further on one came upon//, antluim and J/, plmdic 

 again in numbers. As I have said scarcely any burnets Avere seen on this 

 occasion, the fcAV, hoAvever, adding brightness to a really lively and 

 enchanting scene, and as I lingered on the higher slopes Avithin sight of 

 Lake Bourget, and the green AA'Oodpecker screamed out his mocking laugh, 

 I felt that the cup of the naturalist might indeed be considered full, 

 and suspected that I Avas as completely satisfied Avith my surroundings 

 as he. 



Notes on Luffias — with incidental remarks on the phenomenon of 

 parthenogenesis. 



By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



There is probably no genus of lepidoptera of such small extent, 

 that presents so much matter of interest as Lujfia. The geniis AA^as 

 instituted by Tutt, and is fully dealt Avith by him in the second volume 

 of the Jin'tisJi Li'jiiddjitcra. Nevertheless I think it possible that it 

 may be useful to present to you various facts connected Avith it, 

 although certain neAv matter that seemed likely to be aAailable, Avhen 

 I proposed this subject for my paper, has not proved to be so full and 

 abundant as Avas expected. 



The type of the genus, Litjfia lapidella, is of much interest to us, in 

 the first place, because no English example is knoAvn, and yet cases 

 that are undoubtedly those of Lujfia lapidvlla have been found on our 

 southern coast. It is, therefore, a species that is at present of the 

 most extreme rarity Avith us, yet exists, and may possibly easily be 

 attained by anyone Avho chooses to search for it. Were a Noctuid or 

 Geometrid in this position, hoAV its probable habitats Avould be 

 besieged. The other species of the genus, L.fvnhaidtcUa, is of 

 interest from a similar point of vieAV, it being apparently a species 

 Avidely distributed in the south of England, and locally common, and 

 Avhich is yet hardly known from any other region. The genus 

 interests us here especially, since nearly all the AA'ork that has been 

 done on it, recently, and Avhich has given us a grasp of it in many 

 relationships that Avere preA'iously quite AA'anting, has been done by our 

 friend and colleague, Bacot. He has collected, bred, and examined 

 these insects in a most careful and painstaking manner, and AA'ith just 

 that amount of scientific imagination that enables him to make his 

 obserA'ations in the right AA"ay and at the right time. It is a further 



* Bead Febiuuiy jth, I'JOI, at the City of London Entomological Society. 



