CURRENT NOTES. 51 



into suitable localities, mentions Poh/omwatus bdlarj/tifi as one of the 

 species which has recently arrived at a locality near Marlow. This is 

 of much interest to us here because the same thing has happened on 

 the chalk downs to the south-east and east of Oxford. In former days 

 all the Reading collectors went to Folkestone when they wanted the 

 species, as it was utterly unknown in their district. About I89i or 1895, 

 after I had left Reading, a boy took a specimen at Streatley, and indi- 

 viduals in small numbers were taken in succeeding years. In August, 

 1899, I was collecting on the downs between Streatley and Blewberry, 

 when I suddenly came on P. bdlariim flying in abundance, and on 

 ground which I used to visit regularly from Reading without ever see- 

 ing the species. Here and there in spots among the hills I met with 

 them in plenty. Probably in the earlier days the species existed some- 

 where on the Berkshire downs, but beyond the reach of our visits, and 

 has gradually increased its range until it now occurs right up to the 

 point where the chalk is covered by the tertiary strata towards Reading, 

 and also at Hard wick, in Oxon, having apparently crossed the river. 

 In this way it may have continued along that side of the river, through 

 Henley to Marlow. — W. Holland, University Museum, Oxford. 

 Jannarii 28th, 1902. 



POLYOMMATUS BELLAKGUS ON THE OXFORDSHIRE ChILTERNS.— I am 



told that a record of my experience of the appearance of Polijommatna 

 bellarf/iis on the Oxfordshire Chilterns may be of interest. My home 

 is within a mile of the little town of Watlington, and within a mile 

 the chalk hills rise from the plain. Till I came here in 1890 I had 

 never seen P. bdlarfiits alive, and was anxious to make its acquaintance, 

 I thought it likely to occur on the chalk, and, accordingly, was on the 

 lookout for it, taking, I doubt not, hundreds of bright P. icarns on 

 suspicion, but I never came across it, and was convinced that it did 

 not occur with us. So matters went on till 1899. In that year, after 

 being away for a holiday for the month of August, I came back at the 

 beginning of September, and a few days after, looking over the catch 

 of a schoolboy, who lives on Pyrton Hill, I saw on his board several 

 specimens of P. bellari/ns, and in answer to my enquiry he told me that 

 " they are all over the hill." I went out and almost immediately 

 I came across a " blue " on the wing that I knew I had never seen 

 before, and shortly afterwards others of the same species. Returning 

 with my net I speedily caught half-a-dozen, and found them to be P. 

 bcllatyKs, both sexes. I could have taken many more but they were 

 getting worn. Now I cross that particular hill about once a week on 

 the way to another part of the parish, and had the butterfly been there 

 in previous seasons I am sure I could not have failed to see it. I then 

 went to two other localities on the hills, a mile or so off, which I 

 thought likely, and found it in both. Every year since 1899 I have 

 found P. bellan/tis in these spots in fair abundance. — (Rev.) John W. 

 B. Bell, Pyrton Vicarage, Watlington, Oxon. Jamtanj 2Ht/i, 1902. 



®^URRENT NOTES. 



We have to apologise to some of our subscribers for an overcharge 

 of postage on the last number. The number was of the usual size, 

 and, as was thought, weight, but it appears that whilst most went 

 through the post all right, others were surcharged as being " over 



