AN AFTERNOON AT HYERES. Ill 



An afternoon at Hyeres. — Note on Sesia stellatarum.— 

 Lepidopterological Notes. 



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



Leaving England in perfect weather on March 22nd, I found, on 

 the 23rd, that equally fine conditions prevailed at Hyeres. There was, 

 nevertheless, a striking difference in the brilliance of the light, and 

 consequent brightness of everything in the south, although the 

 atmosphere was not particularly clear, but very calm. My baggage 

 having chosen to take some longer route, I took a walk in the 

 afternoon without even a pillbox. Butterflies were plentiful enough, 

 but not numerous, in species — Aglais urticae and Pyrantels atalanta, 

 Pararge egeria, ('alias edusa, Pieris brassicae and P. rapae, Gonepteryx 

 cleopatra in some numbers ; by the way, I saw a G. rhamni on the 

 wing at Reigate on the 21st. 



Sesia stellatarum was in considerable force, four or five being often 

 in sight at once. I suppose I have, however, often seen them as 

 abundantly. I made, however, one observation that was quite new to 

 me, viz., I met with a pair of this species. Mr. Powell tells me he 

 has never seen a pair. I imagine something must have disturbed 

 them, they were about as difficult to approach as a solitarj 7 specimen, 

 taking the wing again as one approached. They settled, however, 

 more readily than a solitary specimen, so that I was always able to 

 find them, even though it was over a fence, or the other side of a bush. 

 Having no net, I despaired of taking them, but as the sun was 

 declining, I persevered, and finally, by allowing them to rest un- 

 disturbed for some time, succeeded in placing my hand over them. 

 I wished to make the capture in order to ascertain which of the two 

 led in their flight, and found it was the 5 , who also settled head 

 upwards. In flying both vibrated their wings, so far as one could see, 

 equally, but they went along only less vigorously than one specimen 

 alone does, and with the $ always leading. I distinguished the two 

 insects, as one was faded a good deal paler than the other, though not 

 till I captured them did I know that the pale one that led was the ? . 

 They remained paired till I had captured them, and even after I had 

 killed them by pressure, but separated on the way home. 



Mr. Raine tells me that things are very backward, and, owing to 

 drought for more than a month, are growing very little, as 1 could 

 verify by the asphodels, which are not a foot high, although showing 

 flower-stems some six or eight inches high; last year they were coming 

 into flower at this time, and in full bloom a fortnight later. 



March 2?>t/t. — The season is certainly very backward. The heath 

 and the lavender (/>. staechus) are not yet in flower. Thestor ballus has 

 not been seen, two or three Thais polyxena (cassandra) have, however, 

 been observed, and two Anthocaris belia. Euvanessa antiopa and 

 Eugonia polychloros are more frequent than I have sometimes noticed, 

 and a few Callophrys rubi are already on the wing. /'. megaera (very 

 fresh) are also on the wing on a few warm banks. Polygonia c-album 

 may be seen along the hedgerows by the wayside down on the plain. 

 Last year, certain wild pear-tree shrubs had several nests of Aporia 

 crataegi larva'. This year they have none, but curiously, a bush of 

 Primus spinosus (sloe) close by, has a nest with half-a-dozen larvre, not 

 yet haif-an-inch long. Blackthorn is not, so far as I have observed, 



