168 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S EECORD. 



Stenoptilia pterodactijla, whilst O.vi/ptilus pilosellae, apparently just 

 emerged, had to be worked for most assiduously in order to make up 

 even a very short series. On the banks also Hespena alveits, Adopaea 

 lineola, Ai/riades cnridon, Hirstitina daman, Erehia aetltiops, Epitiepliele 

 hjcann, Melitaea didywa, Issoria lathonia, all abundant and in the pink of 

 condition, whilst LitJtosia coiiiplana was somewhat worn. At the spring 

 Plebeiii.s ar;itis {aegon), P. argyrognoiiwn, Cyanirh semiarguH, Aricia 

 astrarclie, Vacciniina optilete, joined Af/riades coridon, Hirsiitina daman, 

 and Erebia aethiops at the drinking-station. Out on the open, the 

 white butterflies swarmed again, Avhilst here and there a large Par- 

 naasiiis apollo flapped among them, without in any way incommoding 

 them ; here Ejnncpltele lijcaan was in great abundance, the ^ with 

 two faintly developed spots, the 5 s with bands of two distinct shades, 

 pale and full fulvous, often stretching quite to the base, and sometimes 

 with large and supplementary spots, often making 8 and sometimes 4 

 in the series ; E. janira was less abundant, but Ari/ijums aglaia, and A. 

 niobe were everywhere and Coliaa ednsa ,- C. Iiyale also occasionally hurried 

 by. Erebia vielampas was in plenty as was Hesperia alveiis, and more 

 interesting still were fine dark Mditaca phaebe, only a few of which, 

 unfortunately, were worth retention; CuenanmiipJia pampJiilus very pale 

 in colour, but, when we reached the larch-wood the trouble began, the 

 openings were garlanded with flowers, and the latter with butterflies, 

 nothing rare, but many species that the eye c\elights to see, and the mind 

 to follow — Melitaea athalia, M. didyma, Aryynnin adippe, all providing 

 some nice specimens, the former calling to mind the abundance of the 

 species in Kent in the seventies, before it was exterminated in its nearest 

 haunts to London for specimens; with them were a few M. divtynna, 

 only two or three worth keeping ; Hirsiitina daman ^ s and J s, the 

 latter jusc emerged, were in thousands ; Pulyommatns hylas, rare, and 

 Ph'beiiis anjiis [aeyan) var. hilliaxi, most interesting. We sat long and 

 watched the habits of this charming little butterfly, and have already 

 detailed them in our Nat. Hist. P>rit. Butts., vol. iii., so that there is no 

 need to repeat them ; only in one favoured spot did we find Heades 

 viryanreae, the 9 s of which were most interestingly varied, a few 

 Loweia alciphran, but worn, and two beautiful newly-emerged Bnmicia 

 phlaeas of bright colour ; (Jnpido mini)niis also was worn. Issoria 

 lathonia even invaded the wood, and chased the MiUtaea phaebe, almost 

 as swift- winged as itself. Pyrameis atalanta to the number of a dozen 

 or more were sporting round some birch-trees, whilst Hipparchia semele 

 dashed off the banks for a safer position as we disturbed them. Flubolia 

 bipunctaria and Aridalia iiintata were frequently disturbed, and the 

 Deltoid, Herniinia madestalis was just coming out, but already abundant, 

 in both sexes, and easily disturbed as one walked through the 

 undergrowth. Anthrocera lonicerae, A. piirpiiralis and A. transalpina 

 were all in great abundance, the first two, however, going oft" in 

 colour. Bustling Leitcania caniyera and Dianthaecia campta, occasionally 

 disturbed the feast, but the finest sport occurred, when, suddenly, 

 a fine huge hawk-moth stood oft' a flower — probing with its tongue, 

 whilst its heavy buzz filled up the foreground ; a moment's poise is 

 sufficient — swish — the flower and moth are in the net, and, in a 

 moment, the moth is in the box, Celeria yallii, and not the relative 

 expected, another a few minutes after, bu.t this time hovering some 

 distance away and refusing to stay a moment to let you get within 



