A SIGN Of the times. 83 



Mr. Tutt thought that it was improbable that the average seasons 

 were now any more injurious to insect life than they had been for the last 

 few thousand years. The question divided itself into two parts. 

 (1) Was there overcoUecting ? (2) If so, how could it best be 

 stopped ? In support of the first query he instanced Apatnra iris and 

 Melitara atludia, which in the " seventies " abounded in Chattenden. 

 He had seen as many as eight amateur and two professional collectors 

 stationed at the top of the hill (around which every specimen of 

 A. iris in the wood flew from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), at a distance of 

 about two or three yards from each other, practically fighting for each 

 specimen as it came up. For about six or seven years, a dealer from 

 Dartford, and another from Erith, practically lived on the ground 

 from July 12th to August 10th, never missing a fine day during the 

 time that the insect was out, their total captures decreasing from about 

 250 in 1880, to an odd specimen or two in 1888, since which time the 

 species has been practically extinct. Mditaea athalia, being easier to 

 catch, had fared even worse. One man, living at Soham, was practically 

 responsible for all the damage done to Papilio niacliaon, at Wicken, 

 the collectors of the village being too wise to kill the goose that lays the 

 golden eggs. The extinction of the commonest butterflies in every 

 wood within easy reach of London bore evidence to the fact that 

 " over-collecting " did occur. 



As to a remedy, Mr. Tutt thought legislation impracticable, and 

 considered that, as the country was well covered by natural history 

 societies, a committee should be formed to submit any information 

 relating to over-collecting, of which it might become possessed, 

 direct to the local association in whose district it occurred, Avith a 

 request to the ofiicers of such association to take steps to put a stop 

 to the injury that was being done to the local fauna. He proposed a 

 resolution that such a committee be appointed, which, being seconded 

 by Capt. Elwes, Avas carried unanimously. 



On the Ovum, Oviposition and Food-plants of Callophrys 

 (Thecla) rubi. 



By Colonel FREDERICK LE GRICE. 



Call(iji/iri/s (Thecla) rubi occurs pretty freely at the Warren, Folke- 

 stone, flying generally over the brambles Avhich abound there, but not 

 despising the elder, mealy guelder rose, Avhitethorn, and other bushes. 

 It has long been a puzzle to me, and I fancy to many other Folke- 

 stone entomologists, as to Avhat the food-plant of the larva is, or on 

 what the ova are deposited, as none of the plants given in the text- 

 books occur there. I have, however, Avithin the last feAV days, much 

 to my pleasure, satisfied myself on these points, and think it may 

 interest others. 



The sunshine of the last fcAV days Avas, I thought, a faAOurable 

 opportunity, so I determined to try and solve Avhat Avas to me a mystery. 

 The result of capturing a considerable number of C. rulii flying OA^er 

 brambles Avas not a single female, so I turned my attention to the 

 grassy slopes in their neighbourhood, and after some time had the 

 satisfaction of seeing a female evidently bent on OA'iposition. The 

 plant she selected Avas the rock-rose {HdiantJu'iiiiwi nihjarc). The 

 ova are green, about j^^ of an inch in diameter, of the shape of a 



