204 THE entomologist's llECORD. 



hybernating butterflies leave their winter quarters about the middle of 

 May, and the chrysalids give forth their contents a few weeks later. , . 

 In the South the number of broods is certainly greater, and the 

 winter is passed in the butterfly state, '■■' if not also in the chrysalis " 

 (IbuJ, p. 87). He makes an almost identical statement about P. 

 ataJanta, of which he writes : — " Its life-history is much like that of 

 /'. hnntcra, it being double-brooded, and hybernating principally as a 

 butterfly, but also as a chrysalis. About the second week in May, the 

 butterfly comes out of winter quarters, and by the first week in June 

 the chrysalids begin to disclose their inmates, both sets of butterflies 

 laying eggs at or about the same time " (Ibid, p. 88). Of Aylcm 

 milherti we read: — ^" It is triple-brooded, hybernating in both the 

 butterfly and the chrysalis state, in the former, under piled stones. 

 The wintering butterflies come out while the snow lies on the ground, 

 and in April the wintering chrysalids give birth to the enclosed butter- 

 flies, which may be found on the wing in May " {Ibid, p. 90). That 

 the above records are a series of errors based on insiifficient data, we 

 strongly suspect, and unless Mr. Scudder will assure us that he has him- 

 self seen the pupse of P. canhd, P. Jnmtvra, P. atalanta and Atjlais 

 milbcrti in a state of nature during the winter months, we shall await, 

 with some degree of certainty, the correction of the above data by some 

 observant North American entomologist, so completely are they 

 opposed to the regularity with which the butterflies of temperate 

 regions ordinarily pass the winter in the same stage. 



It is remarkable that almost all the butterflies that hybernate in 

 the imago state belong to the Vancssidi and Bhodoccridi, but it is so ; 

 the hybernating American Callidri/as cubuh' and XantJiidia nicippc 

 being allied to our Gdnepti'ri/.f rJiannii, whilst the American Vanessids 

 have identical habits with their European allies. 



* These remarks show that Scudder does not mean to suggest that the two 

 different methods of hybernation are adopted at different latitudes, but that both 

 occur in the same latitude. 



Are British Butterflies over collected? 



By W. J. KAYE, F.E.S. 

 It is with intense satisfaction that I see this subject brought 

 forward by the Entomological Society of London, and also by the 

 Record, in the latter Juno number of this year. Are British butter- 

 flies over collected ? — and this query applies to moths as well — 

 Yes ! emphatically yes ! ! Who has not been to Wicken, to Chat- 

 tenden, to Barnwell Wold, to the Cotswolds, to the Isle of Wight, 

 and not seen the result and the cause of such ? How is it to be 

 put a stop to ? Capt. Elwes is quite right in saying that schoolboys 

 do not destroy many (if any, I should like to add) species. 

 They get tired of catching the same insect, and consequently 

 direct their thoughts to something fresh. Neither do dealers, per sc, 

 exterminate species. They have not got the time ! " It is the man 

 who simply collects " who is at the bottom of the trouble. This 

 " mighty atom " catches all he can of the rare insects that occur 

 in his neighbourhood, and if this is done yearly, how can the insect 

 exist after many years ? Clearly, then, we have to cope with 

 this being. And as it is difficult to cope directly, indirect means 

 must bo applied. These "collectors" do not collect for the love of 



