1002.] 77 



British ' Blues.' Since that period the species has turned up in a 

 variety of situations. Though by no means common, it appears to 

 be widely distributed ; nor is it peculiar tu chalk districts, but seems 

 to delight in woody situations abounding in grass. Probably it may 

 be overlooked on the wing, and passed by for the common Blue." 

 (Loudon's Magazine). In 1862 Mr. E. Newman, in his preface to the 

 Zoologist for that year, wrote, " How shall we account for the disap- 

 pearance of Acis, which at Leominster in 1832 was certainly the most 

 common of all the Blues? I am not aware that a single specimen has 

 been seen in that locality for thirty years. Its food-plant cannot have 

 failed ; its pupa? cannot have been drowned, as water never rests on the 

 hill sides where the insect once abounded ; no fens have been drained ; 

 no common lands enclosed ; no alteration has taken place in the 

 temperature." In 1871 Mr. Hudd wrote in the Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. 

 viii, p. 113, "It is extremely local. The cause of its rarity in the 

 county is, 1 have no doubt, to be found in the fact that the ova and 

 young larva? are destroyed by the haymakers." 



This certainly is not the reason why acis became extinct at 

 Glanvilles Wootton, as the grass in the meadows which it frequented 

 was cut and the hay carried in exactly the same fashion all through 

 my father's life. In 1864 Mr. Hudson, in the Zoologist, p. 8985, 

 states that, " the meadows at Epworth are of such large extent, and 

 the insect appearing just before the grass is ready for the mower, a 

 proper search for the larva is thus prevented." 



The extinction is certainly not due to over collecting, and the 

 larva? and pupa? have never been seen in our country. The only 

 reason that occurs to me for it is that, for some unexplainable reason, 

 too great an abundance of their natural enemies, the Hymenopterous 

 parasites, took place, probably of the genus Apanteles. 



Acis has occurred in the following counties : — 



Yorkshire. — Taken by T. W. Watson (Haworth's Lep. Brit., 1803). 



Lincolnshire. — In meadows near Epworth. I have always found it between 

 July 10th and 25th, S. Hudson, 1864 (Zoologist, vol. xxii, p. 8985). 



Cambridgeshire. — One specimen by J. C. Dale at Gamlingay on July 16th, 

 1819. In plenty on the Gogniagog Hills by II. Denny in 1833. In Madingley 

 Wood, but not common, by J. F. Stephens (Ent. Mag., vol. i, p. 528). Cherry 

 Hinton, Lawston, and chalk pits near Cambridge, many years ago, F. Bond. 

 Formerly common in the county, but has not been taken for the last ten years, T. 

 Brown (Newman's Butterflies, 1871). Papworth Everard, a bad one, early in 

 August, 1857, and a very good one on June 20th, 1858, C. A. Beadan (Intelligencer, 

 vol. iv, p. 141). 



Norfolk. — By J. Burrell (Haworth's Lep. Brit., 1808). 



