issG.j 127 



Now, however, it is entirely restricted to the FeiiB of Cambridge, Norfolk, and 

 Huntingdon. Another magnificent butterfly, the Purple Emperor (Apatura IrisJ, 

 used to occur abundantly about fifty years ago in many of the large oak woods with 

 which the district then abounded, but it is now entirely extinct. In this case I think 

 its disappearance may be attributed more to climatic influences than to drainage and 

 cultivation, for its pabulum, the oak, is still very plentiful everywhere. 



Within more recent years, the two pretty butterflies, Melanargia Galathea and 

 Lycmna Corydon, have both become extinct in the only locality which they frequented 

 in the district, namely, at Knowle. 



Then again, Lycaena semiargus used to occur plentifully at Shirley, and was also 

 taken in Sutton Park by that energetic collector the late Richard Weaver, and 

 others. Mr. Frederick Enock attributed its disappearance in the former locality to 

 the ravages of picture makers. If we can accept, also, the records concerning other 

 captures made by the late Richard Weaver (which I see no reason to doubt), the 

 goddess Frilillary (Argynnis l)iaj and the Large Copper (Polyommatus disparj used 

 to occur in Sutton Park about fifty or sixty years ago. Concerning the former insect 

 CA. DiaJ, I have recently been informed by the Rev. Bernard Smith (late of 

 Ascott College), who knew Mr. Weaver personally, that the identity of the insects 

 (two in number) in the cabinet of the fortunate collector was established by a friend, 

 for then Mr. Weaver was only a beginner, having taken up the study of Entomology 

 to benefit his health. 



The fraud attributed to him by less fortunate collectors of palming off foreign 

 insects as British is entirely without foundation, as Mr. Weaver did not collect 

 foreign insects, for he used to say that the British were more beautiful. (The insular 

 prejudice held its sway in those days). 



Mr. Montagu Browne, F.Z.S., Curator of Leicester Museum, informs me that he 

 saw the specimens of A. Dia and the single specimen of P. dispar in Aston Hall 

 Museum (Birmingham) about ten years ago — the same that were reputed to have 

 been caught in Sutton Park by Mr. Weaver. 



The above two Rhopalocera are undoubtedly now extinct. There are many 

 species which have become locally extinct or scarce in the district. 



The three large Fritillaries, Argynnis Aglaia, A. Paphia, and A. Adippe, used 

 to occur not uncommonly in Sutton Park about thirty or forty years ago, as 

 Mr. Browne informs me, but they are now either extinct or rarely met with there. 



Then again, the greasy Fritillary (Jilelitaa Aurinia) used to occur about ten or 

 twelve years ago in several places in Sutton Park. It was most abundant in the bogs 

 near Blackroot Pool, but since the land has been drained, and the Midland Railway 

 cut through, not a single specimen has been seen thereabouts. 



The only other locality for this insect in Sutton Park, so far as I am aware, is 

 near Longmore Pool, where a few specimens are annually seen. 



There is no doubt that drainage and cultiiHition are the principal causes of the 

 extirpation of many insects. Another butterfly, the Common Blue (Lycana Icarus), 

 used to occur abundantly in one spot near the Keeper's Pool, but about lOyears ago 

 it suddenly vanished and not a single specimen has been seen in the Park since. 

 The insect occurs in the fields in the neighbourhood of Sutton Coldfield, but is ycry 

 rare. Its relative, the Holly Blue (Lycana Argiolu J, formerly enjoyed a much 



