1882. 



in one or two favourite localities ; the larvaB of Bomhi/x quercus and 

 rubi were scarce, and those of Odonestis potatoria so uncommon, that 

 it was difficult to find a dozen, to be reared for the sake of occasional 

 chocolate coloured varieties. Emmelesia affinitata occurred almost as 

 a rarity, and I searched long and carefully before I could find its larva 

 for Mr. Buckler to figure. Noctuae (except a few universally abundant 

 species) appeared to be almost absent ; such a dearth of ordinary 

 night-flying species I never knew^ anywhere before. 



But in the winter of 1878, there was a great change. Persistent 

 north or north-east winds, intensely cold, froze everything up hard, 

 the warm sea air was completely expelled, or if a .slight change of 

 wind permitted a few clouds to come over, the rain from them was 

 instantly converted into ice, with which the high roads were coated to 

 a thickness of three or four inches, for weeks. Horses properly 

 "roughed " travelled well enough, the rough points cutting into the 

 ice, which did not wear them down ; but vehicles had a bad time. 

 Heavily laden waggons brought to a turning down a hill declined to 

 follow the horses in taking a proper sweep, but went first, and the 

 wheels of lighter vehicles skated rather than turned round, with the 

 Bound and action of sleigh-runners. 



The winters of 1879 and 1880 were equally cold, indeed, the 

 latter was said to be the coldest known here for fifty years, even the 

 sea sands along the tide line were covered ankle deep with ice and 

 frozen snow, a sight very rarely seen on this coast. The first of those 

 three winters killed all the shrubby Veronicas and. some of the sumachs, 

 and the tree fuchsias and myrtles above the ground. 



And now I will give the results as regards insects. 



In 1879 Argynnis Fapliia began to be visible in every woodland ; 

 in 1880 it had become plentiful, and was even to be seen along the 

 roads ; in 1881 it abounded, and specimens actually flew about the 

 town, in the gardens, and settled on the sunny fronts of the houses. 

 A. Aglaia first increased in numbers in its pet localities, then sj^read 

 along the coast, till, in 1881, it could be found in scores or hundreds 

 in places where previously not a specimen had been seen. A. Euj^hro- 

 syne became common in the woods, and at last began to fly about the 

 country lanes, and A. Selene became abundant all over the country, 

 flying about every little strip of marsh and wet land by the road sides. 

 The same was the case with Satyrus liyperanthus, and 8. Mgeria became 

 common everywhere, while Lycaena u3£gon flew about the heathy hills 

 along the coast in plenty. Zygcenafilipendulce, which had been local 

 and not common, rapidly became abundant, the larva? conspicuously 



