22 [January, 



islands. Having been first recognised in Griiernsey, it bears its island name, inno- 

 cently sharing also its feline cognomen with the two other tigers, but from which it 

 is as distinct a species and pertains to as different a genus as the royal native of 

 Bengal. An incident connected with this fine moth deserves especial notice, as it 

 may affect the consideration of the natural distribution of this species. Some few 

 years ago this moth was a far greater desideratum in British collections than it is at 

 present. A well known author on the British Lepidoptera desired a considerable 

 number for the advantage and convenience of exchanging with other collectors, and 

 in order to investigate its habits, metamorphoses, &c., requested the writer of these 

 observations to forward to him a large supply of the eggs or larvse, if, indeed, it 

 were by any means possible to obtain so desirable a treasure. The accomplishment 

 of such a request was to all appearances surrounded by as many difficulties as the 

 Viceroy's (Abbas Pasha) peremptory order, ' Gro, get me a hippopotamus ! ' The 

 dangers were certainly less numerous, and, if any existed, were those obviously of 

 disappointment alone. By dexterous skill, however, the feat was accomplished. 

 Ingenious devices, known only to the entomological fraternity, were employed. 



" The parent moths were carefully collected, and eggs obtained in satisfactory 

 abundance. Doubts and fears still hung over them until the following spring, to be 

 removed suddenly one morning by the welcome appearance of several dark little 

 caterpillars creeping out of their respective shells. They were active little creatures' 

 and eagerly sought some food. Then arose a new difficulty on which the successful 

 result of a year's anxiety entirely depended ; but tempting bits of various plants 

 were offered them, until it was discovered that these sagacious babies had no 

 objection to a meal on lettuce and borage, devouring the latter with avidity. They 

 were now destined to undergo a succession of dangers, in the hazard of transmission 

 through the post, to say nothing of being closely packed with a supply of provision 

 for two or three days. 



" They bore the long journey admirably, and safely arrived, were soon divided 

 into several groups, some of which were set at liberty. These throve wonderfully, 

 and established themselves completely, and have since spread through large districts 

 in Yorkshire, being recently found even on the borders of Wales ; and probably 

 also have spread in other directions, so as to claim a place in the Bi'itish list, which, 

 indeed, the author referred to has been complaisantly pleased to allot them in his 

 work, with what justice the reader may determine as he may."] 



Note on Pieris napi, var. hryonice. — Mr. Barrett, p. 329, in volume for 1891 of 

 this Magazine, draws attention to an Irish specimen of Pieris napi, which in colour 

 approximates closely to the variety hryonice of that species. 



I have two singular specimens, which were kindly given to me by Mr. de Yismes 

 Kane, taken in the county of Cavan in August, 1882 ; they are both much darker 

 than any I have of the spring emergence of P. napi, indeed, are intermediate 

 between that form and the variety hryonice. ; in one the ground colour of the winga 

 is white, in the other yellow. The interesting fact in these two insects is that, 

 though of the autumnal emergence, they are totally unlike those that appear at that 

 time of year, but on the contrary are exaggerations of the characteristics of the 

 spring form. 



