1872 ] 107 



like Atalanta, it hibernates late : in the latter ease, we should expect 

 stragglers to be met with on ivy-bloom. But there can be very little 

 doubt that hiljcrnated specimens will be met with next spring. 



In France and Belgium, we find that the borders of the wings 

 should now be "yellow;" and the insect is scarce in those parts of 

 Belgium nearest to us. In Holland, we find that the borders of the 

 \\ ings should be " pale yellow or white," and that the insect is every 

 where scarce ; but in Norway, Sweden, and Lapland, we find the 

 insect " no rarity," and " not scarce," and the borders of the wings 

 white. 



That migrations of butterflies sometimes take place is indubitable. 

 In ' Kirby and Spence ' (7th edition, p. 29G), we are reminded that 

 " a migratory column of Vanessa cardni, of from ten to fifteen feet in 

 breadth, and the passage of which occupied two hours, was observed 

 in 1836, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland ;" and, though the inter- 

 vening 300 miles of sea seems to place an impassable gulf between 

 Norway and our Eastern coast, I still incline to the opinion that the 

 recent invaders have come to us from Scandinavia. 



The possibility of the insects now settling here is, however, still 

 a subject for contemplation, and I have already received enquiries as 

 to the actual food of the larva ; most authors agree in giving birch, 

 poplar and sallow, as well as willow, as the food of the larva ; but 

 more than one author mentions that the larvae feed at the very 

 summit of the trees. The larva I saw at Anclei'matt (Ent. Mo. Mag.; 

 vol. vii, p. 109) was on a little loilJoiv, and not at tlie very summit. 



Mountsficld, Lewisbam : September \Gth, 1872. 



Vanessa Antiopa at Hitchin. — I observed a specimen of V. Antiopa last Satur- 

 day, tbe 24tb inst., aud, after a long ebase, it escaped. Mentioning the matter to an 

 entomologist here, I could not persuade bim tbat I bad not been mistaken, for he 

 thought I had been deceived by one of the day-flying moths. To-day, whilst walk- 

 ing over bis farm, be observed a very fine specimen of Antiopa, and gave ebase, but, 

 chancing to stumble in bis pursuit, tbe Antiopa escaped, aud will, I hope, breed in 

 this locality. I am no stranger to this insect, having reared numbers from tho 

 larvae, in Western Canada, on weeping willow. — Feakk Latchmoeb, Hitcliin, Herts : 

 August 28th, 1872. 



Vanessa Antiopa at Lewisham. — -My neighbour, Mr. P. H. Desvignes, brought 

 me a living Antiopa on tbe 25tb inst., which be bad caught in bis garden. Ho had 

 seen the insect two or three days previously, but bis first attempts at capture had 

 always been unsuccessful. The specimen has every appearance of having hibeiiiated. 

 — H. T. Staixton, Mouutsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : August 31st, 1872. 



