20 [June, 



LIST OF LJEPIDOPTERA OBSERVED IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 

 OF GALLIPOLI, TURKEY, IN 1878. 



BY GERVASE F. MATHEW, R.N., F.L.S., E.Z.S., &c. 



On the 1st of May, 1878, I arrived at G-allipoli, and joined 

 H.M.S. " Cygnet," and from that date up to the 12th of August, the 

 ship was employed between G-allipoli and the Bulair lines, being about 

 a fortnight at each place alternately, with one exception, when we 

 took a three days' cruise to the Marmora islands. During this period 

 I devoted a good deal of my spare time to collecting and observing 

 the Lepidoptera of the vicinity ; perhaps, a list of the species taken, 

 together with notes of their habits, and descriptions of a few of their 

 larva?, may not be altogether uninteresting. 



Before commencing the list it may be as well to give a rough 

 account of the country. My hunting-grounds in the neighbourhood 

 of G-allipoli comprised a belt, extending along the coast to the valley 

 of Ak-y-lar, some six miles to the south-westward of the town, and 

 about three miles in width inland to the westward. In the town 

 itself, and its environs, there were numerous gardens, where a variety 

 of fruit trees were cultivated ; and in the low-lying country beyond, 

 there were extensive fields of wheat, barley, maize, and cotton, inter- 

 spersed with large vineyards, cherry orchards, and olive groves, with 

 occasionally a fine old walnut or poplar-tree rearing its head far above 

 its neighbours, and forming, in many cases, a conspicuous landmark. 

 Through these fields ran the Utze Kionpron Dereh, a small muddy 

 stream, with elm, plane, poplar, and willow trees growing on its banks, 

 and the undergrowth luxurious, in places, with impenetrable masses of 

 brambles, blackthorn, honeysuckle, &c, while directly out of its black 

 slimy bed sprung a profusion of sedge, Lythrum, Enpatoriwm, sweet- 

 smelling Graliwm, and a variety of rushes. As one passed, frogs 

 innumerable leapt nimbly from the banks, and mud-covered terrapins 

 shuffled clumsily into the rank herbage, or dropped with a dull splash 

 into the dirty ooze. Sailing and flapping above the stream, or quar- 

 tering the adjacent fields, were graceful harriers and lazy buzzards on 

 the look-out for frogs or lizards, and high in the clear sky the little 

 kestrel {Falco tinnunculoides) hovered with quivering wings, waiting 

 his turn for a swoop at similar prey. Above the cherry and olives 

 the brilliant-hued bee-eaters hawked in flocks, while the no less 

 beautiful roller flew from tree to tree. From the shadiest retreats 

 came the soft notes of doves, and the pretty black-headed bunting 

 (Emberiza rnelanoa ?phala), swaying to and fro on the topmost twig of 

 a willow bush, repeated its monotonous song. On the paths by the 



