A FEW COMPARATIVE NOTES ON SOME DIURNI. 32? 



on the 12th, pupated August 16th, and emerged September 12th. 

 Larvte were more abundant than I have ever known them, first in 

 N. Cornwall and subsequently hereabouts. Specimens were bred 

 from larvue (or pupie), found at large, from July i9th until Nov. 21st, 

 with scarcely a week intervening without an emergence. Unlike 

 the experience with cardui, there was practically no mortality 

 amongst the larvae, either from parasites or from any other cause. 

 The later appearance of the butterflies in nature was, of course, 

 largely interfered with by the wet and cold season. — 1913. Two 

 " hybernated " specimens, on June 3rd, here, and one on July 2nd, 

 in S. Devon, are the only earlier records for the species I have for 

 this year. Fresh specimens were observed, singly, from August 28th 

 until October 18th ; not a sign of the larva — so common the pre- 

 ceding year — have I seen. 



Argynnis euplirosijne. — 1912. These extensive woodlands, disap- 

 pointing as they are in regard to butterfly life in general, ai'e speci- 

 ally so where the Argynnids are concerned. A. euphrosyne is the 

 only species to be relied upon, and that is far from abundant. In 

 May, 1912, from the 10th onwards, it was much commoner than 

 usual. — 1913. Scarcer this season, like most species ; also later, 

 from May 24th until June 11th. Always more abundant in Mere- 

 worth Wood, some miles east of Sevenoaks, but this is outside the 

 radius under discussion. 



Epinephele janira. — 1912. First seen June 14th. — 1913. First 

 seen June 13th — an early date, considering the delayed appearance 

 of most species. I saw the last specimen on October 9th on the 

 N. Downs, and it could doubtless have been recorded there even 

 later in this warm and sunny autumn by residents on those more 

 favoured and flowery hillsides. 



Zephyrus betulce. — 1912. A few full-grown larvae near Boscastle, 

 beaten on June 22nd, all subsequently found to be ichneumoned. 



Thecla rubL— 1912. On the N. Downs on April 27th. A few 

 single specimens on these hills (where it is never common) in May ; 

 still out on the N. Downs on July 13th. Seen in cop. in N. Corn- 

 wall, July 4th, and on the same day a specimen was seen to oviposit 

 on gorse, the egg being laid near the tip of a shoot in the axil of a 

 spine. — 1913. One, May 24th, near Sevenoaks ; the species still 

 abundant on the S. Devon coast, in the first week of July. 



Chrysophanus phlceas. — 1912. From May 13th, common ; abundant 

 near Oxted, May 23rd, the later appearances pretty common. Last 

 record October 4th. — 1913. Very scarce in the early part of the 

 summer ; first seen June 2nd. Not one specimen was recorded in 

 S. Devon during the first fortnight of July, though butterflies in 

 general were there fairly plentiful. The late summer specimens were 

 pretty common on the N. Downs, and one was seen in Kew Gardens 

 on August 20th. 



LyccBiia alsus. — 1913. This butterfly has been very scarce in its 

 localities near Otford this season, where it is usually to be found in 

 profusion. 



L. icarus. — 1912. First appearance, May 21st, on these hills ; 

 abundant on May 23rd on the N. Downs, where a male specimen 

 was found drying its wings at about 2 p.m. Second brood pretty 



