72 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The next morning (July loth) was most glorious, and 

 after bathing and breakfasting I strolled out to the cliffs, 

 and spent nearly the whole of the day there. The weather 

 was all that could be desired for butterflies, — bright, hot, and 

 cloudless, with scarcely a breath of air; indeed the heat was 

 almost too excessive for active exercise. Had there been 

 many Lycana Avion in existence surely they would have 

 been about on such a day as this, but 1 only saw five, — one 

 male and four females ; and those captured were all con- 

 siderably worn. The species might have been out for some 

 days, and was passing, which would probably account for my 

 seeing so few. 1 hoped this was the case; but from 

 information I gathered from persons living in the neighbour- 

 hood 1 fear it is becoming scarcer each season. At any rate, 

 it will be seen from the above that since my first visit, in 

 1870, it has notably diminished. The question naturally 

 arises as to the cause of this decrease. An entomologist, 

 whom I met on the ground, gave it as his opinion that the 

 chief cause was attributable to burning the heather and 

 gorse in early spring ; but this only occurs at intervals of 

 several years, and takes place in patches. Moreover, this 

 burning has perhaps been going on for ages; so I do not 

 think this can be looked upon as the principal reason, 

 although no doubt a considerable number on a limited area 

 may thus perish. My belief is that the ruthless manner in 

 which they are indiscriminately captured and destroyed, by 

 entomologists and collectors, is the primary cause of their 

 annual diminution. 1 feel convinced if they were left to 

 themselves, and strictly preserved for four or five years, they 

 would become as plentiful agaiu as evei\ Now, not a year 

 passes without the place being overrun by collectors ; and I 

 was told by a coastguard man, who had been for some years 

 stationed at Salcombe, that he has often seen five or six 

 gentlemen together "hunting flies." I have seldom been 

 there myself without seeing someone, although those I have 

 been fortunate to meet would, I am certain, only take what 

 number of specimens they actually required, and allow the 

 ragged females to fly. All, however, 1 am sorry to say, would 

 not be so scrupulous ; and they, as 1 have before n)enlioned, 

 kill worn specimens in their nets, and afterwards throw them 

 away. That this is often done in pure thoughtlessness, 1 feel 

 positive. 



