220 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



with great rapidity. That evening 1 had to leave Dover, and 

 the next day I visited Margate, where 1 remained eight days, 

 and found in the lucerne-tields, both near the town and at 

 Weslgate, about one mile and a half off, C. Hyale in great 

 plenty : two or three dozen a-day might have been taken by 

 anyone who was able to give active chase to them : a few 

 Ednsas amongst them and plenty of C. Cardui, but could 

 meet with no varieties ; but I afterwards purchased a very 

 fine one taken near Dover, something like that figured in 

 Mr. Newman's book, but handsomer and richer in colour. 

 Finding no chance of getting Daplidice there, I retraced ray 

 steps to Dover, hoping by that time the females of Daplidice 

 might be out. The weather kept rather cloudy and windy, 

 and although I remained there nine days 1 was not able to 

 meet with another, but heard of two fine ones being taken, 

 and 1 saw another female captured in the third week of August. 

 However, on the 13th of Sej^tember, being exceptionally fine 

 and warm, I met with a beautiful A. Lathonia about a mile 

 from the Castle-meadow, and on the 18th I took three more, 

 one male, worn, and on a blade of grass a fine male and female 

 paired ; they remained so twenty -four hours, and I afterwards 

 kept the female alive two days, but she would lay no eggs 

 and died: she was very fine and perfect. On the 19th 1 took 

 another male and a female, both very fine and fresh, apparently 

 only just born. 1 cannot agree with my friend Mr. Newman 

 that these specimens fly over from France, as four of my 

 specimens taken are as fine as bred, and tlie P. Daplidice was 

 also : from what 1 know of the north coast of France, having 

 visited Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe and Dunkirk, 1 am inclined 

 to think the south coast of Kent warmer and more favourable 

 for the production of both these species, and the food-plants 

 for both (wild mignonette, clover and heart's-ease) are very 

 abundant this year in the neighbourhood of Dover. I heard 

 of four V. Antiopas having been seen at Dover and Folkestone, 

 but only one captured. How are we to account for the 

 appearance of this latter insect in some abundance this year 

 nearly all over England? 1 can quite understand P. Daplidice 

 and A. Lathonia appearing in their proper habitats in greater 

 plenty than usual, the weather being fine at the time the 

 caterpillars were feeding up, and also fine at the proper time 

 for the appearance of the perfect insects. — Samuel Sieveiis ; 

 28, King iSireet, Covent Garden, September 21, 1872. 



