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THE OCCURRENCE OF MELIT^A DIDYMA NEAR 

 DUMFRIES. By William Lennon. 



Read March 2d, 1877. 



It is with feelings of much pleasure that I take the 

 liberty of bringing under your notice this evening the cap- 

 ture of a species of Butterfly, never before known, as an 

 inhabitant of any portion of the British Isles. 



To those of you who know something of Entomology, I 

 need only state that this new species is one of the Genus 

 Melitcea, and which has hitherto been found principally on 

 hilly and wild uncultivated tracts of country. All the species 

 of this Genus are distinguished by their chequered appear- 

 ance, and have been named Frittilaries from their close 

 resemblance to those out-of-date flowers, the Frittillary 

 Lilies. 



It is some years since I captured the specimen now 

 brought under your consideration. It was about the end of 

 the month of June, tlie d;\y was very bright and hot, and 

 this is distinctly brought to my remembrance from the un- 

 usually large swax-ms oi Argynnis Ettphrosyne and A. Selene 

 which were floating around me, and of Mdiich I captured at 

 the time a large number, most of which are still in my pos- 

 ses.sipn. 



This new Butterfly has a great resemblance (outwardly) 

 to those two species, viz., Argynnis Eiiphrosyne and A 

 Selene, amongst which it was caught. Indeed, its similarity* 

 in general appearance thereto is so great the pi-obability is 

 that, from this cause, it has hitherto escaped detection. For 

 this same reason I was myself under the impression at the 

 time that it was merely a well-marked variety of the common 

 type, and, therefore, after casual observation, laid it aside 

 together with my gatherings for the day. 



Having at that date turned my sole attention to the study 

 of Goleoptera, I did not return to the examination of these 

 gathered specimens until a fcAv months ago (November last), 

 when on re-opening them this insect again commanded my 

 earnest attention. On communicating thereon with our 



