Transactions. 57 



the flight continued from its first appearance on June 3, 

 almost without interruption, until October 9th, when the 

 severe frost probably destroyed them. For about a fortnight 

 in August I did not hear of, or see any, but this was likely 

 to be for want of observation. The undoubted Autumn brood 

 commenced to fly about September lOtli, and continued in 

 remarkable abundance almost everywhere except on the 

 high moors, till the frost destroyed them, as already remarked. 

 Those places which came under my own observation were 

 more especially a field to the east of Goldielea, another at 

 Burnside of Mabie, and one near the Rifle Range at Con- 

 huith. At these places they outnumbered any other Butter- 

 fly, and it is perhaps worthy of remark that in settling for 

 food or rest they invariably preferred a flower of a yellow 

 colour. My success in capturing was not in proportion to the 

 numbers I chased. They are exceedingly difficult to catch, 

 and had it not been that the Autumn Ijrood were, as com- 

 pared with the Summer ones, a peculiarly weak and ener- 

 vated race, my show of specimens would have been small 

 indeed. Even with this very noticeable weakness they were 

 much more difficult to secure than other members of the 

 Butterfly race. 



A peculiarity of this appearance of Edusa is the remark- 

 ably early date on which it was first seen, viz., June 3d. It 

 seems to have been generally understood hitherto that the 

 species hibernated, appearing again in Spring, but I can find 

 no record or notice of its having been then seen. I am at a 

 loss to know how this idea can have originated ; however, I 

 think the experience of the past season will have dissipated 

 the notion, for it is admitted on all hands that those indi- 

 viduals captured in June had only recently emerged from the 

 pupa state. Another point which may be noticed is the 

 greater size of the June specimens when compared with the 

 Autumn brood. This peculiarity was accompanied by a 

 stronger flight and a playful vivacity, which was altogether 

 wanting in those that were on the wing during September. 

 I find the average breadth of the Summer specimens is 2in, 



