OBSEKVATIONS ON EREBIA .TITHIOPS ^BLANDINA). 297 



The insects enumerated above were all either beaten out of 

 the hedges whilst working for hera, or else seen on the wing, and 

 none were worked for speciality. With the exception of one night 

 at " light," with Messrs. Robson and Mitchell, and another 

 trying to "assemble" with hera, I did no night-work, as I had 

 taken very little " moth tackling" with me, excepting wliat would 

 be necessary for hera, which I meant having " coute que coiite." 



In conclusion I wish to thank most heartily Messrs. Brooks, 

 Porritt, and Fenn for much useful information. 



York, October, 1895. 



OBSERVATIONS ON EEEBIA jETHIOPS {BLANDINA). 

 By J. C. Haggart. 



Happening to reside in an extremely favourable locality, 

 I have for the past few years made the study of this interesting 

 northern butterfly an especial one. I think nothing can be more 

 exhilarating to the entomologist than to make an excursion on a 

 fine sunny day in July or August to the domains of this insect. 



Immediately after emergence, Erehia blajidina presents a 

 beautiful appearance, the wings having a lovely velvety bloom on 

 them, almost beyond compare. This fine complexion unfor- 

 tunately disappears in a few days, however, and tends to greatly 

 reduce the original beauty of the insect. 



The haunt of E. blandina is almost without exception the 

 margin of a plantation or wood where the different species of the 

 Poa grow abundantly, and always situated in such a position as 

 to receive the first rays of the rising sun. This last-mentioned 

 fact is so plainly evident that the least observant cannot fail to 

 notice it. The insect is truly sun-loving, and no collector need 

 go in search of it with any thought of success if the day be dull. 



It is most interesting to observe the extreme sensibility of 

 the insect to shine and shade. A very good day wherewith to 

 illustrate this is one when heavy clouds at intervals obscure the 

 sun ; the moment it disappears so also does E. blandina, and no 

 sooner does it shine forth again than, as if by magic, scores of 

 the insect are on the wing. 



The under side of the insect bears a marked resemblance to 

 that of a dead leaf, and I have often watched the males being 

 deceived by withered leaves lying amongst the moss. They 

 would flutter down quite close to the leaf, immediately rise with 

 a disappointed air and fly a little further, only to be deceived 

 again and again. 



The ova are deposited amongst the Poa-grass and hatch in 

 September. Towards the end of October the larvse go down and 

 hybernate throughout the winter and spring, coming up to feed 



