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A EAEE ENTOMOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 

 By a Visitor to the Woolhope Club. 



It was my good fortune on Thursday last, June 19th, to inspect the cabinets of 

 British Lepidoptera collected by Mrs. Hutchinson, of Grantsfield, near Leomin- 

 ster. That lady most kindly opened them for the inspection of the members of 

 the Woolhope Club who visited the neighbourhood on that occasion. It would 

 be imix)ssible to give even an outline of the vast collection. Owing to the length 

 of the day's programme, barely a.s many minutes were devoted to its inspection 

 as hours would have been required. A few of the rarer species, however, were 

 noticed by the writer, and a short account of them may be of interest to your en- 

 tomological readers. 



The Bath White (Pieris Daplidice). — This, one of the rarest of diurnal lepi- 

 doptera, was represented by several specimens. The collector may pa.ss from 

 youth to old age and never be so fortunate as to capture this insect in the British 

 Isles. Here he had the opportunity of feasting his eyes ujjon several examples. 



The Purple Emperor (Apatura Iris). — A long series of this splendid butterfly, 

 which holds the highest place among the British species, and is the most difficult 

 to capture. Some grand specimens of their imperial majesties were in the col- 

 lection. 



The Camberwell Beauty (Vanessa Antiopa). — This rarity, the capture of a 

 speci'-neu for>ning a red-letter day in the career of the entomologist, was a surprise 

 to the collector, from the number of representatives. The first and second of the 

 series were taken at one swtep of the net, and varied from the other examples by 

 having the outer border of a yellow tint, thus approaching the European type. 

 The other specimens were of the usual British character, nearly white, with a 

 faint yellow tinge. 



The Queen of Spain Fritillary ( Artjynnis Lathonia). — This beautiful species, 

 which varies so much in shape from the other members of the family, was repre- 

 sented by several specimens, all very fine. Owing to its scarcity, it is not often 

 seen in cabinets of Biitish butterflies. 



The Silver Cloud (Xiilomujcs conspicilaris). — Here was a surprise for the ento- 

 mologist, numerous examples of this exceedingly rare noctua meeting his astonished 

 gaze ; not a solitary specimen (as the collector considers himself fortunate in pos- 

 sessing), but varieties to be studied, so long was the series. 



These are a few of the rarities noticed, and they will give an idea of the rich- 

 ness of the cabinets. 



