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It 13 much to be regretted that the study of this branch of natural history 

 Is so much neglected, as, if Herefordshire were thoroughly well worked, there 

 is little doubt a large number may be added to the known species. The total 

 number of British Lepidoptera is so large, amounting to nearly 2,000, that 

 this class alone affords an almost boundless field for careful study. 



It appears by a list which I have carefully compared with my own, 

 that Mr. Hutchinson and his family have met with great success in the 

 neighbourhood of Leominster, and have added many species which have 

 not before been found in the county. 



During the time Mr. Pnrchas was reading his paper, his collection of 

 the Lepidoptera was passed round the room. It consisted of eight handsome 

 cases, in which the insects were scientifically and very beautifully arranged. 

 The collection is a very extensive one, and contained several species not found 

 in this county, some of which, indeed, are now scarcely to be met with in the 

 kingdom. 



Here was the interesting "Swallow-tail" (Papilio machaon) with its 

 handsome black-bordered wings. It is only to be found naturaUy in the fens, 

 and the chrysalis, hanging tail uppermost from the buUrushes, is much 

 sought after for sale. These were imported in this state from Cambridge, and 

 thus in one sense may be said to be Herefordshire bom. There was the 

 " Black-rimmed white " butterfly of the thorn (Pieris cratwgi), a very pretty 

 representative of a most destructive caterpillar on the continent. It is 

 fortunately rare in England, and only appears at long intervals. This one 

 was caught by Mr. Purchas's brother, near Chepstow, a few years since. There 

 was a specimen of the very rare "Bath white" (Pterin daplidkce) with its 

 mottled underwings. This butterfly is called the "Bath white" from an 

 elegant piece of needlework executed at Bath, in imitation of a butterfly of 

 this kind taken near that city. The "Clouded yellow" {Colias Eduaa), which 

 should rather be called orange, so rich is the tint of colour, and the very 

 rare " pale clouded yellow" (Colias hyaU) were there also. 



Next, and most striking perhaps of all, we must notice the fine specimen 

 of the "Camberwell Beauty" (Vanessa Antiopa). It is so called from having 

 been observed in great abundance amongst tlje willow beds at the village of 

 Camberwell, This is now one of our very rare butterflies, though about 20 

 years ago it appeared in such immense numbers throughout the kingdom 

 that the Aurelians of that day thence gave it the name of the "Grand 

 Surprise." It now only appears in small numbers, periodically, after lapses 

 of five, or ten, or more years. The specimen in Mr. Purchas' case was a 

 foreign one. 



Not so the "Purple Emperor" (Apatura iris); this has long been 

 known as a Herefordshire butterfly, and "Brinsop copse" is generally 

 mentioned as a locality for it. It is considered a great acquisition in any 

 collection, not only for its own handsome appearance and colour, but also 



