95 



this supply for heart action during the time breathing in mnter has been 

 suspended, and consequently when no oxygen is taken in by the lungs of 

 the animal, were fully explained ; and the various interesting phenomena 

 which combine towards this end, fitly closed a short but exhaustive 

 paper. 



[NoTK. — The title of this paper was suggested by reading a short 

 article in the Selhorne Journal.'] 



NOTES 



Bucouc Entomology. — Date, about 20th May, 1892. — Butterflies 

 Sir, Noa ! 'taint much of a season for them. It's too cold. There are 

 a few little brown uns about, but they've no color yet. Yer see sur, 

 they wants sun, then they'll tiirn blue and get lively ; next they gets 

 into the orchards and then they grow, they eats cherries and plums and 

 that gives 'em scarlet streaks acrost the wings. You'll find plenty then, 

 but not yet awhile. 



Edttsa in 1892. — This will long be known amongst entomologists 

 as the great Colias edusa year, second only in importance to the 

 celebrated season of 1877, when this golden colored butterfly occurred in 

 profusion from one end of the British Isles to the other, even gladdening 

 the dullness of our streets and the slopes of our northern mountains. 



Although it has been everywhere recorded as common, in Kent at 

 least, it has not with regard to numbers, nearly equalled the former date, 

 yet in certain localities (of generally limited area) it has literally been 

 seen in thousands. This better enables us to understand the nature of 

 these visitations, and helps to disperse the clouds of mystery and surmise 

 that have for so many years hung over our brilliant little friends. 

 No longer is it possible to doubt that from time to time an incursion 

 takes place from abroad, and when this happens in the spring, eggs are 

 laid and a brood hatched out and brought to maturity the same season. 

 From the same cause the numbers in which they appear can be 

 accounted for, as we cannot expect our country to produce the parasites 

 which are doubtless peculiar to them in their own, and therefore the 

 caterpillars escape molestation ; but Great Britain is too damp for the 

 next brood to survive the winter, and it is not until another migration 

 takes place, that we can expect to see them in any numbers. This is 

 the solution of a problem which much exercised the minds of our older 

 entomologists, but they attempted to explain it by thinking insects 

 capable of controlling their emergence, so as to appear at a season 

 convenient to themselves, which assumes, we think, a far greater amount 

 of intelligence in the chrysalids, than in the collectors. 



Surely this is the time when our head Entomological Society should 

 put itself into communication with those abroad, to enquire whence and 

 when this migration took place. Where was edusa in super-abundance 

 in the year, 1891? Where in the spring of 1892? Was there any 



