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XX. Notes on the Geographical Distribution of the British 

 Butterflies. By H. T. Stainton, Esq., F.L.S., &c. 



[Read December 5th, 1859.] 



It has been calculated that there are not less than 50,000 

 different species of Lepidoptera on the globe. More than 3,000 

 species of Butterflies are already known, and it has been com- 

 puted that the Moths are 16 times as numerous. 



In this country the proportion of Moths is much greater, being 

 nearly 30 to 1 ; but then we are remarkable throughout Europe 

 for our poverty in Butterflies. 



As already observed, in the whole world 3,000 species of But- 

 terflies are already known ; of these only one-tenth occur in 

 Europe, the tropical parts of Asia and America being by far 

 the most richly populated with this beautiful tribe of insects. 



In Central Europe or Germany 186 species of Butterflies have 

 been observed; the remaining 120 European species being pe- 

 culiar to Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia, or Lapland. 



Of the German species, 94 occur in Belgium, but only 65 in 

 England ; though we possess one species, Erebia Cassiope, which 

 does not occur in Belgium. 



All the British Butterflies occur in England, but little more than 

 half (33) are found in Scotland, and scarcely more in Ireland. 



Twenty-five species may be considered as generally distributed 

 and common ; but it should not be understood that these are 

 everywhere to be met with, but simply that their geographical 

 range is not limited, and that where they find suitable localities we 

 may expect to meet with them, from Norfolk to Killarney, and 

 from the Isle of Wight to Caithness. Some frequent gardens, 

 some meadows, some heaths, some woods, and some hedge rows 

 and lanes. 



Twenty-five other species, which all occur in the south-east of 

 England, thin out as we advance northward and westwards; only 

 5 of them occurring in Scotland, only 14 in Ireland. 



Three species, two of which are common in the mountainous 

 part of Scotland, do not occur at all in the south of England. 



Seven species are local to particular limited districts in the 

 Midland Counties or south of England. 



