JWR SINEDIDOR, INO le 3 
I. 
OccurRENCE oF Cozras Hyace NEAR CAMBRIDGE, XC. 
[* Zoologist,’ iii. (1845) p. 887.] 
In the numerous notices that have appeared in ‘The Zoologist’ of 
the occurrence of Colias dusa, in the past year, I observe only one 
mention of Colias Hyale having been seen, namely, near Arundel. 
From this general silence of your correspondents respecting it, it 
would appear to have been out but very sparingly ; yet a considerable 
number of specimens have been taken near Cambridge, chiefly I 
believe about the Devil’s Dyke, which is in the chalk country. 
Some of these were evidently just out of the chrysalis, much too 
perfect to have travelled far, or to be in the second year of their age. 
Mr. [Hamlet] Clark, of Corpus College, also took one near Lincoln, 
in the past season. In 1842, on the 13th of September, I took a 
female on very high land near Matlock, in Derbyshire. I was at 
the time in pursuit of larger game, and my surprise and joy at this 
new appearance was only equalled by the astonishment of the keeper 
at my proceedings. I never felt less keen out shooting than I did 
after this incident; but in vain did I devote the following day to 
the net; and my excess of wonder only began to diminish when 
I heard from my brother that he had taken one at Eton, in 
Buckinghamshire, and had heard of their being taken almost every- 
where. I then began to look upon it as a case parallel to that of 
Vanessa Antiopa in the year 17—? a sudden unaccountable 
apparition throughout the kingdom, a “ Grand Surprize” ; but when 
they were plentiful again in 1843, and (about Cambridge) again in 
1844, I thought it not impossible a new era might be established, 
and that Colius Hyale had ceased to be among the rare, from what 
causes it seemed fruitless to conjecture—unless it be a fact worthy 
of observation, that they were ‘first found frequent on the coast 
opposite and nearest to France. They have now been out three 
successive years, decreasing rapidly in poimt of numbers each year. 
In 1842 the collectors about here were not properly on the gut vive 
till too late, yet numbers of Hyale were caught, but not one Edusa 
(I believe). In 18438, Edusa abundant; of Hyale several scores 
were caught. In 1844, Hdusa and Hyale were seen in much less 
abundance, but in about the same relative proportions as in 1843 ; 
of Hyale one or two dozens were taken. It would be highly 
interesting to know whether the periodical appearance of these 
insects in England corresponds with the same on the continent. 
Trinity College, Cambridge, 
February 4, 1845. 
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