zlv] a 
observation that pairing takes place between hybernated 
individuals in the spring—a conclusion which was long 
ago reached upon other grounds, as the following letters 
indicate. 
“Mr, G. C. Barrett wrote to me on the subject on May 14, 
1900 :— 
‘My experience on the point you mention is not large, and 
if you have definitely noticed the period of pairing of Vanessa 
urtice it is of great interest. Of course I have seen the male 
pursuing the female in the sunny days of spring, and also have 
found it—both sexes, I believe—hybernating in August when 
but just from the pupa, but I cannot remember that I have 
seen actual pairing in this species—or in any Vanessa except 
cardui. On very hot days at the end of May and beginning 
of June worn females of this species may be seen flying in a 
wild manner, pursued closely by still more worn and tattered 
males; and once I saw them after this wild rushing about 
settle down on a branch of an oak-tree, and pairing at once 
took place. I saw the action of copulation, and left them 
paired on the tree. 
‘I think that all the species pair in the spring—I might 
even say that I do not think that the ¢@ would live through 
the winter if they had paired! but this is merely opinion, 
though with good reason to back it.’ 
“Mr. J. W. Turr wrote on May 15, 1900 :— 
‘I have no notes upon the pairing of Vanessa except that on 
more than one occasion when polychloros has been abundant in 
the autumn and emerged early after a specially fine summer 
I have seen occasional pairs in the autumn. I suspect all such 
autumnal pairings are unusual, and that eggs are laid and the 
progeny exterminated. Still I have never seen any spring 
pairings, I think, of this species, and may be wrong. I believe 
I have seen zo paired in spring.’ 
“Dr, CHAPMAN wrote on May 16, 1900 :— 
‘You will see all I know on the point in E. M. M., for 1891, 
p. 22. I don’t think I have seen a Vanessa in cop. But we 
know that males and females equally hybernate. I think it 
has over and over again been proved that female Vanessa are 
immature in autumn. I don’t know that the same has been 
