THE CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY. 109 



large size. Mr. Blackall took one of the white variety 

 known as Helice, to be alluded to again presently ; 

 this was much worn. We were puzzled rather ahout 

 this appearance of Edusa at the beginning of June, 

 apparently between the period when hybernated 

 specimens might be caught, and that when new 

 broods occurred, and together with Mr. Giles, who 

 had also been working, we pondered over the question 

 how they were to be regarded. At one time we said 

 " hybernated," and again we said " no." Anyhow, 

 we all prophesied a second brood, probably numerous, 

 at the latter end of July or beginning of August. 

 Accordingly, on the third of the latter month they 

 swarmed, and Helice among them, to the intense 

 delight and astonishment of everyone. From this 

 time onward for nearly four months the whole neigh- 

 bourhood abounded with them, the fading specimens 

 of the second brood mingling with the fresh bright 

 ones of a third in October. It is this third brood 

 which, so far as I am able to make out, is a unique 

 occurrence ; a second brood has been recorded, 

 though doubts were thrown upon it, but no one ex- 

 pected a third. The weather being favourable, and 

 Mr. Blackall very energetic in the matter, specimens 

 were captured all through October and up to 12th of 

 November. Some of these in October he took while 

 they were drying their wings after emerging from 

 the chrysalis. Many of this third brood proved to 

 be much below the average size. In one of the cases 

 on the table the three distinct broods are shown for 

 comparison. Helice was abundant again in the last 

 brood. Mr. Blackall took ten between the end of 

 October and November 12th, 



