CHAPTER XV 



LETTERS TO MR. D. D. G1BB 



Great Tortoiseshell Butterfly The Forest Fly Numerous other fly-pests 

 and fly-parasites A few Moths. 



THE subjoined letters to Mr. Gibb are unique in that they 

 deal with a wider range of subjects than any of Miss 

 Ormerod's letters to other British observers. She recognised 

 and appreciated her correspondent's accuracy of observa- 

 tion, and gratefully acknowledged the assistance she received 

 through the numerous specimens he so promptly collected 

 for her when in need. 



To D. D. Gibb, Esq., Assembly Manor Farm, Lymington.* 



TORRINGTON HOUSE, ST. ALBANS, 



June 26, 1894. 



DEAR SIR, I am very much obliged to you for kindly 

 sparing time to let me have your careful observations 

 received this morning, together with the specimens of the 

 Great Tortoiseshell butterfly, Vanessa polychloros, infestation. 

 I have been very carefully noting, measuring and counting, 

 so as to secure details, and presently I think with your own 

 observations these will form a very serviceably interesting 

 paper. That patch of eggshells contained over three 

 hundred eggs, as near as I could count by taking numbers 

 in length and breadth. Your two caterpillars had been 

 over hasty in their arrangements, and changed to chrysalis 

 on the journey, and consequently made not a good business 

 of it, but one of those you sent me previously, having 

 better surroundings had done its work thoroughly well, and 

 is a very beautiful specimen which I hope will develop. I 



1 Now " Kirkdale," Spencer Road, Bournemouth. 

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