29 



much commoner butterfly than Hyale in the British Islands, though rarer on 

 the Continent, and is somewhat irregular in its appearances. It was par- 

 ticularly abundant in Britain, in 1877, but by no means so elsewhere. 

 Clover and lucerne fields are its favourite resorts, though flowery meadows, 

 grassy slopes near the sea, and the sides of railway banks are also the scenes 

 of its lively flight. It has also a marked preference for the South Coast, 

 though in 1877 it occurred all over Great Britain and Ireland, even as far 

 north as the Orkney Islands. In one season, perhaps, hardly a solitary 

 specimen will be seen, then in the very next, a swarm of them will spread 

 over the Southern Counties, delighting the collector, and puzzling the natura- 

 list to find a sufficient reason for this sudden burst oi insect life ; then for 

 three or four years together it will be very scarce again. None make a finer 

 show in the cabinet, and few tempt pursuit more strongly, than this richly 

 coloured and nimble- winged beauty ; therefore it has always been a favourite, 

 and captures of it have been more frequently recorded in the magazines and 

 newspapers than of any other species. 



The first in England to figure and describe it was old Mouffet, in 1633. 



In Ray's " Historia Insectorium," 1710, we read, "In Essexia non procul 

 a Bocking oppido in agro Lino fato invenimus, Eadem a D. Vernon in agro 

 Cantabrigiensi capta, 03 ad nos delata est Hsec, observante D. Willughby, 

 in Stiria frequens est. Unde Patet multas Papilionum species Anglise cum 

 reliqua Europa communes esse." 



In Petiver's " Papilionum Britannise Icones," 1717, we read, " Papilio 

 crocea, limbo nigricante. The Saffron Butterfly seen about Deptford, Peck- 

 ham, &c., from June till September/' 



In Harris* "Aurelian," 1775, we read, "This beautiful fly is taken in 

 meadows in the month of August, they fond of settling on the yellow lupins 

 and thistles. They have been taken flying in plenty in Epping Forest, but 

 as they seldom haunt one place for many successive seasons, I cannot venture 

 to mention it as a place where they are to be found. Where there is a brood, 

 the times of the day to find them are at eight in the morning and four in the 

 afternoon, but never in the middle of the day, when they conceal themselves 

 to rest. They fly very fast, therefore not easily taken, the male in particular 

 flies exceedingly fast." To this my father adds a note " I never saw them 

 fly but in the middle of the day." 



In Donovan's "Natural History of British Insects," 1792, we read, 

 " With us it has ever been esteemed as a rare insect, though seen this season 

 in Kent in greater plenty than for several years ; but as they were probably 

 only an accidental brood, they may again disappear for a considerable time." 



In Lewin's "Insect of Great Britain," 1795, we read, "This beautiful 



