221 



a few of the common P. linea, which, in their flight they greatly resembled." 



In the " Entomologists' Monthly Magazine/' Yol. I., Mr. Trovey Black- 

 more writes, " This species seems to be very irregular in the time of its 

 appearance. I took it in abundance, in very fine condition, in 1858, at the 

 end of July, both at Lulworth Cove and at the Burning Cliff; whereas, the 

 few specimens that I met with in the corresponding week this year, 1864, at 

 the latter locality, were in a very wasted state, and had, apparently, been on 

 the wing for some time. I met a member of the Entomological Society on 

 the cliff, who had walked over there from Lulworth, where he had taken a 

 few specimens in no better plight than mine/' 



My first capture of Action was made on the 27th of July, ] 869, when I 

 drove over to Lulworth and captured fourteen ; also one of Linea, four of 

 Sylvanus, two of Corydon, and several of Galatbea and Semele. 



Newman, in his " British Butterflies/' 1871, writes, " We are indebted to 

 the indefatigable Mr. Dale for the discovery of this insect at Lulworth Cove, 

 in August, 1832, as announced by Mr. Curtis in his " British Entomology/' 

 I believe it to be extremely local that is, frequenting particular spots, scat- 

 tered at intervals all along the sea coasts of Dorset and Devon. The Warwick- 

 shire localities, although confidently spoken of, are very unlooked for, and are, 

 I think, fairly open to doubt. Devonshire. Extremely local, frequenting cliffs 

 and coves on the coast, more especially cliffs east of Sidmouth and Torquay. 

 J. J. Reading ; Mr. Hellins has also taken it near Sidmouth. Dorset- 

 shire. Lulworth and Burning Cliff by Holworth. J. C. Dale/' 



Taken this year (1870) in two new localities, at Swanage and near Tyne- 

 ham.T. Parmister. " Entomologist," Yol. 3., p. 179. 



In the "Entomologist," Vol. XL, is the following communication from 

 myself: "This little butterfly has been very scarce this year (1878), but last 

 year it was in greater profusion than ever I have seen it. The earliest I 

 captured was on June 20th, the last on September 4th. It is more widely 

 distributed than is commonly supposed, as I have taken it in various places 

 on the Dorset coast, from Swanage to Preston Preventive Station, which is 

 about two miles from Weymouth." 



It was also met with in 1877, by Mr. Wacey, on Kidway Hill close to 

 Upaney. 



In the " Entomologist," Yol. XYI, Mr. Benson writes, " Some years back 

 I took Hesperia actaon in some numbers near Truro, Cornwall, in good con- 

 dition and quite unmistakable ; but have not seen it there since." 



In 1888, it was on the wing at Lulworth as late as the 13th of September. 



Hesperia action occurs at Lulworth in company with no less than four 

 others of the Skipper family, viz. : Sylvants, Linea, Alveolus, and Tages. 



