( 121 ) 



LEPIDOPTEEA. 



Notes on New and Rare British Lepidoptera 

 (excepting Tineina) in 1869. 



By H. Guard Knaggs, M.D., F.L.S. 



On the whole, the progress made during the season just 

 passed has been satisfactory, and British Lepidopterists have 

 no great cause to complain. It is true that as regards quan- 

 tity and quality moths and butterflies have been very unequally 

 distributed, but that is only what must naturally be ex- 

 pected. 



The much-prized butterflies, which delighted us in ^6Sj 

 appear to have entirely forsaken us. Neither Daplidice, 

 Lathonia nor Antiopa has again occurred. Dismal ac- 

 counts indeed have reached us from many quarters, but 

 nevertheless we have much to speak of in the present paper. 



Let us take a glimpse at this curious season when many of 

 our commonest things were scarce and some of our rarer 

 species comparatively common — when the year seemed, so 

 to speak, turned topsy-turvy, and insects were met with 

 before or after, but seldom at, their proper times. At the be- 

 ginning of the season the heart of many a young collector 

 beat high, for ** early appearances " were unusually rife, and 

 these were confidently looked upon as the forerunners of an 

 annus mirabilis. But soon a change came o'er the spirit of 

 the dream, and insects generally disappeaied from our gaze. 

 Even those arch-collectors, the swallows, found but a cold 



