184 THE entomologist's record, 



fallen overnight and some in the early morning, it would be extremely 

 favourable for the retention of any odour, and these gatherings might 

 be explained by a female having emerged at or visited these spots 

 before fertilisation, or could it be anticipatory of the former event ? 

 The large preponderance of the males would lead to very early pairing 

 of the female, and it was noticeable at this time of the day, the females, 

 not in cop., remained unmolested. The presence of the pupae on the 

 soil of the paths, or anywhere else, would not be unlikely, as when 

 (June 15th) I was on the ground, the great plenty of the insect was in 

 a way foreshadowed by seeing the larvfe crawling freely about the 

 road — a spectacle which, though I have been familiar with A. coridon 

 here for more than a quarter of a century, I had never seen before. 

 No variation of any consequence was noticed among these hosts. The 

 butterfly was first observed out on July 13th. — W. B. Davis, 3, Rose- 

 bank Villas, Churchfield Eoad, Stroud, Glos. August lAtJi, 1917. 



[This note recalls to my mind an almost exactly similar scene on the 

 floor of a quarry on the margin of the Lake of Lucerne, between Vitznau 

 and Gersau. During my holiday in the Alps in 1914 similar assemblages, 

 mainly of blues, were a daily sight, especially on the rough road lead- 

 ing up to the Suvretta Thai, St. Moritz. It seemed to me that it was 

 not merely water that was sought by these " drinkers," but water 

 flavoured with animal droppings or urine. On one occasion, some 

 years ago, when going from Gex towards the Faucille Pass, in the 

 Jura Mountains, I met with a large assemblage of " blues," mainly 

 Polyommatus icarus, Pleheius avf/i/rognoinon, and Aricia medon, thus 

 drinking around a clump of grass which had been frequented by dogs. 

 — H.J.T.] 



The capture of Papilio bianor near Lewes. — A specimen of 

 Papilio bianor Avas captured near Lewes on June 11th last, and is now 

 in my collection. The insect was secured by means of a fish-landing 

 net, being the only thing available at the time, and was taken about 

 7 p.m. It had settled on the leaf of a chestnut tree, and I thought it 

 was a bat when first seen. It measures just over four inches in 

 expanse of wings, and except for damage to one of the " tails " by the 

 net, is in good condition. Two other specimens of presumably the 

 same species were seen in the same district in the course of about a 

 week. As the species inhabits China, Korea, and Japan, it would be 

 interesting to know the reason of its occurrence ; but it is, without 

 much doubt, "an escape." — Edward J. Bedford, Lewes. July, 1917. 

 [I have just heard that some specimens of P. bianor have been on 

 exhibition at the Zoo, Eegent's Park, and that one or two have 

 escaped. This probably accounts for the occurrence of the specimen, 

 an account of which I sent you yesterday. — E.J.B.] 



Aplecta occulta at Mucking. — A neighbour has brought to me 

 for identification two specimens of this Noctua — taken at rest in the 

 garden in June of this year. The specimens are curiously enough 

 quite as dark as my series from Rannocb. I have never found this 

 species in this neighbourhood before. — C. R. N. Burrows. 



Abundance of Butterflies. — I have been down in Devonshire 

 again and have seen more butterflies than I ever remember in England. 

 — G. T. Bethune-Baker. 



Colias Edusa. — I saw (Jolias edusa quite fresh while in Devon- 

 shire. — G. T. Bethune-Baker. 



