NOTES ON COLLECTING. 



251 



where I found the males of M. galathea on the 17th inst., I had the 

 pleasure to take a male of Thymelicus acteon, fresh out, and con- 

 tinuing along the corn and other fields which rise gradually towards 

 the left, I came across the males of Vanessa io and Pyrameis cardui, 

 freshly emerged, in small numbers. E. tithonus is now generally 

 abundant along hedges. 



July 22nd. — Collecting to-day on the same ground as on the 21st, 

 but mounting higher kmong the many suitable fields towards the left, 

 I took one Papilio machaon male just emerged. I saw one fine Colias 

 edusa male in perfect condition. I also took one V. io male, a male 

 and female of P. brassicae (summer brood) just emerged, and one more 

 Thymelicus acteon male. The females of E. tithonus and M. f/alathea 

 have just begun to emerge, and I took one of each, together with 

 several males of the latter, in good condition. The weather to-day 

 has been perfect throughout, and though I was unable to get on to the 

 above grourid until 4.30 true time, I noticed a considerable increase in 

 insects on the wing. 



July 23rd. — On the same ground as yesterday I found to-day that 

 the males of Hipparchia semele are emerging, and I took three quite 

 fresh, together with two more females of M. galathea, which are 

 becoming more numerous. A fine day changed with late afternoon to 

 a thundery aspect, which spoilt my chances, as I could not get on to the 

 ground until 4.30 p.m. 



July 24th. — The weather this afternoon was so appallingly hot 

 that much active collecting was out of the question, but still I covered a 

 considerable amount of the high ground beyond Pont-de-Briques, well 

 to the left of the river. Fine specimens of the males and females of H. 

 semele Avere to be taken to-day, and the males of the summer brood of 

 Celastrina aryiohis are out, and settle sometimes on a bramble blossom 

 for want of soinething more congenial. Then the males of Lasio- 

 campa quercus were very busy on the wing, and one which rather 

 dawdled got into my net and stayed there. As I hadn't the pleasure 

 of taking H. circe cleanly off tree trunks this year, I tried for a change 

 the " drive " stroke at golf for taking up H. semele off the ground, 

 which if carefully done meets with success, as they rise to it. The 

 moths Cabera jJi'saria and Botys ruralis rose from the long grass to-day, 

 the former in some numbers. 



July 27th. — I collected later this afternoon along the high ground 

 above the cliffs on the sea front towards Wimereaux. The males of 

 Polyommatus icarus (summer brood) are now on the wing in small 

 numbers, and I noticed Pyrameis cardui out fresh also in small numbers. 

 One male Argynnis cydippe (adippe) showed that the species occurs 

 here, but it was going over in condition, and therefore not worth 

 taking. The weather is perfectly glorious, and if it continues I hope 

 yet to add many names to my list of species observed here. 



July 28th. — I collected to-day behind Boulogne in a valley to the 

 left of the road which leads to Pont-de-Briques. I secured a pair of 

 P. icarus (male and female) just out, also a male of Thymelicus acteon, 

 in good condition. One or two P. cardui were about, but were already 

 too ragged to take. I am surprised this species is not more plentiful, 

 as the quantity of thistles and teazles in this district is very great. 

 Rumicia phlaeas, too, is extraordinarily scarce at present. The three 

 common Pieridae are swarming everj; where. 



