﻿notes on the rhopalOcerA of west Norfolk. 35? 



1888 : May 24th— June 28th. 1889 : May 23rd— June 26th. 

 1890 : May 21st— June 18th. 



Pararge megcera (Lasiommata megcera). — By far the most 

 uniform in its appearance of any of the double-brooded species, 

 and also the one that can claim to have occurred in the greatest 

 profusion. A fen drove, with a drain one side and a ditch on the 

 other, about a mile long, sheltered on both sides by standing 

 corn-fields, was the scene of the August brood of this butterfly, in 

 the dry season of 1887, which literally swarmed there. Like the 

 green-veined white, they vary much in wing area, more so than 

 any other species on my list; in fact some specimens did not 

 much exceed a small copper-butterfly, and I noticed these were 

 much darker in colour than the finer ones, or perhaps it would be 

 safer to say that in the larger individuals the fulvous ground covers 

 proportionately more space. The insect usually appears about 

 May 24th, but the brood is limited, lasting only twenty-four days; 

 and I have not known it to endure to July, neither the second 

 to begin in that month. This second is by far the most extensive, 

 being met with in plenty daily through August, continuing to 

 September, gapping considerably from the middle of the month. 

 This warmth-loving species is the most subject of any I know to 

 the loss of a secondary wing, which, by-the-bye, seems to occasion 

 but little inconvenience. Perhaps this insect is an article of diet 

 with the voracious Neuroptera, as I once observed a dragonfly 

 seize one, beginning at the head and eating downwards, the 

 wings falling off on their respective sides ; the creature did not 

 eat the wings. This was one of the neatest mechanical operations 

 I ever witnessed. Unobserved in preliminary stages. 



1888 : June 2nd — 26th ; August 20th— September 30th. 

 1889: May 23rd— June 14th; August 1st— September 23rd. 

 1890: May 21st- June 16th; August 5th— September 19th. 



Epinephele ianira (Hipparchia janira). — Although a common 

 and sober-coloured insect, this is still an interesting butterfly, 

 appearing, as is its wont, about hay-time, showing to best 

 advantage when freshly emerged, traversing the meadow eddish, 

 or, better still, the pastures, which by this time have generally 

 assumed a sun-scorched appearance ; indeed, if it were not for 

 this and the next species, many a tract of parched turf would be 

 deprived of much of its life. It has also the additional habit of 

 remaining on the wing during the dull portions of the day, as in 

 the warmth of sunshine. What the butterfly teaches in the general 

 term, this one carries out specifically : in this flying mirror we 

 may see the importance of a cheerful spirit. The butterfly is 

 abundant during July and August, decreasing, however, towards 

 the close of that month. Two seasons I have noticed a single 

 example in September. Unobserved in preliminary stages. 



1888 : July 8th— September 1st. 1889 : June 26th— Sep- 

 tember 9th. 1890 : June 23rd— August 25th. 



