March 1894] DaNHV. VaNCOUVKR IsLAND LkI'IIX )I> IF.R A. 31 



NOTES ON LEPIDOPTERA FOUND ON 

 VANCOUVER ISLAND. 



r.v W. H. Danhv, Vu tokia, B. C. 



Tlie following notes culled from my riekl-tliarv may probably 

 be of interest to readers of the " Journal," and are intended to 

 give a partial account of captures, of the local Lepidoptera, inhab- 

 iting the southern part of \'ancouver Island. Although the late 

 Hy. Edwards, and also G. R. ("rotch, visited Victoria some 

 twenty years ago, collecting many new genera anil sj^ecies, there 

 has been but little done since that day, towards making the list 

 of species occurring here comulete ; in fact such an undertaking 

 would entail many years of energetic labor, still as every addi- 

 tional item of information tends to bring us nearer to our desire, 

 it is a pleasure to be able to add my (juota. 



The year 1892 opened stormy, though wiih a mild winter as 

 regards temperature, the spring was exceedingly wet, and the 

 summer short, being followed by a very rainy fall. These con- 

 ditions apparently created a bad entomological year, as regards 

 Lepidoptera, yet, such an excessively moist spring, did an im- 

 mense amount of good, by nearly exterminating the Vancouver 

 Island Oak-looper [E/Iopia Somniaria Hulst) thus enabling the oak 

 tree that had suffered for the previous three or four years from 

 its ravages to recover their natural appearance and beauty. 



In Victoria District the most common Diurnal was Vanessa 

 anfiopa, the most rare Vanessa ca/if arnica ; Limenitis hrquini, and 

 A'eop/iasia nicnapia, were very numerous in certain localities, 

 especially along the Cowitchan River, upon the surface of which 

 were thousands of defunct imagos of both species. 



I made three trips to the mountains after 67//6'//tf/'<i'.y ,C'X''^-^" •' '"Jt 

 only managed to secure two males, consequently was much disap- 

 pointed in not obtaining ova for Mr. W. H. Edwards of Goalburgh, 

 ^\'. Va. ; this year however, I hope to be successful. This beauti- 

 ful Salyrid is to be founil anu)ng the Highlands of South 

 Vancouver island from the East to the West coasts, and is far 

 more common than generally supposed, the time of its appearance 

 varies, according to climatic; changes, it appears to breed in the 

 valleys or basins, formed by the hills, and I imagine the female 

 seldom leaves there, while the male after copulation, flies to the 



