30 XOTE OX THE CAMBERWELL BEAUTY BUTTERFLY. 



I. — Note on the recent Occurrence in Northumberland and Durham 

 of the Camberwell Beauty Butterfly. — By Thomas Johx Bold. 



I hate often noticed that a wet season, although hurtful to insect 

 life generally, is certain to produce some striking novelty, and 

 the year 1872 has not been an exception to this rule. It will 

 long be remembered by all as one of the wettest years on record, 

 and by collectors as having produced in some plenty that beauti- 

 ful butterfly the Camberwell Beauty {Vanessa Ant iopa, Linn.), a 

 species which very few of our entomologists had previously seen 

 alive. Its occurrence in nearly all the counties of the south and 

 eastern portions of England, and in most of those of Scotland, 

 has been recorded in the various periodicals of the day, and by 

 the kindness of Mr. W. Maling I am enabled to give several in- 

 stances of its having been captured or seen within the district of 

 our Club's labours. 



A very fine specimen was taken in Jesmond Dene on the 23rd 

 of August, and (by the generosity of Mr. Henderson) now embel- 

 lishes the collection of Mr. Maling. This specimen differs from 

 nearly all the examples of V. Antiopa, taken in Great Britain, by 

 having the borders of its wings decidedly yellow, and not white, 

 or creamy white; agreeing in fact exactly with Central Euro- 

 pean types, from which, when placed amongst a series, it can 

 only be distinguished by the difference in setting. This indivi- 

 dual was caught about eleven o'clock a.m., and from its sluggish 

 movements had probably been very recently disclosed from the 

 pupa. Its perfect condition shows plainly that it never had 

 flown : crossing the North Sea it certainly never had attempted. 

 I may add that willows grow near to where it was taken, on 

 Avhich plant the caterpillar is said to feed. 



Another specimen was taken at Heaton on the same day as the 

 foregoing, and is in the possession of Mr. Matthew Beaumont. 



One, in the collection of Mr. Laws, was taken at Stockton-on- 

 Tees, and several others were seen. 



One was caught at Annfield Plain, by Mr. Bulman. Two also 

 have occurred at "Winlaton. 



