278 istotes ojst the occueeence or lepidoptee^ 



winter pass away without severe frosts, the comparison will be a 



fairer one. 



DITJRNI (BUTTERFLIES). 



The cold and wet weather prevailing during the summer 

 months had a marked influence on butterfly life. Of the three 

 familiar Vanessa, viz. : Ataianta (Red Admiral), Io (Peacock), 

 Urticoe (Small Tortoise Shell), there were few about, only an 

 occasional straggler was to be seen on the wing. 



The Orange Tip (Anthocharis Cardamines) and the Fritillaries 

 (Argynnis, Fuphrosyne, and Selene), usually plentiful in May 

 and June, were rarely to be seen. 



The same may be said of the generally common species, viz. : 

 The Gatekeeper (Satyrus Tithonus), the Meadow Brown(S.Janira), 

 the Small Heath (Chortobius Pamphilus), the Common Blue {Ly- 

 ccena Alexis), and the Small Copper (Polyommatus Phlceas). 



I have not heard of a single capture in this district of the 

 Camberwell Beauty ( Vanessa Antiopa) during the past season. 



Of the spring brood of the Common Whites (Pieris Brassicm, 

 Rapce, and Napi), few individuals were about ; but the second 

 brood of Brassicce was much more abundant than I have noticed 

 for several years, to the great annoyance of cabbage growers. 



NOCTURNI (MOTHS). 



The Convolvulus Hawk-Moth {Sphinx Convolvuli). — This magni- 

 ficent moth appears to have been very abundant throughout the 

 country during August and September. Individual specimens 

 have been seen and captured on our coast, and at Darlington 

 upwards of thirty were captured flying over the honeysuckle in 

 the evening. 



Lithosia quadra (the Four-spotted Footman). — A male of this 

 local moth was found in June, at Sandyford, near the town. 



The larvae of the Fox-Moth (Bombyx Ituhi) were unusually 

 plentiful on the moors, feeding on the heather. Some I found 

 on the coast, near Newbiggih-by-the-Sea, had been stung by 

 Ichneumon flics during the earlier stages of their growth. 



