90 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



very early date of the first Devonshire specimens is noteworthy ; they were 

 undoubtedly fresh ones, in fact finer specimens than any I subsequently saw. 



Argynnis paphia. From July 5th. In the greatest profusion near 

 Sidmouth about the 16th. Common in the Isle of Wight till Aug. 24ih. 



A. aglaia. By the 27th of June this species was out in abundance on 

 the South Devon coast. 



A. adippe. Fairly common between Sidmouth and Honiton on July 17th. 



A. eitphrosyne. From May 7th till June 11th, very common. On two 

 occasions a female was observed to lay an egg on a leaf of honeysuckle, a 

 spray of which was twisting amongst the violet plants in Parkhurst. 



A. selene. Parkhurst Forest ; not common. 



Melitcea cinxia. This species I found in disappointing scarcity in its 

 haunts on the Undercliff. Two small colonies were observed between 

 Ventnor and Blackgang, and a few odd specimens turned up in other spots. 

 On June 8th most of the specimens seen were worn, though I record one 

 subsequently as late as the 23rd. It seemed a pity to deplete their already 

 scant numbers by netting any, though I am in hopes that the species 

 showed exceptional rarity last year, and may recover somewhat its former 

 abundance. Perhaps the excessively severe frosts of the previous winter 

 were detrimental to the larvae. At all events, one of the colonies I 

 discovered can hardly have been affected, either by ardent collecting or the 

 spread of cultivation, as it had its headquarters on a very steep cliff, a 

 partial descent of which was not accomplished without caution and difi&culty, 

 and where a very free use of the net was impossible. 



Vanessa urliccB was abundant throughout last summer. 



F. polychloros. Only one hybernated specimen was seen, on May 6th ; 

 absence from the island during the time of emergence prevented my seeing 

 the later specimens, but the species was, to my knowledge, taken at Park- 

 hurst. A specimen seen between Sidmouth and Honiton on July 17th is 

 interesting, as the insect seems to be rare in South Devon. 



V. atalanta. Hybernated specimens were seen early in June. Fresh 

 examples, from July 5th, abundant throughout the summer; larvae com- 

 monly seen. This species seems undoubtedly capable of producing a 

 second complete brood in dry warm seasons. On Aug. 18lh a specimen, in 

 the finest condition, I observed deposit two ova on the top of the youngest 

 leaf of a nettle at Freshwater. On the 23rd these hatched, the larvae 

 pupated on Sept. 23rd, the butterflies emerging on Oct. 7th, a date on 

 which larvae that have been obtained at large frequently reach maturity. 

 For the first few days of their lives the larvae refused even the tenderest 

 nettle-leaves, but descended the petioles, and fed upon the stipules and 

 immature flower panicles. Entomologists possessing a microscope will do 

 well to examine the exquisite egg of this species when obtainable. 



V. cardui. Hybernated specimens of this species, from May 31st till 

 the middle of June, were by no means rare, especially on the Undercliff. 

 My expectations of an abundant summer brood were, however, hardly justi- 

 fied, as I record a bare dozen specimens through Aug. and early Sept. 



Limenitis sihylla. This species was found commonly in Parkhurst 

 Forest, during the end of June and first half of July. On my return to 

 the island, towards the end of the latter month, only a few wasted 

 specimens were seen. 



Arge galathea. Common on the coast east and west of Sidmouth in 

 July, and a stray specimen close to Honiton. A few single specimens in 

 the Isle of Wight at the end of the month. 



