298 Miscellanea, Correspondence, &c, by Mr. Jas. Hardy. 



Early Woodcock. — Mr. Dand told me that about the 

 17th or 18th of September, he was surprised to flush a 

 Woodcock near Hauxley. It was supposed to have come 

 with a recent easterly wind. 



Richardson's Squa Gull (Lestris Richardsonii). — On 

 the 29th of October, Mr. Andrew Wilson obtained a pair of 

 Richardson's Squa Gull, from a Coldingham fisherman, which 

 had been captured twenty miles off St. Abb's Head. In the 

 fishermen's experience they are rare. 



The Artaxerxes Butterfly (Lyccena Artaxerxes). — A 

 letter in " The Scotsman," during the summer, created some 

 alarm in the entomological world, as if because this butter- 

 fly was recklessly hunted on Arthur's Seat, the whole of 

 Scotland would thereby suffer bereavement. In my experi- 

 ence this, although a local, is a common butterfly on the 

 Borders, and may allow of any amount of capture without 

 being perceptibly diminished ; and appears to be present 

 wherever the Helianthemum vulgare (Dwarf Cistus) flour- 

 ishes. Especially is it common about Penmanshiel, along 

 the post-road side from Grant's House to the Tunnel, and in 

 the open glades in the unplanted parts of the adjacent 

 woods. It again frequents the sunny slopes in Howpark 

 dean, and equally those on the many windings of Dowlaw 

 dean. On a limited portion of Oldcambus dean, it is more 

 or less to be expected annually. It may be sought for 

 among the many inequalities of rising ground to the east of 

 Earnshaugh ; again on the sea-banks and hollow deans near 

 Hallydown; and always successfully on Alewater braes. 

 Moreover it frequents the south bank of the Whitadder from 

 Hoardweill up to Retreat ; and doubtless enjoys many other 

 secure breeding places not liable to be disturbed. On the 

 6th July, I was pleased to come upon one of its colonies, 

 while at Crailing dean, in Roxburghshire, in company with 

 Mr. W. B. Boyd. The Rev. T. C. Anderson had accompanied 

 us, and a subject of conversation was the erroneous impres- 

 sions entertained of its rarity, and having observed the food 

 plant of the caterpillar on the banks, I felt assured that the 

 butterfly would not be far off. Mr. Anderson had to leave, 

 but shortly after one was captured, and enough to satisfy 

 any one might have been had if we had wanted them. 



