178 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



observes that, in July, 1827, it occurred in boundless profusion in the 

 vicinity of Ripley, Surrey, the hedges for miles being enlivened by myriads, 

 that hovered over every flower and bramble blossom. So abundant 

 were they that, without moving from one spot, nearly 200 were taken 

 in less than half-an-hour, as they approached a bramble-bush near 

 which he had taken up his position. Our own first experience, just 

 noted above, was somewhat similar, for, in the first week of July, 1875, 

 the bramble-bushes, then in full flower, at the end of the long avenue 

 of elm-trees leading from Four Elms Hill into Chattenden Roughs, 

 swarmed with the insect. The first one seen appeared to have just 

 completed drying its wings on a grass-culm, under an elm-tree, about 

 9 a.m., but by 10.30 a.m. there were hundreds of specimens flying 

 around the tall elms, and coming down to suck the nectar of the 

 flowers, when they fell an easy prey ; since then, we have only seen a 

 similar sight on three or four occasions, thus confirming Stephens in 

 his statement as to the irregularity and uncertainty of the appearance 

 of the species in quantity, although it is present every year in fewer 

 numbers in those localities where we have ourselves occasionally seen 

 it in such great abundance. Raynor observes (in litt.) : " The first 

 time I ever saw this butterfly was on the flowers of Epilobium angusti- 

 folium, in a cottage-garden, at Danbury, in July, 1871 ; there were 

 several specimens (I forget exactly how many), but curiously enough, 

 although I have grown the plant here, at Hazeleigh, for many years, I 

 have never seen a single specimen of this butterfly frequenting it. 

 During the sunny hours of the day it may nearly always be found 

 feeding on bramble flowers, either in the hedges lining lanes, or on the 

 outskirts of woods. I have also occasionally seen it settled on lucerne 

 flowers, as is the case with most other butterflies occurring in the 

 neighbourhood. Towards evening it flies up into elm-trees, there to 

 spend the night, being thus safer from its enemies than if it rested on 

 the bramble flowers which it frequents by day. It is not abundant 

 every year, and I have not yet discovered what sort of season suits it 

 best. The $ s will lay freely in confinement if sleeved on their food- 

 plant in the sun." As to its uncertainty, it is noted that, in one spot 

 in the Leicester district, it was plentiful in Jul} 7 , 1873, 1874, 1876, and 

 1877, and literally swarmed in July, 1875, whilst in 1878, 1879, and 

 1880 it was practically absent, and not observed at all (Scott, Ent., 

 xiii., p. 278). Clarke states that it was very abundant in one place in 

 South Oxfordshire, in 1868, and again in 1888, when the imagines 

 preferred to congregate in a large clearing in a beechwood where plenty 

 of bramble grew, the butterflies being attracted to the flowers of these 

 bushes; he adds that wych-elm grows sparingly among the beech in one 

 part of the wood. Mills observes that, in July, 1874, thirty specimens 

 were taken at the flowers of a lime-tree at St. Lawrence, in Essex, whilst 

 feeding on the flowers, and were very easily caught. Burrell says that 

 it occurred plentifully in 1832 and 1837 at Witham, without any being 

 seen in the intervening seasons. It was common in 1901, but 

 swarmed in 1900, in some places near Bristol (Davis) ; the species 

 was also abundant the last week of July, 1896, at Church Stretton, 

 settled on, and flying over, sprays of bramble bloom (Newnham). 

 Piffard says (Ent. Mo. Ma;/.,) that, between July 1th and 13th, 

 1881, he saw the species in thousands in a lane near Hernel 

 Hempstead, between Felden and Bovingdon, commencing to fly about 



