1900 Insects. 



seem to be ! Migratory flights of butterflies, and of various species, have often been 

 observed. Swarms of white butterflies have been actually seen to arrive at Dover. 

 Can we doubt that the Sphinx Convolvuli, as well as the locusts of last year, the 

 Colias Hyale of two or three years before, the Vanessa Antiopa of some score of years 

 since, and also the occasional specimens of Antiopa, of Pontia Daplidice, of Argyn- 

 nis Lathonia, and perhaps even of Papilio Podalirius, are arrivals from the Continent? 

 Might we not even extend this to Colias Edusa, and consider it a more regular immi- 

 grant ? Nay the common Cynthia Cardui is a notoriously migratory butterfly, not 

 even fearing to cross the snows of the highest Alps. Now, are these butterflies of pe- 

 riodical appearance on the Continent ? I believe not. The freshness of the specimens is 

 a common argument against their having come from a distance, and it seems a good 

 one, though an insect perpetually in the air is less likely to be damaged than one 

 blown about amongst leaves and flowers. I do not mean though that in every instance 

 the specimens themselves have come from abroad ; perhaps their parents were the ori- 

 ginal settlers. Colias Hyale decreased in numbers for two or three years before it 

 disappeared : so of Papilio Machaon, of which I turned out great quantities in Not- 

 tinghamshire and Derbyshire : a few specimens were seen in two succeeding years, 

 till under the pressure of unfavourable conditions of life they finally disappeared. 

 The appearance of all these insects only, or most abundantly, on the east coast, whilst 

 they gradually became rarer towards the west, is another strong point. Can I suppose 

 that a single worn female of Colias Hyale, which I found on a Derbyshire hill the 

 first year of their abundant appearance in England, was anything but an immigrant? 

 But I have perhaps already said too much on this doubtful and mysterious subject, for 

 there is much that might be alleged on the other side of the question, which it would 

 be tedious to enter into, and unnecessary in the present imperfect state of our know- 

 ledge.—/. Wolley, Jun.; Beeston, August 17, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Locust at Newcastle-on-Tyne. — A specimen of Locusta migratoria 

 was taken on our town moor, and brought to me this evening.— T. J. Bold ; 42, Bigg 

 Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, August 24, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Locust near York. — I have just received a very fine specimen of 

 the locust, captured near York on the 26th instant. — Frederick Bond ; Kingsbury, 

 August 28, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Locust at Redcar. — Yesterday I picked up on the beach at this 

 place twelve drowned locusts, and saw many others in the same state. Three were 

 also captured on the sand-hills, and others seen very alert on the wing.— T. S. Rudd ; 

 Redcar, August 20, 1847. 



Reappearance of the Locust. — A few specimens of the locust have occurred in the 

 neighbourhood of London within the last few days, but both near London and in the 

 provinces the number is decidedly less than last year. I hope communications on 

 this subject will be transmitted as early as possible, in order that they may appear si- 

 multaneously in the November number. It is very desirable to keep a faithful record 

 of these unusual visitations. The specific identity of our locust with the Gryllus roi- 

 gratorius of the Continent is not satisfactorily made out. Mr. Bracy Clark has 

 obligingly handed me Egyptian specimens which are evidently distinct— Edward 

 Neivman. 



