398 Insects. 



as definitely settled. It will be recollected that the year of its abundant occurrence 

 has always been that antecedent to leap-year. — Edward Newman. 



Note on the occurrence of Colias Hyale at Epping. A few specimens of this species 

 were seen here in August and September, but it was not nearly so numerous as last 

 year. I only captured about a dozen. — Henry Doubleday ; Epping, Nov. 29, 1843. 



Note on the occurrence of Mancipium Daplidice and Argynnis Lathonia near Exeter. 

 My cabinet has lately been enriched by specimens of these rare butterflies, captured in 

 1836 in Roseberry wood, near Exeter, by R. Dawson. Esq., who kindly presented them. 

 — Thomas Lighton ; 4, Caledonian Place, Clifton, October 21, 1843. 



Note on the occurrence of Polyommati in South Devon. I have ventured to enclose 

 a short account of the south Devon Polyommati, as, owing to the wilful obstinacy of 

 collectors in naming varieties as species, this genus is still imperfectly understood, at 

 least so it would seem from the figures in Wood's Catalogue, as well as those in Mr. 

 Humphreys' more recent work. Polyommatus Argiolus, a double-brooded insect, ap- 

 pearing in April and May, and again in August and September, approaches nearer to 

 the Theclae in habit than the other south Devon species, flying high, and hovering 

 over the holly and ivy bushes. In the spring the male may be seen flying quickly 

 along the tops of currant-bushes, very much in the same manner that Thecla Querciis 

 flies along the oak trees ; this is probably because they are in full flower and leaf at 

 that time, which few other shrubs are. P. Alsus, the smallest of our British butter- 

 flies, appears in May (and again in August ?), it is a local insect, frequenting marshes 

 and open places in woods ; flight rather quick : the male differs from the female in hav- 

 ing the wings slightly tinged with a metallic colour, varying in different lights from 

 blue to emerald green. Common on the cliffs at Teignmouth, where it principally set- 

 tles on the plants of Equisetum hyemale. P. Argus, local, frequents open heaths, and 

 appears in June and July. P. Alexis (Icarius of Wood's Cat.), double-brooded, ap- 

 pearing in April and May, and again in August and September, but specimens may 

 be caught from the latter part of April to October. Wood's figures called P. Alexis 

 and P. Dorylas seem to be varieties of the insect called Icarius, which is the general 

 form of this insect, and by far the commonest of our British species : flight low, amongst 

 the grass, frequently settling: meadows, pastures &c, abundant. P. Agestis, double- 

 brooded, May and August; local: frequents rocky places in woods. I took it in to- 

 lerable plenty in Bradley-woods near Newton, Devon, settling on the flowers of Heli- 

 anthemum vulgare, though I did not see a single specimen until I came to the rock 

 where this plant was growing. They seemed to settle on the flower, until there was an 

 opportunity of molesting some passer by, either of their own species, or any other in- 

 sect, as they even attacked bees and large flies (Eristales). This love of combativeness 

 soon spoils their beauty, so that you may catch several specimens without obtaining 

 one perfect insect. These five constitute the whole of our south Devon Polyommati, 

 that is, all that I have ever taken, and with five others, P. Arion, P. Acis, P. Adonis, 

 P. Corydon and P. Artaxerxes, make up the whole of the British species, which per- 

 haps may be reduced to nine, as P. Artaxerxes is most probably merely a local variety 

 of Agestis. — Robert C. R. Jordan ; Teignmouth, November, 1843. 



Enquiry respecting the mode of rearing the Deatli's head Hawk-moth. I shall feel 

 greatly obliged by your inserting these few lines in the next number of ' The Zoolo- 

 gist.' The larva? and pupae of Acherontia Atropos being found almost every autumn 

 in this neighbourhood, sometimes in tolerable plenty, and being extremely difficult to 

 rear ; I should deem it a favour if any of the readers of ' The Zoologist,' who have 



