Insects. 729 



Note on the capture of Colias Edusa. I bave taken three of these butterflies in the 

 neighbourhood of Broomiield this summer, on the lOthand 22nd of July, and the 6th 

 of September. Two of them, a male and female, were found near the spot where I 

 have previously met with C. Hyale, one in a lucerne-field, the other in a clover-field 

 adjoining ; both were rather worn, but not broken. Are we to suppose that these 

 emerged from the chrysalis last autumn and hibernated, or are they the produce of the 

 present summer ? An answer to this question would be esteemed a favour. The other 

 specimen, taken a short distance from the same spot, was a male in fine condition, and 

 had evidently just appeared. No others have been observed. — Alfred Greenwood ; 

 Clielmsford, September 17, 1844. 



Note on Pontia Metra. Since I forwarded my communication on P. Metra (Zool. 

 681), I have had an opportunity of confirming my belief as to its identity with P. 

 Rapae, by the development of numerous other examples of every variety of the two 

 insects, from the larvae obtained by me last autumn, so as no longer to leave any doubt 

 on the subject. With respect, however, to the peculiarity in form of some scales taken 

 from the wing, which, in my former note, I remarked to be wanting in two female ex- 

 amples of P. Rapae, I have since discovered that there is nothing remarkable in that 

 circumstance ; because, on a careful examination of numerous other female specimens, 

 I find that that peculiarity of form is exclusively confined to the male insect : an ar- 

 rangement which I understand runs through the whole genus. Dismissing, however, 

 any proof supposed to be derivable from that source, I conceive that the actual pro- 

 duction of every variety of P. Rapae and Metra respectively, from larvae, not only ex- 

 actly resembling one another, but also evidently belonging to the same brood, has set 

 at rest the doubt as to their specific distinction, and unquestionably established their 

 identity as mere varieties of the same insect.— J. F. Daiuson ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, 

 August 28, 1844. 



Description of a new British Butterfly, Erebia Melampus, Boisduval. 

 By Edwakd Newman. 



Erebia Melampus, (natural size), a. Male. b. Female, c Under side. 



ii 2f 



