Insects. 



8605 



owing- to its gorgeous colours, it has been an easy and tempting prey- 

 to all who sought it. And I think the brightness of its wings has 

 had a great deal to do towards its extermination in this country, for 

 who could have passed a large copper, whether an entomologist or not, 

 without trying to catch it ! 



Polyommatus Chryseis. With this insect I am but little acquainted, 

 but it is the opinion of many entomologists that the species has never 

 occurred in this country, though it has been described in some of our 

 works on Lepidoptera. I have copied what Mr. Newman says of this 

 species in his work on 6 British Butterflies : ' — " An inhabitant of 

 Europe. It is described by all our authors, yet no one, as far as my 

 information extends, pretends to be the possessor of a single spe- 

 cimen." 



Polyommatus Virgaureae. I copy again from Mr. Newman for my 

 information respecting this species. " An inhabitant of Germany and 

 France. It is described without hesitation as a British species, but 

 exists nowhere, unless in the imagination of the writers." 



Sphinx Pinastri. This species is of very rare occurrence in this 

 country, but is common on the Continent in several places. Records 

 of the capture of this insect have been published from various parts 

 of the country, though its claims to be called British do not appear to 

 be considered sufficient, Mr. Doubleday placing it among the reputed 

 species in his list. 



Deilephila Euphorbise. This species, like the preceding, is also 

 of very rare occurrence in this country, though common in various 

 parts of the Continent, and especially in the British island of Jersey, 

 from which Mr. Newman received a number of the larvae two or three 

 years ago. The insect was formerly taken in England by the late 

 Mr. Raddon, who found the larvae for several years on the sea spurge 

 in some numbers. It has therefore good claims to a place in the list 

 of British Lepidoptera. Mr. Newman speaking of this species says, 

 " It has never been found in the perfect state in this country." 



Chaerocampa Nerii. This beautiful moth, like the two preceding, 

 is also of very rare occurrence in this country, but is not at all scarce in 

 various parts of Europe. I think it is the opinion of all entomologists 

 that the specimens taken in this country have arrived here by migration 

 and other means, and have not bred from native larvae. 



Deiopeia pulchella. Of this species Mr. Newman, in his work on 

 £ British Moths,' says, "Mr. Doubleday has a singly specimen, taken 

 at Epping, and I believe there are two or three other specimens in 



