THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



aria, may be procured. Thera variata is easily reared, remaining in the 

 pupal state for a fortnight : the others on account of their taking some little 

 time in feeding up, are more difficult to rear. All three go to pupae amongst 

 the fir needles, and consequently there is no occasion to give them earth. 



The foregoing remarks will serve to prove that ample field work is now 

 before us, and I trust that some of my readers will be able to give the result 

 of their observations upon some of the species mentioned, in an early number 

 of this magazine. 



SCARCITY OF BUTTERFLIES IN THE NORTH 

 OF SCOTLAND. 



By JOHN MACKAY. 



My attention was directed to the following letter which appeared lately 

 in the Glasgow Herald, and as it has an important bearing on the much 

 disputed subject of the growing scarcity 'of butterflies, perhaps it may interest 

 some of your readers : — 



BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 



Fernfield, Bridge of Allan, 



3rd November, 1886. 



Sir, — During the past ten years I have carefully observed that in this neighbour- 

 hood butterflies and moths are becoming every year more rare. Besides the com- 

 mon white and nettle butterfly, I have years ago caught in my garden the Orange 

 Tip, the Oak, the Painted Lady, the Peacock, the Red Admiral, the Camberwell 

 Beauty, &c, and many rare moths, which are now not to be seen except rarely. I 

 should like to know if this state of matters in regard to butterflies and moths is 

 general over the country ? If so, can a cause be assigned ? Perhaps some of your 

 numerous scientific readers may be able to throw some light on this interesting 

 subject. — I am, &c, Alex. Paterson, M.D. 



My experience of lepidoptera, unfortunately, does not go back into the 

 good old times of ten years ago, when, according to Mr. Paterson, one had 

 only to go out into his garden and net at his leisure such " good things " as 

 Camberwell Beauties, and what are quite as rare here, Peacocks and Orange 

 Tips. I fancy I see some of my Southern friends smile on reading this, 

 these latter species being so common almost everywhere in the South. I 

 believe V. antiojja has been recorded as having been taken somewhere in 

 Scotland, but it is certainly a surprise to hear that it has been taken so far 

 north as Stirlingshire. At anyrate it has not been taken, to my knowledge, 

 for a good many years past in Scotland, except in this instance, and its 

 record, although somewhat out of date now, is at least worth knowing. A. 

 cardami?ies and F. Io are also now considered here things of the past, and \ 



