10 



exhibiting them picturesquely feeding on their proper plants, and in all their 

 phases or mutations ; the whole highly coloured, and accompanied by descrip- 

 tions in the English language. Yet Albin's is a work but poor in science, 

 even for its time ; and his insects are sometimes depicted in tints more re- 

 markable for gaudiness than fidelity ; this, however, may probably be no more 

 than merely the fashion or error of its era." Albin, however, greatly bene- 

 fited science by figuring many ichneumons and flies he bred from several of 

 the lepidoptera. 



Lewin in his " Insects of Great Britain " published in 1795, writes, " It 

 is not very common or easily taken on the wing, as it flies pretty quickly over 

 meadows and corn- fields." Haworth in 1803, adds, "It is frequently found 

 in gardens." 



Curtis in his " British Entomology " writes, " Fortunately this butterfly is 

 seldom very abundant in England, and from the care taken of our gardens, 

 it seems to become annually more scarce." 



J. F. Stephens, writes in 1828, "This elegant insect is somewhat periodical 

 in its appearance, at least near London, In June, 1810, I saw it in plenty 

 at Coombe Wood, and in the following year I captured several on Muswell 

 Hill, since which I have not seen any at large. Mr. Haworth informs me 

 that it used to occur constantly at Chelsea, but he has not seen any of late. 

 In the New Forest, near Brokenhurst, and near Heme Bay, in Kent, it 

 abounds, and, I believe regularly." Curtis adds, "It has been taken in 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, and Monk's Wood, near Cambridge ; and Mr. Dale has 

 captured it at Enborne, in Berkshire, and at Glanvilles Wootton, in Dorset- 

 shire." The last specimen at the latter place was taken on June 10th, 1-S15. 



In 1858, Cratcegi appeared in considerable numbers at Heme Bay, Kent, 

 and other parts of the Isle of Thanet; also near Cardiff, in South Wales, 

 where in the middle of April, the caterpillars were found feeding by thousands 

 upon insulated shrubs of Primus spinosa (Common Sloe) ; and several were 

 taken in the New Forest. 



In addition to the localities previously mentioned, Cratcegi has been 

 recorded as occuring at Moreton, in Devonshire, at the Holm Bush 

 in Sussex, near Petersfield, and Waltham, in Hampshire, in the Isle of 

 Wight, at Barnwell Wold, in Northamptonshire, at Malvern, in Worcester- 

 shire, at Clevedon, in Somersetshire, and at Kimbolton, in Herefordshire. 



In 1872, several were taken in the New Forest, in Kent, near Bristol, 

 and in Herefordshire. 



In 1882, a few specimens were taken near Festiniog, in North Wales. 



It has now become a very rare butterfly, and has long been an extinct 

 species in the counties of Devonshire, Dorsetshire, the Isle of Wight, Suffolk, 



