32 



Janira, Corydon, Alexis, Agestis, Sylvanus, Linea, Action, and Galathea. 



The year 1877 began with an exceptionally mild wet winter, and a long, 

 chilly, disheartening spring, so writes C. Barrett, Esq. However, with the 

 beginning of J une, the weather began to improve, and, on the 4th, our first 

 warm day, Colias edusa made its appearance. Two days later, I found 

 several more, and from that time until the 4th of July, they were to be found 

 in moderate numbers all over the country on every sunny day. It is a 

 curious circumstance, that along with Edusa there appeared an early 

 brood of Scopula ferrugalis in considerable numbers. By the end of the 

 first week in August, after a deal of wind and rain, the second brood of 

 Edusa appeared, again accompanied by Scopula ferrugalis, but not by Hyale. 

 September was a beautifully fine and warm month throughout, and Edusa 

 appeared in the greatest profusion, but gradually got scarcer and more worn 

 and feeble towards the end, so that the conclusion forced itself upon one's 

 mind, that hibernation in their case was impossible, as they would have in- 

 sufficient vitality. 



In some sheltered situations in Kent, and other parts of the South Coast, 

 a third brood appeared in October, and continued on the wing till the second 

 week in November, when the chilly blasts of the coming winter became too 

 much for it. 



On the 6th of August, 1877, the late Mr. William Buckler hearing that 

 the second brood of Colias edusa was flying in great profusion, induced a 

 friend to net him a few of the shabbiest females he could meet with. By the 

 evening one of these laid some eggs, which hatched in a few days. The 

 caterpillars continued to feed and grow, consuming a great deal of food, and 

 stripping bare the stems of plant after plant. On the appoach of cold frosty 

 nights, they remained stretched out still and passive, seeming to feed only by 

 day. On the 15th of October, one changed to a chrysalis, followed by two 

 more on the following day. On the 22nd, another assumed the chrysalis state, 

 and by the 27th, eight other caterpillars had spun themselves up in a 

 horizontal position, in a similar manner to those of the genus Pieris. It was 

 formerly supposed to hibernate in the perfect state, and it was first found to 

 do so in the chrysalis state by Mr. Dale, in the year 1867. 



In 1878, after another mild winter, a few imagos of Edusa were seen in 

 April, May, and June, after which it was particularly scarce. One, however, 

 was taken on ivy bloom in the middle of December. 



In 1879, the great year for Vanessa cardui and Plusia gamma, and one 

 which had the wettest and most disastrous summer of the present century, 

 it was abundant in Kent and Sussex during the month of September, but 

 apparently not so in other parts of England. 



