37 



ham. In Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, it appeared in greater abundance than it 

 has done since 1868. Edusa was also very common in 1875. 



In 1876, both species were common again, and I took a specimen of Hyale 

 near Sherborne, being the only one I ever saw alive. This I record as 

 showing how scarce a species it is in the West of England. 



In 1877, the year in which Edusa appeared in its greatest profusion ; very 

 few specimens of Hyale were seen, and since then only a couple have been 

 recorded, one in 1881, and the other in 1885. 



Family LYCjENIDjE. 



This is a very extensive family of small, but extremely beautiful butterflies, 

 the European representatives of which are known by the names of Hair 

 streaks, Coppers, and Blues ; the former from the peculiar slender hair-like 

 lines on the under surface of the wings ; the two latter from the prevailing 

 colour of the upper suface. It is divided into about forty genera, which in- 

 clude fully 1200 species, being nearly nearly twice the number known thirty 

 years ago. Many of the East Indian and American species, far outstript the 

 European in the brilliancy of their colours. 



" Dipt in the richest tincture of the skies, 

 Where light disports in ever mingling dyes, 

 While ever}' beam new transient colour flings, 

 Colours that change when'er they wave their wings." 



Pope. 



In the chrysalis state, this family bears a close resemblance to the Papi- 

 lionida and Pierida, not only by being attached by the tail, but also by 

 being supported with a belt of silk, which passes round the middle of the 

 body, and is firmly fixed on each side. 



The caterpillars somewhat resemble woodlice, and are termed onisciformes. 



Genus VIII. THECLA. 

 Fabricius, 



Thec'la, a Virgin and Martyr. Butler's lives of the Saints, ix. 286. 



Thecla is a genus of which between five and six hundred species are now 

 described. Its head-quarters appear to be America, where more than nine- 

 tenths of the species occur. In Brazil are some of the largest and most 

 . brilliant species of the family. A few are found in Asia and Africa, nine 

 or ten in Europe, of which five are British. Most of the species possess 

 tails to the hind-wings, in that respect resembling those of the genus Papilio, 



