20 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



their ova. In a country like ours, which, densely populated as it is, has yet 

 large tracts of moorland and forest, it is difficult to imagine that all the 

 butterflies reaching our shores were captured. At a place like Dover, where 

 collectors will always be on the look out for blown over examples of P. dapli- 

 diee and A. lathonia, it is more likely that most of those that cross, fall ta 

 the net of the entomologist, but plexippus appeared over a wide range, and 

 one both less populated and less searched by collectors. Certainly the large size 

 of this butterfly would make it very conspicuous on the wing, still it appears 

 extremely unlikely that all were captured before any of them had an oppor- 

 tunity of ovi-positing. We know that butterflies retain their ova for a con- 

 siderable period when the weather is not fine, and it is probable they could 

 retain them at other times also. It seems likely therefore that a suitable- 

 food-plant had not been found. Would it not be worth the while of entomo- 

 logists about the South coast, to scatter seeds of one or other of the known 

 food-plants of this species. They would probably become naturalized there 

 as they have done in other places, and if we ever had a visit from this beautiful 

 species again, it might able to establish itself on our shores. 



~Polyommatus argiades does not appear to have been taken again either. 

 It is not very likely that the specimens recorded were immigrants, but it may 

 be a species discovered just as it was bordering on extinction, and now so 

 rare that it is difficult to meet with. We shall look with some interest for 

 the records of the coming season, and hope to hear of Argiades again.— J ohn 

 E. Robson, Hartlepool. 



Zyg^ena Meliloti. — My friend, Mr. Gregson, must excuse my entering 

 into discussion with him regarding the identity or distinctness of the British 

 Z. meliloti and trifolii. This was long ago threshed out from the point of 

 view from which he argues, viz., the physical appearance of caught specimens. 

 The Rev. Payne Smith observes that in reasoning we must assume nothing, 

 and consider only as facts, things which cannot fairly be denied — this my 

 friend is scarcely prepared to allow me, for he thinks my views are mere 

 opinions, the older ones of Doubleday, &c, are quoted as facts, whereas these 

 also really are but individual expressions of opinion, founded upon exami- 

 nation of captured specimens of the two reputed species. I cannot admit 

 that these so-called facts are any proof of distinctness, and without being 

 drawn into any premature disclosure of the experiments lately made with 

 this genus, would simply reiterate my opinion, that not only do these insects 

 constitute one species, but that our young readers who space out their 

 cabinets otherwise will have again shortly to alter the arrangement of the 

 drawer which contains the insect. — Sydney Webb, Dover. 



