168 



in the preceding year : near Bamsgate, Deal, and other parts of Kent, and 

 also in the vicinity of Hastings, and in the New Forest, it likewise occurred 

 during the past summer. There is but one brood, which appears about the 

 middle of July." 



Wailes, in his "Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Northumberland and 

 Durham," published in 1858, writes, <c The claim of this species to be ad- 

 mitted into our local fauna rests at present solely on the authority of Wallis • 

 In his "Natural History and Antiquities of Northumberland," published in 

 1769, enumerates nine species of butterflies and ten of moths. It is some- 

 what singular that for one of the former, the large Tortoise-shell Butterfly, 

 he is as yet the only authority for its admission into our fauna. There is 

 certainly every probability that future researches will enable us to corroborate 

 his record of the species, though the paucity of the English elm in many 

 part of the two counties, certainly does not add to the chances of success." 

 Since this was published specimens have been recorded both in Northumber- 

 land and Durham, but not under circumstances to lead to the belief that the 

 species was a native of either county. 



Barrett, in his " Lepidoptera of Norfolk," writes, " Formerly common, but 

 scarcer for some years, until the last summer, 1873, when it again appeared 

 commonly." 



In the "Scottish Naturalist," Yol. L, published in 1872, a specimen of 

 Polychloros is recorded as being taken near Aberdeen, first in Scotland. 



Newman, in his " British Butterflies," writes, " It is generally, although 

 sparingly, diffused throughout the midland and eastern counties of England : 

 its rarity in the north and west is very noticeable. The caterpillars were 

 plentiful on elms at Darenth Wood, Kent, in 1830, and the butterflies of very 

 frequent occurrence, at Lewisham, in the spring of 1856, after hybernation. 

 The caterpillars were plentiful at Tonbridge, in 1869. It was very common 

 round Colchester, in 1860, since rare. It is rather a feature in the history 

 of this insect that it so often occurs singly : in the very numerous records I 

 have received more than half speak of single specimens." 



I have not seen a single specimen in Dorsetshire, since the wet summer 

 of 1879. 



Sub-Genos GBAPTA. 

 Kirby. 



The species of this sub-genus may be easily recognised by the peculiar 

 shape of the wings, the inner margin of which is deeply emarginate ; the 

 caterpillars also may be distinguished by the tubercular processes on the 

 head, 



