205 



Newman, in his " British Butterflies," states, that nine out of ten of his 

 caterpillars were infested with a species of Microgaster, varying from ten to 

 twenty-six in each caterpillar. They emerged in similar manner to the well- 

 known parasite of Pieris brassicce, spinning small silken cocoons outside. 

 Probably they belonged to one or the other of the above mentioned species. 



The Marsh Fritillary frequents damp meadows, or similar places. Where 

 it occurs it is often exceedingly local, frequenting perhaps one corner only of 

 a field, and after changing its head-quarters, quite disappearing from the 

 place where it abounded one year, and being as abundant the next year in 

 another spot not far away. It occurs in every English country and in several 

 parts of Ireland and Scotland below the Caledonian Canal. It is generally 

 distributed over Northern Europe and Siberia, but does not occur in the 

 polar regions. It scarcely reaches the countries bordering on the Mediter- 

 ranean, though one variety occurs in Turkey, and another in Spain (Andalusia) 

 and in Barbary in Africa. It is first described as a British species in Ray's 

 "Historia Insectorum," published in 1710. 



Petiver, in his " Papilionum Britanicse Icones," 1717, calls it " Dandridge's 

 midling Black Fritillary," and that Mr. Dandridge observed it in Cain Wood 

 and the Oak of Honour Woods near Dullidge, about the end of May and 

 beginning of June. 



Wilkes, in his " English Moths and Butterflies," 1773, writes, " About 

 the 10th of April, 1741, I took upon the ground upwards of one hundred of 

 these caterpillars, in Cain Wood. I gave them to eat a variety of growths 

 which I gathered on the spot where I found the caterpillars, but they were 

 so restless and uneasy under confinement, that they seemed in continual 

 motion, neither would they eat any of the food I give them. On the 18th 

 of April, ten of the caterpillars fastened themselves up by the tail, in order 

 to change into chrysalides (the rest being gone away or dead), and on the 

 3rd of May following the flies were bred. This butterfly is to be taken in 

 woods and grass fields adjacent to woods, in the month of May." 



Moses Harris, in his " Aurelian." 1766, writes, "They ar© generally found 

 on the side of a hill that rises with an easy ascent, and fronts the east, by 

 which they have the sun most powerful in the morning, and avoid the too 

 scorching heat in the afternoon. It was said that they fed on plantain and 

 grass, but I found that to be a mistake, having often endeavoured to feed 

 them with both, but my endeavours were always fruitless, and accordingly on 

 the 18th of April, 1760, I went to Neesdon, Wildsden, about seven miles 

 from London, where I was informed they were in great plenty, as indeed I 

 found them to be. Here 1 took great pains to watch their actions for full 

 two hours. I paid them several visits a few days afterwards, that I might be 



