190 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



again put in an appearance." It is twenty- 

 one years since it disappeared here, and 

 many correspondents write to the same effect 

 from other localities. Still it seems probable 

 that so abundant a species will again spread 

 over those places in which it does not now 

 occur. It is found all over Europe except in 

 the polar regions, in Northern Asia, and Asia 

 Minor, also in the north of Africa. 



Variation. — Striking varieties of this 

 butterfly are rare. I have a female with the 

 paler portion of the wings almost white, and 

 a male of similar hue is in the collection of 

 Mr. S. Stevens, but his has four eyed spots 

 on the hind wing, and mine but three. Mr. 

 Stevens has another with the darker portions 

 of both wings quite a pale brown, almost 

 drab. This also has four eyed spots on the 

 hind wing. A more curious variety is in the 

 collection' of Mr. F. Bond : the forewing is 

 of the usual type, but has an extra small eyed 

 spot close to the top. The hind wing has the 

 ground color, semi-transparent, with four 

 eyed spots on a fulvous band, and slight ful- 

 vous marks nearer the base the wing, where 

 it is generally very dark brown. I also have 

 a specimen with the dark band characteristic 

 of the male, much wider than usual, making 

 the specimen look very dark. Specimens 

 with more than three eyed spots on 

 the hind wing are not uncommon ; 

 the underside has generally six or seven, 

 but there are seldom more than four 

 on the upperside. An extra spot with white 

 centre on the fore wing, like Mr. Bond's 

 named above, is often seen, also speci- 

 mens with an extra eyed spot below the 

 ordinary one. Specimens with the eye bi- 

 pupilled are not very rare. Four varieties 

 are named : — Lyssx, Bork, which occurs in 

 the South-east of Europe and in Asia Minor, 

 has the underside of a more uniform ash 

 colour than our specimens. Tigelius, Bon., 

 occurring in Corsica and Sardinia, is smaller 

 and paler. The other two — Meg.tr in a, H. S. 

 and Adrasta Hub. — I know nothing of. 



Parasites. — None known to me. 



-GATHERING SHELLS BY 

 THE SEA SHORE." 



We have had a parcel of shells sent us 

 lately for our Exchange Club, that were in 



i such poor condition, we have thought it well 

 to pen a few lines on collecting them, with 



j special reference to Marine Shells. A popular 

 song says — 



" Those were the happiest days of all, Maud, 

 Gathering shells by the sea shore ;" 



and we know that large numbers of young 

 ! people, especially those who only visit the 

 I sea side for a summer holiday, gather shells 

 in great number, and without much regard to 

 j kind or condition. What can be pleasanter 

 i than a stroll along the sea beach at the close 

 of a summer day, after the tide has receded ? 

 The murmur of the little waves, as they lap 

 j upon the shore, is pleasant in its monotony, 

 the long unbroken stretch of golden sand de- 

 i ceiving the eye as to distance ; the w^ite- 

 ( sailed vessels in the distance ; the gulls flying 

 j to their distant resting-place, with scarcely a 

 j flap of their spreading wings ; the sun setting 

 in rosy clouds behind the distant high land, 

 if you are on the east coast, or far away over 

 the ocean, leaving a long track of fire on the 

 I waves, if you are on the west coast ; all is so 

 I beautiful and pleasant that it is no wonder 

 such a ramble should be an attractive one. 

 j Then the little sea shells that strew the edge 

 ! of " high water mark " are so different from 

 I what are seen in country strolls, that few can 

 ! help but pick them up and admire ; and they 

 i are carried away by basketfuls to country 

 homes. But, for scientific purposes, shells 

 thus gathered are comparatively of little use. 

 Gently as they are washed about in summer 

 | time, the constant friction against the sand 

 i soon rubs them down, and all the finer colour- 

 ing and more delicate raised parts of the 

 j shell are quickly worn away ; and in this 

 j state it is often difficult to make out the 

 species. 



A reference to the articles on Conchology 

 in our last volume will show the beginner, 

 J that shells are classified, not by the shells 



