THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
79 
latter arrangement might also apply to 
other large counties. 
I think to follow out this plan would 
do great good to the Science, and would 
add much to the knowledge of many 
entomologists, as it would enable them, 
whilst visiting strange localities, to visit 
the haunts of certain species, and thus 
personally improve their experience as 
to the habits and natural history of 
species, of which otherwise they would 
have known little or nothing; besides 
which advantage it would add a stimulus 
to the entomologists who join in the 
cause, and who will not only be 
working for the acquisition of species, 
but also for the good of entomologists 
in general. 
I am, Sir, 
Yours truly, 
It. Anderson. 
York ; 
November 22, 1859. 
A LAMENT FOR THE LARGE 
COPPER. 
To the Editor of the 'Intelligencer.' 
Sir, — In your * Manual of British 
Butterflies and Moths,’ which I have 
lately procured, and which I would have 
given anything for when a young man, 
after your description of Chrysophanus 
Dispar, you allude to a letter from 
Mr. Bond, stating “ You are quite right 
in supposing that I have had personal 
acquaintance with the living Dispar," 
&c., &c. I infer from this that you have 
not had that pleasure yourself; I there- 
fore proceed to give you some account of 
my own acquaintance with that most 
beautiful insect, which, some thirty years 
ago, was so abundant in the unreclaimed 
fens about Whittlesea Mere that I never 
expected to hear of its utter extermina- 
tion. Its brilliant appearance on the 
wing in the sunshine I shall never 
forget, and to watch it sitting on the 
flower of the Eupatorium cannabinum 
and show the under side of its wings, 
was something ever to be remembered. 
I once took sixteen in about half an 
hour on one particular spot, where the 
above-mentioned plant was very plen- 
tiful ; but unless the sun was very bright 
they were very difficult to find. In those 
days the larva was unknown, and I attri- 
bute the disappearance of the butterfly 
to the discovery of the larva, to the un- 
ceasing attacks of collectors, and to the 
burning of the surface-growth of the 
fens, which is done in dry weather when 
they are to be reclaimed. 
Thirty years ago the fens about 
Whittlesea Mere were most interesting 
localities for the entomologist, the bo- 
tanist and the ornithologist. I lived 
then in that neighbourhood, and those 
pursuits were my delight. Papilio Ma- 
chaon might then be had to any amount ; 
the flight of Chrysophanus Dispar was 
abundant in July; the moth L. Dispar 
was very plentiful ; besides many other 
rare and beautiful insects. Now, how- 
ever, everything is totally changed. The 
