20 
be brought here by shipping, but I am more inclined to think that it 
is a natural attempt on the part of the insect to find a new settlement. 
Some fifteen years ago it was taken for several years in succession, I 
believe, in nearly every county along the South Coast, but until Mr. 
Heath’s find, Ave have heard nothing of it recently. In reading some- 
Avhat ancient entomological literature we are usually inclined to dismiss 
as mere fables the records of species which we never see in the present 
day, but in the face of our present knowledge of the appearance and 
disappearance of plexippus it Avould seem that Ave may Avell regard the 
records of bygone collectors Avith more credulity than it is the custom 
to do noAV. The fact must also be borne in mind that the tendency in 
our British fauna is rather to decrease than otherAA r ise, which makes it 
all the more probable that at no very ancient date that—say—both 
podalirius and apollo Avere frequenters of our shores. The claim of 
podalirius as a British species is strong, as Ave have considerable 
evidence of a trustworthy nature recorded by the Rev. F. 0. Morris ; 
but for apollo the evidence is not so satisfactory. The objection to it 
ever having occurred Avith us is, that in its natural haunts, it isah\ r ays 
found at a higher elevation than that of the localities Avhere it is 
reported to have occurred in this country. Against that objection Ave 
must remember that Papilio macliaon Avith us is invariably found in 
marsh land, whereas, on the continent the same insect is foimd far 
removed from marshes and frequently at a fairly high altitude. During 
the end of September and October a considerable number of atropos 
Avere taken throughout the country extending from the South Coast 
to Invernessshire. 
Judging from the comparatively feAv larvae that Avere observed 
during August, it Avould seem that the moths taken in October must 
have been the result of immigration, as in many cases these Avere taken 
aAvay from a likely breeding place, one Avhich fell into the hands of 
our friend Dr. Sequeira having been picked up at Hackney. Although 
atropos is always considered without doubt British, I am of opinion 
that without the aid of immigration Ave should very soon lose sight of 
atropos on our shores. 
In confinement most of those successfully reared from larvae emerge 
in the autumn, and would certainly be too late for their offspring to 
groAV up before the winter. I once succeeded in getting a pupa to 
survive our Avinter indoors, and the moth emerged the folloAving June, 
but that, I believe, is quite a rare occurrence. 
Those of our members Avho deA r ote a considerable amount of time 
to larvae breeding, seem to have been fairly successful this year, and 
Avith many of the species bred, a fair proportion of A r arieties haA’e 
occurred. We have had some very good varieties of ijrossulariata 
exhibited from this year’s larvae, and although with me the larvae were 
almost scarce, among the very few imagines reared there Avas consider¬ 
able A'ariation. I haA’e noticed in previous years, Avhen breeding grossu- 
lariata from wild larvae, that at times almost eA T ery specimen will be 
normal, and on another occasion the result Avill be quite the reverse. 
This year I think must be looked upon as one producing more varieties 
than usual. What law governs this uneven production of varieties it 
is difficult to say. In endeavouring to obtain Ararieties of caja, by 
producing a second brood, I Avas entirely unsuccessful in getting my larvae 
xviii. 
