29 
one of quite the last days of this brood when conditions had been for 
sometime anything but superaestival. 
Previous to 1907, to sum up the f/ood examples of the 2 bellarr/us 
obtained, the total of all approaching notable abs. was ten. These 
resulted from more than 10 years, or more than average steady 
collecting of one’s favourite species. 
The first brood of 1907—(Hopelessly subfestival 1907 may one not 
say ? certainly by far the most miserable Adonis season in which I 
have ever collected)—furnished 70 specimens of 2 BeUanjus ab. 
ceronus fit to rank with 10 mentioned ; except in so far as over 30 were 
superior to all previously collected with one exception. This one 
exception (of 1905) was quite surpassed by 5 of 1907. Many ceronus 
which would never previously have been allowed to escape, now got off,, 
probably some 50, and hosts of other examples of ceronus. 
In the case of the second brood of 1907 some beautiful examples of' 
ceronus were seen during first 10 days. This was up till first 2 or 3- 
days of September. One was one of the best obtained in 1907. 
Scarcely another blue 2 was seen after this, when superaestival con¬ 
ditions had ensued during a day or two in August, and in September, 
after and during that is, the most festival part of 1907, a certainly 
super-Septembral period.* 
To one who harbours these preconceived view's many corroborative 
points suggest themselves. 
(1) The hot and notoriously wet 1903 At/laia season with the third 
best record for melanic 2 s observed by oneself. 
2. The contrast between 1906 and 1907 in Lancashire collecting of 
JEtjon, where in 1906 one discarded many 2 s as not greatly exceeding 
southern forms in blue colouration, and in 1907 one discarded 
invariably for bad condition, not a single 2 was seen in 1907 which 
would not have been hailed with joy in 19061 Cannot some paralell 
to this be said of West Kent grounds ? 
3. To take Icarus, where usually, in collecting for blue 2 s, less 
than one third of the number taken and observed are kept on account 
of their blueness, and mostly there is but little blue on half those seen 
alive. In this species in 1906 a good (markedly) blue 2 Icarus was 
an exception. In 1907 most of specimens observed, and even in 2nd 
broods, showed fair amount, and numbers of excellent examples were 
added to one by series. 
In all these cases the 2 side showed altered sexual dimorphism on 
the suggested lines. 
4. Undoubtedly, too, in JEtjon and Icarus 1907 seemed to show a 
failure as regards brilliance of J s. Many which as the most brilliant 
(no doubt from contrast) and were set (away from home) turned out, 
*In 1908 (since paper was read) probably most abnormal part of year was the 
miserable latter part of September and early October. At end of September and 
in October till 13th specimens of ceronus were seen, ordinarily (but for 1907 
experiences), gladly collected—some 20 or 30. These were almost only ceronus seen 
in 1908. Noticed by others also. 
f In 1908 in Lancashire after a period almost unprecedentedly supersestival 
2 JEgons were taken without blue colouration, and S s "eie maikedly less different 
from Southern than is usual. . , , . 
In a West Kent locality, in re blue in ? s, the contrast of subfestival 1907, and 
of 1908, was most marked. 
xviii. 
