88 
NOTES ON AN AUGUST HOLIDAY AT FOLKESTONE. 
(Read Feb. 5th, 1901, by C. P. PICKETT, F.E.S.). 
My holidays for the past ten years have been spent at Folkestone, 
some time during August. I did not make any attempt last year to go 
before the 11th, owing to the wretched weather that occurred from the 
1st to the 10th. The weather from the 11th to 21st was all that could 
be desired—glorious sunshine with a cloudless sky. 
My first captured Eurymus hyale was at Dover, on August 15th (but 
I had seen them previously at Folkestone) ; I always thought Dover a 
better place for them, but this year it was not the case, only two 
specimens being seen on the 15th at Dover. Polyommatus corydon 
was flying in hundreds, quite two gross passed through my hands for 
examination for “ vars.” Some twelve fell to my share, including one 
blue 5 and several shot with blue, one 3 with the black border 
replaced by a row of white dots, another 3 with the black border 
much deeper than usual, and several underside aberrations, including 
one spotless 2 and one 3 almost the same. Aryynnis aylaia was 
fairly common ; one 3 underside was somewhat curious, the silver 
spots being surrounded by brown instead of the usual green. Four 
Eurymus croceus (edit so) were taken, and one var. of Maui ala janira 
with the hindAvings almost Avhite. Satyrus semele were fresh out, one 
specimen taken being a rich sienna broAvn, another being grey-broAvn 
in coloration. 
Plusia yamma Avere in countless hundreds eA’erywhere, a sight I 
never shall forget. In the evenings they simply swarmed round the 
privet blossoms in the Marine Gardens at Folkestone ; I counted as 
many as eight round one blossom. After the 15th their number 
gradually diminished, and by the end of the week only a few were to 
be seen. 
On the 16th, I collected at Folkestone. Eurymus hyale made an 
appearance at 10 o’clock, and during the morning I took eight 
specimens (out of about twenty seen). As regards A’, croceus (edusa), 
they Avere about as common as E. hyale, some tAvelve being taken 
during the day, mostly males, all in first-class condition ; one ab. 
helice was taken. This species remained on the Aving until 4.30, after 
which time none Avere seen. I A\ r as out again in the evening in search 
of Choerocampa porcellus larvae. I came to a nice sheltered dip Avhere I 
could see that the tops of the yelloAv bedstraw had been eaten aAvay. 
When it was dark I lighted my lantern and worked up the cliffs: 
quarter of an hour passed before I came across any, then I spotted a 
very small one just craAvling up the stem. I Avas still a bit too early, 
so I Avaited another quarter of an hour, and then started again ; this 
time, to my pleasure, they were to be seen right on top of the bedstraAV 
feeding aAvay as quickly as possible, taking every particle of bloom at 
a time. In an hour (betAveen 9 and 10) I took thirteen of all sizes, 
from first coat to full fed. 
I well remember August 17th, it being a record day for Eurymus 
hyale. I Avas greatly surprised during the morning to see two specimens 
of Papilio machaon, flying swiftly up and down the cliffs. The first 
one I chased for half an hour, striking at it several times, but to no 
good purpose. It disappeared out of sight along the cliffs, into the 
hands of another collector, a Mr. Austin. The second specimen I suav 
