PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
19 
one, which is generally paler in colour than the brood appearing in 
the end of June. I have met, however, with more variations of all kinds 
in this species than in almost any other butterfly; and I should think 
that, in any ordinary season, I could have collected an almost complete 
series of gradations from the type to the greatest deviation from it, 
within the limits of the district which I have mentioned. 
Vanessa polychloros. This insect I have taken several times, particularly in the 
neighbourhood of Astley; but have never found it in any great abun¬ 
dance. One or two specimens may be obtained in ordinary seasons 
from the above-named locality, and very probably more than that num¬ 
ber if carefully hunted for; I never looked particularly for them. 
„ urticse. Very common. 
„ io. Ditto. 
„ antiopa. Not found; but I strongly suspect it might be met with, as 
these are places very favourable to it. 
„ atalanta. Very common. 
Cynthia cardui. Far from uncommon, particularly about Astley, and on the 
right side of the Severn generally. 
Apatura iris. I have not taken this insect myself in this district, and am rather 
surprised at it, excepting for the reason that I have not made express search for 
it. I have very little doubt that it is to be found, and should be glad if any one 
could inform me that it has been caught there. The locality is, at the least, as 
favourable as those in the neighbouring county of Warwickshire, about Coleshill, 
and Merivale Abbey, and Coventry ; and in Leicestershire, about Bardon Hill, 
on the confines of Charnwood Forest; in which places it is to be found, or, at 
least, was, between 1840 and 1843, when I was hunting in those neighbourhoods. 
The only other locality which I personally know as producing it, is near War¬ 
minster, in Wiltshire; but none of these places are more favourable than this 
district in Worcestershire, where there are oaks and sallows in abundance. It is 
chiefly to be met with in the southern counties of England, but by no means 
exclusively. I am acquainted with one or two other districts towards the middle 
of the country, where I expect it may be found, though I have not seen it there 
myself; but being, unfortunately, very short-sighted—which is a bad failing for 
a Lepidopterist—my failure, especially in such a case as that of the A. iris, is 
not of any great consequence, nor can it weigh much against the districts in 
question. 
Limenitis Camilla. Unquestionably very rare; but to be found about Bewdley 
Forest occasionally, and scattered over the wooded district between the valleys 
of the Severn and the Teme. It seems, however, to be somewhat fitful and 
uncertain in its appearance. 
Also, the following note, from the same gentleman, in reference to a cholera¬ 
like disease which he had found to attack Lepidopterous larvse :— 
“On June 21, I took eleven fine and apparently healthy caterpillars of the 
Lasiocampa roboris, not far from Dover, within a distance of about two miles. 
The next day I gave two of them to a friend, and kept the rest. They have been 
constantly supplied with abundance of fresh food, and have eaten well; and one or 
two of them have moulted since I had them, and seemed healthy and lively after¬ 
wards. About a fortnight ago one of them seemed sluggish and ill—the finest of 
the whole number—and, in a day or two, died—its skin tearing, and the inside 
running out. Since that time four others have died in the same way, as well as 
the two which I gave my friend. The four remaining ones seeming very languid 
and weak, I examined them carefully, and found them infested by numbers of 
minute white mites, semi-transparent, with smooth, globular bodies, six legs—the 
posterior pairs considerably longer than the others, and two rather long antennm. 
They concealed themselves principally at the roots of the hairs, and in the folds of 
the skin, between the segments of the body, and ran very quickly if disturbed. I 
found many of them on the body of the caterpillar which moulted a few days ago, 
and died this morning ; and numbers on the remaining four which yet survive. 
I cannot, as yet, determine whether they live entirely on the surface of the body, 
