Family DANAIDAE 
Genus DANAUS, Kluk , 1802 
THE MILKWEED BUTTERFLY 
Danaus plexippus. 
(Plate III, facing page 36) 
Immigration. This great American butterfly, also known as 
the Black-veined Brown, and the Monarch, was first recorded 
in Britain in the autumn of 1876, when four specimens were 
captured, one at Neath in Glamorgan, tlvo in Sussex and one 
in Dorset. The next occurrence was one near Maidstone in 
1881 and one at Ventnor in 1884. In 1885 nine were seen 
and captured, one in Dorset, one in Devon, one at Ventnor 
and six in Cornwall. Six more were recorded in 1886, two at 
Swanage, one at Bournemouth, one in the Isle of Wight, 
one in Cornwall and one in Pembrokeshire. In 1887 f° ur 
others were observed, three at Worthing and one in Devon. 
One in 1890 in Sussex. One in 1896 in Hampshire on June 6th. 
One in 1908 in the Isle of Wight. One in 1916 in Co. Cork, 
the only Irish example up to that date. One in Cornwall 
in 1918. One in Sussex in 1923, One near Darlington, 
Durham, in September, 1926. One seen in Glamorgan, 
September 5th, 1928. To these 33 individuals recorded during 
a period of 57 years must be added a record number of 30 
examples recorded as having been seen in different localities 
in the southern English counties, Wales and Ireland, between 
mid-June and October 15th, 1933. This large number for 
the one year is remarkable. A specimen of D. plexippus was 
seen by Major H. C. Gunton at Ringwould, East Kent, on 
July 15th, 1934. It was first seen at 12.15 flying around 
bushes, and later on, at 1.15 p.m., it was again seen flying 
high over trees to the eastwards ; it was apparently in good 
condition. The weather at the time was dry and sunny 
with a light northerly wind, the temperature being 75 0 F. 
35 
