NYMPHALIDAE 
156 
year (1873) this species disappeared entirely from the district, 
and upon inquiring of local collectors in 1881, I was informed 
that not a single specimen had been seen during the interval 
of eight years. 
In the dry, hot summer of 1893, this handsome butterfly 
was again abundant in various places, especially in the New 
Forest, but after this year it gradually became rare all over 
the country, and at the time of writing it is still looked upon 
as a rarity. In the northern English counties and in Scotland 
it has always been of rare occurrence, and it is apparently 
unknown in Ireland. 
Its range abroad extends over central and southern Europe, 
Armenia and north-west Siberia. 
Time of Appearance. This beautiful butterfly appears on 
the wing in July and August; apparently it enters into 
hibernation very soon after its emergence. But in 1893 it 
continued on the wing for about a month, as in that hot 
summer it was fully out at the end of June, and during July 
I found it in unusual abundance in the New Forest, where 
it was to be seen sitting on the “ sugared '* trunks of trees, 
or feasting on the exuding sap of other trees. I also saw 
large numbers settled on the bare ground of the rides in the 
enclosures among the fallen fir cones, whicli they greatly 
resembled while resting with closed wings, especially when 
seen at a little distance. I also observed several of these 
butterflies creeping into holes and other retreats in the banks 
bordering the rides during dull weather and towards evening, 
wherein to pass the night. This butterfly has only very occa¬ 
sionally been observed on the wing in the autumn. As an 
instance, one was seen by Mr. Eric Parker on October 7th, 
1914, in his garden at Hambledon, Surrey, and was seen 
again the following day in the same place. The Large 
Tortoiseshell is single brooded. Hibernated specimens usually 
reappear in April, but often they are to be seen in March 
when the weather is sufficiently warm ; they survive through 
April until early May. 
Hibernation. Although N. polychlorus has been found in 
numbers hibernating in stacks of faggots, there is no doubt 
that hollow trees are largely resorted to for hibernation, as 
they are favourite winter quarters for other species. Like 
