THE LARGE COPPER 
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in later years, but much doubt is placed upon the statements. 
The latest report was of one found dead at Slapton Lea, 
South Devon, in 1865. Whether this butterfly ever existed 
in Devon appears doubtful. 
Haunts and Distribution. The splendid L. dispar was known 
as a British butterfly by the older writers under the name of 
hippotho'e, as we find that Lewin refers to its occurrence in 
Huntingdonshire in 1795. Its principal localities were: 
Whittlesea Mere, Cambridgeshire ; Yaxley and Holm Fens, 
Huntingdonshire ; Bardolf Fen, Norfolk ; and it was also 
found at Benacre, in Suffolk. It only frequented the fens. 
The flight of the Large Copper was rapid and it would only 
fly during sunshine, when it was very active. It was fond 
of settling on Thistles, and it would fly off to attack any insect 
that came near. It was as shy as it was active, and seldom 
gave one a second chance with the net if missed at the first 
stroke. It would dash away, looking a most beautiful object 
in the sunshine. 
Abroad this butterfly has a very extensive distribution. 
It ranges across Europe, Northern Asia Minor, Armenia, 
South-eastern Siberia, to Northern China and Corea. It is 
not surprising, with such an immense range, that it should 
have several geographical races or sub-species. We find this 
insect greatly decreases in size, intensity of colouring and 
size of markings on the under side as it extends eastwards. 
The British race, the true L. dispar , was the most westerly 
sub-species, and was notable for its large size, very strong 
markings and the richest colouring of the under surface. 
Crossing the North Sea we find the Dutch race, L. dispar 
batavus , Ob., which is very close to L. dispar in general 
characters, as regards size, colouring and markings. Further 
east we have the Continental L. dispar ab. rutilus, differing 
from the true L. dispar in its smaller size, smaller spots and 
narrow and fainter marginal band, also less blue on the hind 
wing, on the under side. 
As stated in The Entomologist, August, 1929, Vol. LXII, 
the Committee for the Protection of British Lepidoptera, 
and British entomologists in general, owe a very deep debt 
of gratitude to Capt. E. B. Purefoy for the immense pains he 
has taken to render the experiment of introducing the Dutch 
