REPUTED BRITISH SPECIES.
On [Plate XVI]. are grouped together figures of six species of butterflies which are not admitted into our regular British lists, on account of the extreme rarity of their capture, or the fact of their not having been observed at all for several years past. They are all common species in various parts of the Continent, and some of them will probably occur again in this country.
Papilio Podalirius.—The SCARCE SWALLOW-TAILED Butterfly (fig. 1).—There is no reasonable doubt that several individuals of this elegant butterfly were formerly taken in various parts of the country, but no captures have occurred for many years past. The caterpillar, also, was more than once found in the New Forest District, Hampshire. Generally a common insect on the Continent.
Parnassius Apollo.—The APOLLO Butterfly (fig. 2).—I have good reason for believing that a specimen of this splendid Alpine butterfly was captured in this country very lately, and it is not at all impossible that it may be some day found on our north country mountains, or those of the Lake District. It is a most beautiful insect, with its singular semi-transparent and partially glazed wings; the lower of which bear large eye-spots of crimson-scarlet.
Erebia Ligea.—The ARRAN BROWN Butterfly (fig. 3).—Of this species, greatly resembling our E. Blandina, several specimens were formerly taken by some entomologists in the Isle of Arran, where, as also in other mountain districts, it may probably still exist; but its haunts have to be re-discovered by some enterprising butterfly-hunter.
From Blandina, which it almost exactly resembles on the upper surface, it may be distinguished by the marking of the under side of the hind wing, on which is an irregular, broken band of pure white, and between this and the margin a row of three distinct black eye-spots.
Argynnis Dia.—WEAVER'S FRITILLARY.—This species is so nearly like Euphrosyne or Selene, on the upper surface, that it readily might be, and perhaps
sometimes is, passed by as one of those common insects. Underneath it is chiefly recognised by the beautiful blush of silvery purple that extends in a band across the middle of the hind wings, and more faintly tinges the front wings near the tip.
There is little reason to doubt that this insect was really taken by Mr. Richard Weaver at Sutton Park, near Tamworth; also by Mr. Stanley, near Alderley, in Cheshire.
Chrysophanus Chryseis.—The PURPLE-EDGED COPPER Butterfly.—As this species has been admitted by that very careful and accurate entomologist, Mr. Stainton, into his "Manual," I cannot refuse it a place here, though, from all the information I can gain, its only claim to the name of "British" rests on a tradition of its having been taken a long time ago in Ashdown Forest, Sussex; and since then, by a dealer, in Epping Forest. It is a beautiful insect, coppery red, bordered with changeable purple, and I should be glad to see it fairly established in our lists.
Polyommatus Bæticus.—The LONG-TAILED BLUE.—This Butterfly has been long known, as a southern insect, with a very wide range of distribution, abounding in the south of Europe and thence extending into India, Java, &c. Then last year it was seen in
Guernsey, and in August of the same year an individual was actually captured in this country, the scene of the event being somewhere on the chalk downs in the neighbourhood of Brighton, and the fortunate captor being Mr. McArthur, of that town. My friend and neighbour, Dr. Allchin, of Bayswater, was on the spot at the time, and saw the insect shortly after its capture.
The butterfly, which on the upper side has somewhat of the aspect of a female "Common Blue," will be at once recognised by its long tail-like appendages to the hind wings. Beneath, its plan of colouring is totally distinct from that of any of our native "Blues" (Polyommati), being destitute of the numerous little eye-like spots, which are replaced by bands of fawn colour and white; but at the lower angle of the hind wings are two spots of glittering metallic green, reminding one, on a small scale, of the "eye" of a peacock's feather.
The habits of the insect are those of our Common Blues—skipping about over grassy places, and for a Common Blue it would on the wing be readily mistaken.
Collectors will in the coming season doubtless search the south coast district thoroughly, and many a Common Blue will be apprehended on suspicion.
Should our little friend Bæticus continue his northward progress (as we have some reason to hope he may), we may find him regularly enrolled on the native lists, and gracing the ranks of that select little company entitled "Our British Butterflies."
REFERENCES TO PLATES.
PREPARATORY STATES AND DETAILS.
Fig.
Caterpillars of—
1. Swallow-tailed Butterfly.
2. Brimstone B.
3. Meadow-brown B.
4. White Admiral.
5. Purple Emperor.
6. Peacock B.
7. Silver-washed Fritillary.
8. Duke of Burgundy Fritillary.
9. Purple Hair-streak.
10. Chalk-hill Blue B.
11. Dingy Skipper.
Chrysalides of—
12. Swallow-tailed B.
13. Brimstone B.
14. Black-veined White B.
15. Large Garden White B.
16. Silver-washed Fritillary.
17. Orange-tip B.
18. Wood-white B.
19. Marbled-white B.
20. Meadow-brown B.
21. White Admiral.
22. Purple Emperor.
23. Large Tortoiseshell B.
24. Comma B.
25. Duke of Burgundy Fritillary.
26. Small Skipper B.
27. Dingy Skipper B.
28. Purple Hair-streak B.
29. Chalk-hill Blue B.
1. Egg of Garden White B.
2. — Queen of Spain Fritillary.
3. — Large Heath B.
4. — Peacock B.
5. — Large Tortoiseshell B.
6. — Meadow-brown B.
7. — Wood Argus.
8. Head of Red Admiral B. magnified.
9. Section of sucker of ditto, magnified.
10. Papillæ on end of do. magnified.
11. Portion of Eye of Butterfly, magnified.
12. Antenna of Fritillary, magnified.
13. — Swallow-tailed B. magnified.
14. — Skipper B. magnified.
15. Base of Antenna, magnified.
16. Arrangement of Scales on Wing, magnified.
17. Plumed Scale, magnified.
18. Long form of ditto, magnified.
19. Another form of ditto, magnified.
20. — from Small White B. magnified.
21. — from Orange-tip B. magnified.
22. Battledore Scale from Blue B. magnified.
23. Ordinary Scale from Garden White B. magnified.
24. Ordinary Scale from Wood White, magnified.
25. Ditto.
26. Ordinary Scale from Brimstone B. magnified.
27. Ditto.
28. Ditto.
29. Ordinary Scale from Common Blue B. magnified.
30. Ditto.
31. Ditto.
32. Ordinary Scale from Small Tortoiseshell B. magnified.
33. Ditto.
34. Ditto.
35. Ditto.
36. Ordinary Scale from Chalk hill Blue B. magnified.
37. Ordinary Scale from Apollo B. magnified.
38. Form common to Vanessa genus magnified.
BUTTERFLIES.
Fig.
1. Swallow-tail.
2. Brimstone.
3. Clouded Yellow, 3 a, female.
4. Pale Clouded Yellow.
1. Black-veined White.
2. Large Garden White.
3. Small Garden White.
4. Green-veined White.
5. Bath White.
1. Orange Tip, 1 a, female.
2. Wood White.
3. Marbled White.
4. Wood Argus.
5. Wall.
6. Grayling.
1. Meadow Brown, 1 a, female.
2. Large Heath.
3. Ringlet.
4. Scotch Argus.
5. Mountain Ringlet.
6. Small Ringlet.
7. Small Heath.
1. White Admiral.
2. Purple Emperor.
3. Painted Lady.
1. Red Admiral.
2. Peacock.
3. Camberwell Beauty.
1. Large Tortoiseshell.
2. Small Tortoiseshell.
3. Comma.
4. Silver-washed Fritillary, 4 a, fem.
1. Dark Green Fritillary.
2. High-brown Fritillary.
3. Queen of Spain Fritillary.
4. Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
1. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
2. Glanville Fritillary.
3. Pearl-bordered Likeness Fritillary.
4. Greasy Fritillary.
5. Duke of Burgundy Fritillary.
1. Brown Hair streak, 1 a, female.
2. Black Hair-streak.
3. White Letter Hair-streak.
4. Purple Hair-streak, 4 a, female.
5. Green Hair streak.
1. Small Copper.
2. Large Copper, 2 a, female.
3. Holly, or Azure Blue, 3 a, female.
4. Bedford Blue, 4 a, female.
5. Mazarine Blue, 5 a, female.
1. Large Blue.
2. Chalk-hill Blue, 2 a, female.
3. Adonis Blue, 3 a, female.
4. Common Blue, 4 a, female.
5. Silver-studded Blue, 5 a, female.
6. Brown Argus.
7. Artaxerxes Butterfly.
1. Grizzled Skipper.
2. Dingy Skipper.
3. Chequered Skipper.
4. Lulworth Skipper, 4 a, female.
5. Small Skipper, 5 a, female.
6. Large Skipper, 6 a, female.
7. Silver-spotted Skipper, 7 a, fem.
1. Scarce Swallow-tail.
2. Apollo.
3. Arran Brown.
4. Weaver's Fritillary.
5. Purple-edged Copper.
6. Tailed-Blue (P. Bœticus).