CHAPTER XV
LETTERS TO MR. D. D. GIBB
Great Tortoiseshell Butterfly—The Forest Fly—Numerous other fly-pests and fly-parasites—A few Moths.
The subjoined letters to Mr. Gibb are unique in that they deal with a wider range of subjects than any of Miss Ormerod’s letters to other British observers. She recognised and appreciated her correspondent’s accuracy of observation, and gratefully acknowledged the assistance she received through the numerous specimens he so promptly collected for her when in need.
To D. D. Gibb, Esq., Assembly Manor Farm, Lymington.[[60]]
Torrington House, St. Albans,
June 26, 1894.
Dear Sir,—I am very much obliged to you for kindly sparing time to let me have your careful observations received this morning, together with the specimens of the Great Tortoiseshell butterfly, Vanessa polychloros, infestation. I have been very carefully noting, measuring and counting, so as to secure details, and presently I think with your own observations these will form a very serviceably interesting paper. That patch of eggshells contained over three hundred eggs, as near as I could count by taking numbers in length and breadth. Your two caterpillars had been over hasty in their arrangements, and changed to chrysalis on the journey, and consequently made not a good business of it, but one of those you sent me previously, having better surroundings had done its work thoroughly well, and is a very beautiful specimen which I hope will develop. I propose to have a good figure engraved of the butterfly, chrysalis and caterpillar.
All your other notes I have also read with much interest, especially those on turnip management, and your remarks about “warble,” and in due time I shall be much obliged by being allowed to use these in my next Annual Report.
