Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/338

1504 stance of the kind occurred May 7th, when I found two of the common field slug (Limax agrestis), making a meal on the crushed remains of a large black one (Arion ater); and on May 18th, I have the following in my note-book:—"Very wet, walked out to Benton in the evening, I again noticed the common field slugs (in two in- stances) feeding on the crushed remains of large black ones, in one of which some small spark of life yet lingered." I may here remark, that slugs were in immense abundance during April and May. I know of many instances where fields of oats, peas, and tares were completely destroyed, and had to be ploughed down and resown with tares or barley. In gardens they were equally prevalent and destructive ; a friend of mine destroyed some thousands in a garden of small extent, merely by lay- ing leaves of cabbage and other plants on the ground ; collecting them every morning and destroying them with boiling water. — Thomas John Bold; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, September 3rd, 1846.

Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa at York. — A specimen of this rare British butterfly was brought to me alive this day, which was caught in a garden in the suburbs of this city ; it and two others were flying in company with the red admiral {Vanessa Atalanta). The captor was unsuccessful with the others, he being only provided with a rhubarb leaf, with which he knocked the one down, that is now in my possession. — Robert Cook; Colliergate, York.

Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa near Epping. — A female specimen of this insect was captured here on the 12th instant, and another seen. A fine female was also taken about the same time, near Yaxley. — Henry Doubleday; Epping, September 20th, 1846.

Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa at Winchester. — On Friday, September 4th, I had the pleasure of taking a fine female specimen of this rare and beautiful insect, near some willows ; I have seen three others near the same spot. — John T. Rogers; North Walls, Winchester.

Capture of Vanessa Antiopa near Stowmarket. — Entomologists will be pleased to hear that they have now an opportunity of witnessing in a fine and perfect state a spe- cimen of the splendid butterfly, " Vanessa Antiopa " — Camberwell Beauty. A pair of this fine species were caught on Wednesday last, in the grounds of the Vicarage, Stow- market, which, from their rare appearance, are rendered exceedingly interesting and remarkable. Their visits here appear to be at very remote and uncertain periods, for until four or five years previous to 1819, Vanessa Antiopa had not been seen for nearly forty years, when it was observed in abundance in various parts of the kingdom. In 1819, a few were caught in Suffolk, and one was taken in the following spring, which had lived through the winter ; since that period it has not been seen in England. Those caught at Stowmarket were found on the mulberry-tree, near the Vicarage House, planted by Milton, during his residence with the Rev. Dr. Young, the then vicar, and who was tutor to the immortal poet, and no doubt the wide-spreading branches of this celebrated tree attracted the notice of the butterflies in their search after food. We have been informed that Dr. Probart captured one of these beautiful insects in his garden one day last week. — Ipswich Paper.