Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 70



Much interest has recently been excited among British entomologists regarding this butterfly. Some are of opinion that it is not a native of Britain, while others, with a strong shew of reason, contend that it is truly indiginous. The specimens in the British collection formed by our lamented parent, and now in our possession, having been alluded to by both parties, we have been induced to represent them, and to throw some light upon their history.

So anxiously did our honored father preserve his cabinet, free from exotic specimens, that knowingly, he never admitted one, even as a temporary substitute for a native example. Yet living, in his early days, in constant intercourse with the famous Dutchess of Portland, Dr. Lightfoot, and Mr. Lewin, he received, from these sources, some few insects, which were placed in his cabinet, under the assurance that they were British. Among these are ''Pap. Podalirius, Daplidice, and the two specimens of the alleged Europome here figured: the latter being mistaken, and intermixed, with three examples of the true Hyale''. On the other hand, it is incumbent upon us to say, that both these have been mended, before coming into our father's possession, by the heads and antennae of Gonepteryx Rhamni! We must also state, that upon closely comparing them with a series of E. Philodice, we have failed to discover what appears to us a true specific distinction. The same unsuccess has attended our efforts to detach Chrysotheme from Edusa, of which latter we possess specimens from Germany, Genoa, Sicily, Greece, Africa, and several others unlabelled, all varying more or less from each other, and from British examples.