I am collecting here some unusual
British butterfly stories from the 19th and early 20th
Century.
Butterflies of Berkshire ,Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire by C and D Steel
(1985) page 68
“ Two very rare migrants for which
there are single records in our region are the Queen of Spain fritillary
(Argynnis lathonia) recorded from Berkshire in 1867,and the Weaver`s fritillary
(Boloria dia) ,recorded from Berkshire in 1837.Recent rumours that the large
blue (Maculinea arion) still survives in the Cotswolds must be treated with
scepticism .However, it is possible that an eighteenth century record from
Cliveden, Buckinghamshire is genuine.”
An Introduction to Entomology.
William Kirby and William Spence. 1856 page 493
“The Lepidoptera ,though some of
them,as we have seen, produce a sound when they fly,at other times are usually
mute insects; but this alarmist – for it may be so called, from the terrors
which it has occasioned to the superstitious – when it walks and more
particularly when it is confined, or taken into the hand, sends forth a strong
and sharp cry, resembling ,some say,that of a mouse,but more plaintive,and even
lamentable,which it continues as long as it is
held.”
Science Gossip 1872 page 95 A
White “Brimstone.
“A friend of mine has in his
collection a variety of the Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhumni) ,male,having
in the centre of the anterior wings a large patch of deep orange. From its
differing from the Brimstone in no other respect, I presume it to be a hybrid
between that and the Clouded Yellow (Colias edusa)”. – H.Moore,67 Preston
St Brighton
A White “Brimstone” (2) page
117
“I scarcely believe Mr Moore is
justified in imagining that the butterfly referred to is a hybrid between
G.Rhumni and C.Edusa, since this variety of the Brimstone and the typical form
have both been reared from the same batch of eggs. This variety is occasionally
met with. In the south of Europe a variety is
met with called G.Cleopatra, in which the orange patches cover nearly the whole
of the upper wings.” W.H. Warner,Kingston
From Country Queries & Notes Vol
1 April 1908 to March 1909 page 20 “Is the Clouded Yellow Butterfly Truly
British?”
“My acquaintance with Edusa goes
back to February 1882 or `83, when a living female was brought to me ,and I have
noted, with regard to every “Clouded Yellow year” since, that numbers of
specimens were to be seen in the spring.This was especially so seven years
ago,when I saw several myself in March and April,and four were seen at that time
by a friend of mine flitting about together on his lawn. Now the problem is:
were these hibernated specimens or not,as I did not see a single one for seven
or eight years previous to that time? With regard to the wind theory, which I
think is the general idea amongst entomologists to-day, why do we not get these
butterflies every year? I understand that they are plentiful every season on the
Continent,and surely we get a favourable wind oftener than once in seven or
eight years” – A.E.Webber, Boscombe,Bournemouth .
Science Gossip
1887.
There was correspondence between
three people, J.A.Billings, Hamilton James and H.D.S about the appearance of a
butterfly which might have been Anosia plexippus (Milkweed) or Danaus Erippus
(Southern monarch) variety Arcippus at Shanklin.Isle of Wight and the Lizard,
Cornwall
From Country Queries & Notes vol
1 April 1908 to March 1909 page 20 “Is the Clouded Yellow Butterfly Truly
British?”
“My acquaintance with Edusa goes
back to February 1882 or `83, when a living female was brought to me ,and I have
noted, with regard to every “Clouded Yellow year” since, that numbers of
specimens were to be seen in the spring.This was especially so seven years
ago,when I saw several myself in March and April,and four were seen at that time
by a friend of mine flitting about together on his lawn. Now the problem is:
were these hibernated specimens or not,as I did not see a single one for seven
or eight years previous to that time? With regard to the wind theory, which I
think is the general idea amongst entomologists to-day, why do we not get these
butterflies every year? I understand that they are plentiful every season on the
Continent,and surely we get a favourable wind oftener than once in seven or
eight years” – A.E.Webber, Boscombe,Bournemouth .
Cocteau Twins Iceblink Luck (My
favourite Cocteau Twins song.)
Expose the daughter of yourself well
Me, I think that you're in her heart
You're the match of Jericho
That will burn this whole madhouse down
And I'll throw open like the wall, not safe
More like a love that's a bot-tle of exquisite stuff, yes
You, yourself, and your father
Don't know, so part in your own ways
You're really both bone setters
Thank you for mending me babies
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