Wednesday, November 16, 2016

MUIRHEAD`S MYSTERIES: Some strange British butterfly reports

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,Abingdon.

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 between 1885-1887.

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.)

I'm seemin' to be a little aliveI'm happy again, caught, caught in time
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

FORTEAN BIRD NEWS FROM THE WATCHER OF THE SKIES


What has Corinna's column of Fortean bird news got to do with cryptozoology? 

Well, everything, actually! 

 In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that whereas the study of out-of-place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot or lake monsters, it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean zoologist to be interested in.


THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN IS CLUMPED

The Gonzo Daily: Wednesday
 
It has been a long day. Graham is still in Exeter sorting out my house, whilst I have given an English lesson, finished proofreading Richard Muirhead's book and done a sign for Northam Library. I live in hope of a curry from the chipshop when I finish the blogs.
 
And now for the news................
 
MJ12 REVIEW
Meet Jack
Nico tribute Belgium review translated
THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Leon Russell - Delta ...
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
 
Gonzo Magazine #208
 
In this week’s enthralling issue we say goodbye to Leonard Cohen, Alan meets Del Gibbs, an unsung hero of the punk wars, Doug goes to see Steven Wilson, Jon enthuses over Shirley Collins, and surprisingly approves of the Harry Potter script book, there are not too many Donald Trump jokes, while Corinna inspects some famous busts.
 
Oooer Missus.
 
And there are radio shows from Strange Fruit, Mack Maloney, and Friday Night Progressive takes a break this week. We also have columns from all sorts of folk including Roy Weard, Mr Biffo, Neil Nixon and the irrepressible Corinna. The saga of Xtul gets particularly nasty, but Neil Nixon, Richard Freeman and Strange Daze take rainchecks this week. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and pademelons outside zoos(OK, nothing to do with small marsupials who have escaped from captivity, but I got carried away with things that rhymed with OOOOS) than you can shake a stick at. And the best part is IT's ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!
 
This issue features:
David Bowie, Shirley Collins, The Raz Band, The Kinks, Mick Ralphs, Ronnie Wood, Kate Bush, Phil Collins, Sting, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive,  Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Leonard Norman Cohen, Sir Leslie Ronald "Jimmy" Young, Laurent Pardo, Eddie Harsch (born Edward Hawrysch), Alexander Emil Caiola, Katherine Laverne Starks, Daisy Flowers, Spirits Burning and Clearlight, Vangelis, Al Atkins, Atomic Rooster, Rick Wakeman, Martin Stephenson and The Daintees, Archie Fisher & Barbara Dickson, The Pink Faeries, Steven Wilson, Del (Derek) Gibbs, Alan Dearling, Mr Biffo, Roy Weard, Hawkwind, Xtul, Martin Springett, The Gardening Club, Harry Potter, Brian Wilson, Johnny Cash, Freddie Mercury, Elvis, John Lennon, Tom Jones
 
Read the previous few issues of Gonzo Weekly:
 
Issue 207 (Tibet)
Issue 206 (Raz)
Issue 205 (Pink Fairies)
Issue 204 (Gas Tank)
Issue 203 (The Gardening Club)
Issue 202 (Gong)
Issue 201 (Auld Man's Baccie)
Issue 200 (Deep Purple)
Issue 199 (Yes)
Issue 198 (Steve Ignorant)
Issue 197 (Gilli Smyth)
Issue 196 (Paul May)
Issue 195 (Dave Brock)
Issue 194 (Auburn)
Issue 193 (Genre Peak)
Issue 192 (Rick Wakeman and Brian May)
Issue 191 (Karnataka)
Issue 190 (Erik Norlander)
Issue 189 (Rick Wakeman at the O2)
Issue 187/8 (Yer holiday special)
Issue 186 (Beatles)
Issue 185 (Judge Smith)
Issue 184 (Mick Abrahams)
 
All issues from #70 can be downloaded at www.gonzoweekly.com if you prefer. If you have problems downloading, just email me and I will add you to the Gonzo Weekly dropbox. The first 69 issues are archived there as well. Information is power chaps, we have to share it!
 
You can download the magazine in pdf form HERE:
 
SPECIAL NOTICE: If you, too, want to unleash the power of your inner rock journalist, and want to join a rapidly growing band of likewise minded weirdos please email me at jon@eclipse.co.uk The more the merrier really.
 
 
* The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at jon@eclipse.co.uk. If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk. Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun, spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining. See you tomorrow...
 
* The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: www.gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk
 
* We should probably mention here, that some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites. Honest guv!
 
* Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 57 who - together with a Jack Russel cvalled Archie, an infantile orange cat named after a song by Frank Zappa, and two half grown kittens, one totally coincidentally named after one of the Manson Family, purely because she squeaks, puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention Archie and the Cats?

NEWS FROM NOWHERE - Wednesday

ON THIS DAY IN - 1997 - China released Wei Jingsheng, a pro-democracy dissident from jail for medical reasons. He had been incarcerated for almost 18 years. 
And now some more recent news from the CFZ Newsdesk


  • Butterflies could be about to be wiped out by extr...
  • Tegu Lizards Are Taking Over the Everglades – via ...
  • Critically-endangered Bellinger River snapping tur...
  • Jackpot! Hiker Discovers Ancient Reptile Footprint...
  • Ancient 'Seal' Used Pool-Ball-Size Eyes for Deep-S...


  • AND TO WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK... (Music that may have some relevance to items also on this page, or may just reflect my mood on the day.)