Collecting Butterfly Aberrations in the New Forest.
Jan 31, 2016 15:51:17 GMT
deliasfanatic, mygos, and 3 more like this
Post by nomad on Jan 31, 2016 15:51:17 GMT
William the Conqueror's New Forest, lies in the County of Hampshire in Central Southern England. The Forest consists of a large area of Valley mires, heaths and woodlands. Once the New Forest was Britain's favourite collecting locality with its two readily accessible railway stations at Beaulieu Heath and at Brockenhurst. All the specimens figured in this article were taken in the New Forest. The images are courtesy of BMNH.
In the 19th and first part of the 20th century, the New Forest woodlands were nearly all deciduous with large open rides. There were few foresters who only trimmed the brambles (rubus species) growing along the edges of the rides on rare occasions. The butterflies flocked to this welcome nectar source. During July on sunny days, the Forest's white or pink flowers of the bramble flowers were covered in the large fritillaries, especially the large Argynnis paphia and they were joined by the graceful Limenitis camilla. In the 19th century, there were pockets of Aporia crataegi and Nymphalis polychlorus, the latter species being present up until 1948. Both of these species suffered a general and widespread decline in Britain for reasons that are not known and became extinct.
Two of the most famous Butterfly variety hunters that Britain has produced were Sidney Castle Russell (1866-1955) from Woking in Surrey, known to his friends as C.R. and the Reverend John N. Marcon (1903-1986) from Eastbourne in Sussex. Both of these collectors had phenomenal luck in catching rare aberrations, spending long hours in the field.
Both Castle Russell and the Reverend Marcon were known to be eccentric field entomologists but were both highly respected. Castle Russell's first visit to New Forest was in 1892, when he collected in Ramnor Inclosure. He wrote that although the butterflies were abundant, he took no major aberrations but he did take his first valezina, the striking dark female form of A. paphia, capturing five specimens. valezina was then considered a rarity in the forest but later it became common and in certain areas it sometimes outnumbered the normal A. paphia females. Just as Castle Russell entered Ramnor Inclosure on that hot sultry July day, the sun was covered by a cloud. He moved slowly towards the feeding butterflies on the brambles but alarmed by his presence and the sudden shade, they rose in huge numbers to take refuge in the trees. As the sun shone forth once more, down they came like falling leaves, so thickly that Russell could hardly see. In one particular ride, both A. aglaja and A. adippe were unusually numerous, unlike A. paphia those species prefer the more open areas within the woodlands. Exploring the Forest, Castle Russell also encountered a few small colonies of Nymphalis polychloros and a female Apatura iris drinking the damp ground by a stream, a fairly common event during those days but it was usually the males he came across.
Many collectors visited to collect the Heterocera and the New Forest contained many species that were either not found elsewhere or occurred in far lesser numbers. Only in certain years, such as 1906-1907, 1918-1919, 1941-1942 and to a lesser degree 1976-1977 did rare butterfly aberrations become frequent when the butterflies themselves were abundant in the Forest. During those years, many collectors went to the New Forest to obtain these varieties that were rare or unknown in other years.
During 1918, a splendid year for aberrations in the New Forest, Sir Vauncy Crewe visited the Forest with a large team of assistants. At the Entomological Society's meeting, Crewe exhibited 50 extreme aberrations of A. paphia and many melanic specimens of L. camilla that were captured during that summer in the New Forest. The fine aberrations continued to be caught during 1919. Castle Russell had spent most of that summer season in the north but managed to return before the A. paphia season was over and took many fine specimens of this species, among them several wonderful melanic and confluens aberrations . Castle Russell's finest catch that season was a superb melanic aberration of A. paphia female form valezina. Earlier in the day, he had almost put his foot on the remarkable valezina female as it was feeding on a low bramble flower, disturbed the butterfly flew up into an oak tree and disappeared from sight. Later in the day, Castle Russell carefully searched the brambles along the edges of the rides in this area, he finally saw this great rarity again feeding at a cross ride and this time he great prize was secured.
The best year for these extreme woodland butterfly aberrations other than in 1918 & 1919 was during 1941. During his visits to the Forest, Castle Russell arrived by train from Woking in Surrey where he met his friend, the decorated war hero Colonel V.R. Buckhardt and they were often joined by the Reverend John Marcon on his motor bike from Eastbourne in Sussex. Marcon usually stayed as a guest of Mr and Mrs Clarke of Brockenhurst. During that time, while Europe's armies were hoping to destroy each other on the battlefields and war planes brought terror to the civilian population, entomologists carried on their beloved old age tradition of peaceful bug hunting. In the year 1941 and 1942, Castle Russel, Marcon, Buckhardt and others took a number of rare aberrations. In May there were the small fritillary colonies to be searched but things really hotted up in July when the larger fritillary species were on the wing. Both the rare black White Admiral, L. camilla aberrations, obliterae and nigrina were frequent. Among the fritillary species, a number of extreme melanic specimens along with the rare confluens and ocellata aberrations of A. paphia were captured. During a week's stay in July 1941, Castle Russell had taken a score of different A. paphia aberrations and some seven nigrina and six semi-nigrina (obliterae) of L. camilla. Marcon who joined him that week, took nine rare A. paphia aberrations, two ocellata, one alter, six confluens and several fine camilla varieties. Not all the wonderful aberrations seen that year were captured, some escaped their human predator. It was not easy netting a butterfly feeding on the bramble blossoms, if you missed your net may have become tangled on the thorns and the butterfly escaped.
Most collectors have a tale or two to tell of missed opportunities when they failed to capture a rare butterfly and although Castle Russell had his much good fortune and luck, two memories must have haunted him.
One day Castle Russell was walking down a ride in Oakley Inclosure in the New Forest with Colonel Buckhardt, when his saw one of the finest male melanic A. paphia varieties he had ever seen, the forewings were fulvous and the hindwings were black. Castle Russell who did not have time to act as the rarity swept passed him, shouted to Buckhardt but as the butterfly gained speed as it approached the collector, it also gained height and with a hopeful swing of the net the treasure was missed and although the two collectors searched for it all afternoon, it was never seen again. Later that day they met another well known collector Johnson who also had some bad luck, he had just missed a pure black melanic aberration of Polygonia c-album. The butterflies were winning that day.
On another visit to the Forest, Castle Russell was approaching his favourite collecting site the Island of Thorns Inclosure, when he saw the finest melanic male aberration of A. paphia feeding on a solitary bramble bush that he had ever encountered. Castle Russell's usual method was to lower the net over a feeding butterfly and as it flew up into his net, he did this usual flick of the wrist. As the bramble was in the open, Castle Russell decided to try another method, he took careful aim and made his swipe with his net but when he looked in his folded net bag to examine his great prize it was empty. How could he have missed it, he thought, he must have knocked it to the ground, a long pain staking search revealed no trace of this fabulous insect. He told Marcon that it was the best A. paphia variety he had ever seen and was better than anything in the wealthy Percy Bright's collection and that was some statement for that cheque book collector had a truly magnificent British butterfly collection full of the most extreme aberrations.
During the summers of 1941 & 1942. Marcon and Castle Russell met many well known collectors in the Forest, Teley, Clarke, Johnson, Jackson and Watson and even Bright and his chauffeur out with their nets. It was the thrill of the chase and excitement which spurred these collectors on. Teley took a very fine mixed gynandromorph of A. paphia in the Forest that was figured by Russwurm (1978) and Harmer (1999).
These rare aberrations were caught after a hard day's collecting in the Forest and the memory never to have been forgotten. The Forest abounded in a number of vicious biting flies such as the cleggs which are very common in the Forest due to the large numbers of grazing ponies, using the bare hands, faces and necks of those entomologists as a pit stop. Castle Russell's favourite method to keep away the hated painful bites of the cleggs, was to smear old nicotine juice from his pipe on his hands and face. On one occasion the nicotine juice got into Castle Russell's eyes and he was blinded, rushed to hospital by his friend, his sight was only just saved in time
The extreme man made dark aberrations of today, that are produced in quantity either by an injection of chemicals or more rarely through cold shock treatment are not comparable with those wild or bred melanic aberrations shown here. The finer historic aberrations were treasures that were perhaps shown after your successful day in the field, with an exciting tale of their capture to your fellow brethren of the net over a glass of beer in a public house or hotel. These collectors gems might be exhibited at the Entomological Society meetings to the delight of the members and perhaps at a later period they would be figured in a publication, some becoming famous and are a fine tribute to the late collector's memory. Many years after the event, a collector might open his cabinet drawer and the sight of a self caught aberration would evoke happy and pleasant memories of a summer's day spent in the field with his companions. As the collector passed on, his valuable specimens, might grace the collection of another delighted new owner and later perhaps several others.
Melanism in the fritillaries is thought to be temperature controlled. Castle Russell remarked that the May and June of 1941 was unusually cold and was followed by a hot July. Other aberrations taken in the Forest were genetic. The most extreme of these wild historic aberrations would command high prices at the Insect auctions, with the collector's name and data adding to their provenance compared to the much lesser amounts paid today for those that are produced by the tip of a needle. Castle Russell arranged for his remarkable collection of aberrations to join the Kettlewell, Cockanye and Rothschild collection in the BMNH. Castle Russell's second collection was sold at auction. The Reverend Marcon's collection was also sold at auction in lots and was bought by other well known wealthy collectors and many of his fine aberrations have also filtered into the BMNH.
Reverend John Marcon was called by a friend E.W. Classey, a " Manic collector " speeding here and there on his motorbike to his favourite collecting grounds. During 1945 he was traveling at great speed to a collecting locality when a tragedy happened, taking a corner he hit a Canadian Army jeep head on. Marcon's injuries were so serious he was certified dead at the scene of the accident but made miraculous recovery after months in a coma. Marcon said he had been to the other side and the accident was a sign that he should give up collecting but later changed his mind and resumed his passion. On an earlier occasion during a pleasant day in the New Forest, Marcon had returned to his motorbike and found it had fallen on to its side, the precious wartime petrol leaking out. He sat down to partake of his favourite drink that accompanied on his collecting trips, a large flagon of cider, that he left to cool in the nearby stream. Collecting in the hot sun was thirsty work and he enjoyed his cider so much that he drank it all, Castle Russell and Buckhardt later found him rather unsteady on his feet with his net and singing loudly.
Later in life, the Reverend Marcon wrote at the end of two of his fascinating articles that he wrote for the Record and Journal of Variation, two memorable pieces of his love for his hobby.
" What an excitement it is for an entomologist to see a variety. They are always rare and requiring numbers of insects, much persistence and good fortune. It is a thrill which exceeds almost everything in life. It may be only a good minor but the heart beats faster, and if a major arouses the blood pressure to fever pitch. It may be minutes, hours or even days before the prize is safely in the pill box, but what a sensation it is " and
" Bug hunting is a fascinating hobby though years of plenty recede us, nor does the future look promising. Nevertheless, the delight and recreation of walking in the woods and on the downs and capturing some of the beauty and expanse of nature, even though the capture of our quarry is now a much rarer occurrence, it is a thing of joy for which we always will be grateful ".
What of the New Forest today. The former years of abundance and the aberrations have gone. A perfect summary is given by A.S. Harmer in his book ' Variation in British Butterflies' " Many of the butterflies featured here were taken in the New Forest, once the Mecca for collectors. Sadly, this is no longer the case as commercial exploitation, uncontrolled grazing within the Forest Inclosures and a management policy insensitive and uncaring to the needs of these beautiful insects, have all contributed to their demise.
In the 19th and first part of the 20th century, the New Forest woodlands were nearly all deciduous with large open rides. There were few foresters who only trimmed the brambles (rubus species) growing along the edges of the rides on rare occasions. The butterflies flocked to this welcome nectar source. During July on sunny days, the Forest's white or pink flowers of the bramble flowers were covered in the large fritillaries, especially the large Argynnis paphia and they were joined by the graceful Limenitis camilla. In the 19th century, there were pockets of Aporia crataegi and Nymphalis polychlorus, the latter species being present up until 1948. Both of these species suffered a general and widespread decline in Britain for reasons that are not known and became extinct.
Two of the most famous Butterfly variety hunters that Britain has produced were Sidney Castle Russell (1866-1955) from Woking in Surrey, known to his friends as C.R. and the Reverend John N. Marcon (1903-1986) from Eastbourne in Sussex. Both of these collectors had phenomenal luck in catching rare aberrations, spending long hours in the field.
Both Castle Russell and the Reverend Marcon were known to be eccentric field entomologists but were both highly respected. Castle Russell's first visit to New Forest was in 1892, when he collected in Ramnor Inclosure. He wrote that although the butterflies were abundant, he took no major aberrations but he did take his first valezina, the striking dark female form of A. paphia, capturing five specimens. valezina was then considered a rarity in the forest but later it became common and in certain areas it sometimes outnumbered the normal A. paphia females. Just as Castle Russell entered Ramnor Inclosure on that hot sultry July day, the sun was covered by a cloud. He moved slowly towards the feeding butterflies on the brambles but alarmed by his presence and the sudden shade, they rose in huge numbers to take refuge in the trees. As the sun shone forth once more, down they came like falling leaves, so thickly that Russell could hardly see. In one particular ride, both A. aglaja and A. adippe were unusually numerous, unlike A. paphia those species prefer the more open areas within the woodlands. Exploring the Forest, Castle Russell also encountered a few small colonies of Nymphalis polychloros and a female Apatura iris drinking the damp ground by a stream, a fairly common event during those days but it was usually the males he came across.
Many collectors visited to collect the Heterocera and the New Forest contained many species that were either not found elsewhere or occurred in far lesser numbers. Only in certain years, such as 1906-1907, 1918-1919, 1941-1942 and to a lesser degree 1976-1977 did rare butterfly aberrations become frequent when the butterflies themselves were abundant in the Forest. During those years, many collectors went to the New Forest to obtain these varieties that were rare or unknown in other years.
During 1918, a splendid year for aberrations in the New Forest, Sir Vauncy Crewe visited the Forest with a large team of assistants. At the Entomological Society's meeting, Crewe exhibited 50 extreme aberrations of A. paphia and many melanic specimens of L. camilla that were captured during that summer in the New Forest. The fine aberrations continued to be caught during 1919. Castle Russell had spent most of that summer season in the north but managed to return before the A. paphia season was over and took many fine specimens of this species, among them several wonderful melanic and confluens aberrations . Castle Russell's finest catch that season was a superb melanic aberration of A. paphia female form valezina. Earlier in the day, he had almost put his foot on the remarkable valezina female as it was feeding on a low bramble flower, disturbed the butterfly flew up into an oak tree and disappeared from sight. Later in the day, Castle Russell carefully searched the brambles along the edges of the rides in this area, he finally saw this great rarity again feeding at a cross ride and this time he great prize was secured.
The best year for these extreme woodland butterfly aberrations other than in 1918 & 1919 was during 1941. During his visits to the Forest, Castle Russell arrived by train from Woking in Surrey where he met his friend, the decorated war hero Colonel V.R. Buckhardt and they were often joined by the Reverend John Marcon on his motor bike from Eastbourne in Sussex. Marcon usually stayed as a guest of Mr and Mrs Clarke of Brockenhurst. During that time, while Europe's armies were hoping to destroy each other on the battlefields and war planes brought terror to the civilian population, entomologists carried on their beloved old age tradition of peaceful bug hunting. In the year 1941 and 1942, Castle Russel, Marcon, Buckhardt and others took a number of rare aberrations. In May there were the small fritillary colonies to be searched but things really hotted up in July when the larger fritillary species were on the wing. Both the rare black White Admiral, L. camilla aberrations, obliterae and nigrina were frequent. Among the fritillary species, a number of extreme melanic specimens along with the rare confluens and ocellata aberrations of A. paphia were captured. During a week's stay in July 1941, Castle Russell had taken a score of different A. paphia aberrations and some seven nigrina and six semi-nigrina (obliterae) of L. camilla. Marcon who joined him that week, took nine rare A. paphia aberrations, two ocellata, one alter, six confluens and several fine camilla varieties. Not all the wonderful aberrations seen that year were captured, some escaped their human predator. It was not easy netting a butterfly feeding on the bramble blossoms, if you missed your net may have become tangled on the thorns and the butterfly escaped.
Most collectors have a tale or two to tell of missed opportunities when they failed to capture a rare butterfly and although Castle Russell had his much good fortune and luck, two memories must have haunted him.
One day Castle Russell was walking down a ride in Oakley Inclosure in the New Forest with Colonel Buckhardt, when his saw one of the finest male melanic A. paphia varieties he had ever seen, the forewings were fulvous and the hindwings were black. Castle Russell who did not have time to act as the rarity swept passed him, shouted to Buckhardt but as the butterfly gained speed as it approached the collector, it also gained height and with a hopeful swing of the net the treasure was missed and although the two collectors searched for it all afternoon, it was never seen again. Later that day they met another well known collector Johnson who also had some bad luck, he had just missed a pure black melanic aberration of Polygonia c-album. The butterflies were winning that day.
On another visit to the Forest, Castle Russell was approaching his favourite collecting site the Island of Thorns Inclosure, when he saw the finest melanic male aberration of A. paphia feeding on a solitary bramble bush that he had ever encountered. Castle Russell's usual method was to lower the net over a feeding butterfly and as it flew up into his net, he did this usual flick of the wrist. As the bramble was in the open, Castle Russell decided to try another method, he took careful aim and made his swipe with his net but when he looked in his folded net bag to examine his great prize it was empty. How could he have missed it, he thought, he must have knocked it to the ground, a long pain staking search revealed no trace of this fabulous insect. He told Marcon that it was the best A. paphia variety he had ever seen and was better than anything in the wealthy Percy Bright's collection and that was some statement for that cheque book collector had a truly magnificent British butterfly collection full of the most extreme aberrations.
During the summers of 1941 & 1942. Marcon and Castle Russell met many well known collectors in the Forest, Teley, Clarke, Johnson, Jackson and Watson and even Bright and his chauffeur out with their nets. It was the thrill of the chase and excitement which spurred these collectors on. Teley took a very fine mixed gynandromorph of A. paphia in the Forest that was figured by Russwurm (1978) and Harmer (1999).
These rare aberrations were caught after a hard day's collecting in the Forest and the memory never to have been forgotten. The Forest abounded in a number of vicious biting flies such as the cleggs which are very common in the Forest due to the large numbers of grazing ponies, using the bare hands, faces and necks of those entomologists as a pit stop. Castle Russell's favourite method to keep away the hated painful bites of the cleggs, was to smear old nicotine juice from his pipe on his hands and face. On one occasion the nicotine juice got into Castle Russell's eyes and he was blinded, rushed to hospital by his friend, his sight was only just saved in time
The extreme man made dark aberrations of today, that are produced in quantity either by an injection of chemicals or more rarely through cold shock treatment are not comparable with those wild or bred melanic aberrations shown here. The finer historic aberrations were treasures that were perhaps shown after your successful day in the field, with an exciting tale of their capture to your fellow brethren of the net over a glass of beer in a public house or hotel. These collectors gems might be exhibited at the Entomological Society meetings to the delight of the members and perhaps at a later period they would be figured in a publication, some becoming famous and are a fine tribute to the late collector's memory. Many years after the event, a collector might open his cabinet drawer and the sight of a self caught aberration would evoke happy and pleasant memories of a summer's day spent in the field with his companions. As the collector passed on, his valuable specimens, might grace the collection of another delighted new owner and later perhaps several others.
Melanism in the fritillaries is thought to be temperature controlled. Castle Russell remarked that the May and June of 1941 was unusually cold and was followed by a hot July. Other aberrations taken in the Forest were genetic. The most extreme of these wild historic aberrations would command high prices at the Insect auctions, with the collector's name and data adding to their provenance compared to the much lesser amounts paid today for those that are produced by the tip of a needle. Castle Russell arranged for his remarkable collection of aberrations to join the Kettlewell, Cockanye and Rothschild collection in the BMNH. Castle Russell's second collection was sold at auction. The Reverend Marcon's collection was also sold at auction in lots and was bought by other well known wealthy collectors and many of his fine aberrations have also filtered into the BMNH.
Reverend John Marcon was called by a friend E.W. Classey, a " Manic collector " speeding here and there on his motorbike to his favourite collecting grounds. During 1945 he was traveling at great speed to a collecting locality when a tragedy happened, taking a corner he hit a Canadian Army jeep head on. Marcon's injuries were so serious he was certified dead at the scene of the accident but made miraculous recovery after months in a coma. Marcon said he had been to the other side and the accident was a sign that he should give up collecting but later changed his mind and resumed his passion. On an earlier occasion during a pleasant day in the New Forest, Marcon had returned to his motorbike and found it had fallen on to its side, the precious wartime petrol leaking out. He sat down to partake of his favourite drink that accompanied on his collecting trips, a large flagon of cider, that he left to cool in the nearby stream. Collecting in the hot sun was thirsty work and he enjoyed his cider so much that he drank it all, Castle Russell and Buckhardt later found him rather unsteady on his feet with his net and singing loudly.
Later in life, the Reverend Marcon wrote at the end of two of his fascinating articles that he wrote for the Record and Journal of Variation, two memorable pieces of his love for his hobby.
" What an excitement it is for an entomologist to see a variety. They are always rare and requiring numbers of insects, much persistence and good fortune. It is a thrill which exceeds almost everything in life. It may be only a good minor but the heart beats faster, and if a major arouses the blood pressure to fever pitch. It may be minutes, hours or even days before the prize is safely in the pill box, but what a sensation it is " and
" Bug hunting is a fascinating hobby though years of plenty recede us, nor does the future look promising. Nevertheless, the delight and recreation of walking in the woods and on the downs and capturing some of the beauty and expanse of nature, even though the capture of our quarry is now a much rarer occurrence, it is a thing of joy for which we always will be grateful ".
What of the New Forest today. The former years of abundance and the aberrations have gone. A perfect summary is given by A.S. Harmer in his book ' Variation in British Butterflies' " Many of the butterflies featured here were taken in the New Forest, once the Mecca for collectors. Sadly, this is no longer the case as commercial exploitation, uncontrolled grazing within the Forest Inclosures and a management policy insensitive and uncaring to the needs of these beautiful insects, have all contributed to their demise.