1908] Mountain Sprites 227 



insect is not only extremely rare and difficult to obtain because 

 of the inaccessibility of its habitat, but is exceedingly active 

 and difficult to catcli even under the most favourable circum- 

 stances. 



We arrived at Laggan Station on the Canadian Pacific Rail- 

 way on the morning of August 3rd. The station is almost at 

 the highest point reached by the railway (alt. 5037 feet above 

 sea-level) in passing over the main chain of the Rockies, 

 and is close to the dividing line between the provinces of 

 Alberta and British Columbia. It was a glorious morning 

 and we enjoyed thoroughly the drive of four miles or there- 

 abouts up through the woods to the Chalet Hotel on Lake 

 Louise. Our hopes rose to a high point as we saw the numerous 

 butterflies and other insects fiitting along the flowery banks 

 of the roadway. Having arrived at the Chalet, perhaps the 

 most picturesquely situated and luxuriously comfortable, 

 even of the Canadian Pacific Railway hotels, we at once made 

 preparations for our journev up to the happy hunting grounds 

 on the top of Mount St. Piran, a mountain towering up 8.500 

 feet to the south of Lake Louise. Alas, however, we were to 

 be disappointed. Lake Louise, which on our arrival, from its 

 beautiful colour well deserved its original name of -Emerald Lake, 

 in an hour's time was entirely changed in appearance, for heavy 

 black clouds rolled over from Mount Lefroy and Victoria Glacier, 

 and verv soon descended in such a torrent of rain as onlv can 

 fall in the mountains. Frequent showers followed throughout 

 the afternoon which made an ascent of the mountain quite 

 out of the question. Short excursions, however, along the 

 side of the Lake and along the carriage drive, enabled us to 

 secure some insects of interest. Among these were specimens 

 of a reddish "black fly" {Siinulium fulvuni, Coq.) which little 

 knowing their danger were stupidly persistent in circling around 

 our heads. On the flowers of the tall Spiked Willowherb and 

 the large golden flowers of an Arnica, we secured many bumble 

 bees and a few Plusias. While waiting in a boathouse between 

 showers several specimens of two species of mosquitoes were 

 enticed from their native wilds to our collecting boxes. 



The next morning we were up bright and early, and although 

 the day was not very promising, we started up the mountain 

 in a light shower of rain, hoping that on the summit conditions 

 would impro^'e. 



To those who have never enjoyed the exquisite pleasure 

 of threading their way up through the rich forests which clothe 

 the bases of our grand mountains in any of the great chains 

 of the Rockies, and then on through the diminishing groves of 



