164 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, 



its primaries within its secondaries, and so closely resemble the 

 rock itself, that it often requires minutes to exactly locate and 

 capture it, is astonishing. If one but removes his eye for ;u: 

 instant from the insect he is fortunate, indeed, if he rediscover 

 and capture it without first causing it to take flight. It is mar- 

 vellous to find these fragile winged creatures in such exposed 

 positions. 



During the greater part of the week spent here the wind blew, 

 greatly interfering with our work. Often the blasts were so strong 

 that specimens of C. chryxus were literally carried away by the 

 force blown from the peaks only to disappear over the edges, 

 drop below the wind currents and work their way back, flying 

 close to earth and frequently alighting again even within reach 

 of the net. More than 200 chryxiis were taken, and among 140 

 examined on reaching home three females were found. Probably 

 we were too early for the females, as a trip to another mountain 

 a week later discovered more females, but nearly all of both sexes 

 in worse condition. Papilio zolicaon was seen frequently, but 

 was never abundant. A species of Melittza (probably nubigena) 

 was quite common on the highest points. Two species of Mela- 

 porphyria, ononis and belladonna, were common at the very edge 

 of the snow banks, also a small moth unknown to the author. 

 These three species and Pyrgus c<zspitalis (the latter noticed in 

 1893) seem to enjoy the moisture about the melting snow. Par- 

 nassius smintheus was not so abundant as in 1893. 



It was interesting to note how all insect life disappeared when- 

 ever a cloud passed over the sun. A dozen P. smintheus might 

 be in sight flitting lazily about, but when the shadow reached 

 them every one would drop into the grass as though shot but 

 never fail to drop into some place in which its colors could blend 

 with the surrounding objects so completely as to escape the col- 

 lector. How white and red can harmonize with the usually scant 

 mountain vegetation is another part of the great subject, '' pro- 

 tective coloration." 



A notable feature of mountain life is the rapidity of plant 

 growth. Immediately below the snow banks black areas, where 

 the snow-water has retarded plant growth, are always visible, but 

 after this area is small and usually plants are in blossom within a 

 few feet of the snow, and on the blossoms one is almost certain 

 to find insects. Two Argynnis egleis were taken on the peaks 



