34 THE KNTOMOLOGIST S RECORD, 



bistortata and T. ercpmcularia on larch. Both are double-brooded, 

 but not many come out in the autumn. I have taken dark varieties 

 of both species from the trap on the same morning. We usually, 

 however, get T. histortata on the trunks of larch. Home years ago, 

 Sir John Llewelyn and myself, on February 6th, took several typical 

 T. bistortata. I never get T. creiniscidaria until quite the end of April, 

 but it then occurs throughout May. I find both species very easy to rear. 

 I have some bags a yard long, which I fix on a larch branch, 

 high up out of reach. I do not interfere with them for a month, but 

 I then put them into my larva boxes, where they soon feed up. — Robert 

 Stafford, Penllergare, Swansea. 



The Rhone Valley in June. 



By E. B. POSTANS. 



Last June, Mr. Merrifield and I paid a short visit to the Rhone 

 Valley, on butterflies intent. We reached Aigle on the afternoon of 

 the 19th, and the next morning walked up the Sepey Road in the 

 hope of meeting with Liwcnitis camilla, which I once found there in 

 some abundance. With the exception, however, of two Spilotltuvm 

 lavatevae, in fine condition, and a few Aporia erataet/i and Mclananiin 

 t/alathea, we really saw next to nothing, and this, although the weather 

 "was not unfavourable. We therefore moved on to Sierre, where we 

 stayed two or three days. 



Our first walk — through the Pfyn Wald to Leuk — afforded us 

 examples of the following species : Melitaea athalia, M. didi/nia, M. 

 (Hcfynna, and the beautiful M. phucbe, Dryas pajjJda, Ayf/i/iniifi lat/nniia, 

 A. ai/laia, L. Camilla, L. sibijlla, Apatuva ilia, Lijcaena avion (very fine), 

 rolyomvHttus meleaycr and Ciianiria ar(/inhis, and — close to Sierre — 

 Sati/rm r/n/rt.s ; though in some cases we saw only a single example 

 of the species. We were, evidently, rather too early for the summer 

 insects. During a subsequent walk, on the other side of the valley, 

 to Leuk, we got some fine specimens of Argynnis^ ilapline, a species 

 which I had never before seen in that neighbourhood, though I once 

 found a considerable number of it at Martigny. Whilst we were 

 resting in the garden of the little inn opposite Leuk station, I caught 

 a beautiful J of L. caviilla. The result of our experience at Sierre 

 was such that we resolved to go over the Simplun to the south side 

 of the Alps, and about the 24th or 25th of June, we moved on to 

 Berisal, walking up from Brigue. On our way up, we saw Colias 

 hyalc in the fields near the town, together with some commoner 

 species (such as A. crataeyi), but all along the well-known piece of 

 road between the second refuge and Berisal, a road which, in July 

 and August, is so rich in insect life, hardly anything was stirring. At 

 Berisal we found a few Pariutfisins wncnnisync, in the meadow opposite 

 the Hotel dependance. This butterfly was evidently just coming out, 

 for the specimens were in perfect condition. We saw hardly anything 

 else. Cliry.s()])lianHfi (jordiiia was not to be seen, although it is abundant in 

 the middle of July in that gorge, below the hotel, which leads up to 

 the Bortel Alp. 



We determined, therefore, to go on at once to Iselle, and endeavour 

 to get Lihythca ccltis, of which curious species we saw three rather worn 



