THE UPPER ENCADINE IN 1911. 167 



were many flourishing plants of the beautiful lAnaria al/iiiia. Near 

 the hut a plume was seen, but the spot was too dangerous to plunge, 

 and it escaped. This was practically the only Lepidopteron seen on 

 the path. The only quadruped seen was a mule, which passed us on 

 the giddy steps near the hut. We ought lo have had a glimpse of the 

 cbamois from here had the day been fine and bright. All around 

 the Bernina group of the Alps the country is treated as a government 

 preserve for this now vanishing denizen of Switzerland. The return 

 journey was a cold one, and the coffee obtainable at the station was 

 most acceptable and refreshing. 



July 28th was chosen for a long expected visit to the Bernina Pass 

 and Alp Gram. The rail mounts rapidly in zigzags from the 

 IMorteratseh station crossing the beautiful Bernina Falls with grand 

 views of the huge glacier with its unusually wide central moraine, and 

 quicivly gets above the tree line. The first stopping-place is at the 

 Bernina Haus, Avhich is at the entrance of the narrow and wild 

 Heuthal or Val del Fain, famed as one of the finest localities for 

 alpine llowers, and known to entomologists for the extremely dark race 

 of lln')ithis pall's which is said to be taken in some numbers about the 

 falls and marshy spots at the far end some six miles distant. The 

 road from the Morteratsch to the Bernina Haus passes through an 

 area of sparsely timbered ground which is a capital collecting place for 

 entomologists and amid the grandest yiews of snow, glaciers, and 

 mountain peaks. Some miles further on the chain of small lakes is 

 reached and the watershed, a narrow barrier between the "black" and 

 "white" lakes, Lago Nero and Lago Bianco, is passed. The water 

 from the former goes into the Inn and on to the Danube, that from 

 the latter lake flows to the Adda. Lake Como and the Adriatic. By the 

 Lago Bianco the road and rail diverge to unite at Poschiavo more 

 than 4,000 feet below, the former taking the valley north-east of Piz 

 Campassio where easier gradients are available, while the latter takes 

 the much steeper Alp Grum, obtaining its gradients by many tunnels. 

 As Alp Grum is our destination we pass the fine Cambrena glacier 

 and descend the gradients, soon coming into view of the Piz Palu 

 glacier, the curious high-perched hut on Sassal Massone and the view 

 station of Alp Gram, which dominates the tremendous deeps of the 

 Poschiavo valley down almost to Tirano in Italian Switzerland, with 

 a grand circle of snow-capped mountains as a background. The air 

 is cold, the sun elusive, but for half-an-hour after leaving the station 

 we enjoy the warmest spot of the day, and the sun allows us to take a 

 nice 'series of Heodes. /tipiuit/io'c, including a few females which are 

 flying along the path between the only cultivated and cultivatable 

 spots at that height. Of course they are of the emi/bia form, but the 

 discoidal is present in all the males, though small. The females are 

 all ab. nif/ra, in which the upperside is without a touch of orange. 

 Keeping fairly close to the return path (no road is possible here), 

 towards the Bernina Hospice, (Julias /lalafiio is met with, and several 

 Pontia rallidire, which latter the steepness of the slopes and the swift- 

 ness of the insects allow to escape, except a ragged male. ( 'dOKDij/ni/i/ia 

 sati/rii»i and C. //)/(/.s are both in numbers, but the latter too worn to 

 trouble about. The steep climb having been negotiated a rest for 

 refreshment is called. Below us we note that some workmen are 

 quarrying. Suddenly we hear shrill whistles and at least a hundred 



