168 THE entomologist's record. 



men rush for shelter. A territic explosion takes place, huge rents are 

 made in the mountain side near the path we were about to take, and 

 great masses of rock roll down, while the echo and re-echo from side 

 to side is grand. We hurry on out of range and come to slopes and 

 hollows which should prove prolific spots for the collector if only the 

 sun could be propitiated. As it was we found Erebia (/onje var. triopes 

 commonly (only one specimen of the type was noted), Colias palaemi 

 several, ( 'oi'iinni/Hiplia i<atyrion in numbers, a few Anthrocera e.rulans of 

 a robust well-scaled race, one firentliis jiales only, and that a cripple, 

 red predominating on the underside of the hindwings, some Erebia 

 tijnilariis and /'7. f/oante, two or three " skippers," which might have 

 been prizes unfortunately missed, one female Vacdnilna ojitilete, the 

 only "blue" seen, a fine form in which there was considerable blue 

 scaling on the upperside with pale bluish clouded blotches on the 

 outer margins gradually disappearing in the general ground colour, 

 and several nests of the larvte of Eriogaster arbiisciilae, which some 

 authors take to be the alpine race of our E. laiu'!ifris of the lowlands, 

 were among the things noted or taken. The flowers both here and on 

 the more rocky places were very interesting. We were not too late at 

 this elevation to meet with both primulas and gentians, and even a 

 Christmas rose greeted us at one spot. The PhKjHicula and Soldanella 

 were also seen, the former in abundance. Divergmg froih the paths, 

 and wishing to see the far-famed Bernina Hospice, we crossed the 

 bare wind-swept Alp, capturing a few Erebia lappnna, which were 

 stirred up as we went along. Afterwards we went over the top of the pass 

 (7,600 feet) as far as the road galleries on the eastern side, where there 

 are numerous avalanches in winter and spring. Even now there was 

 thick ice under these shelters, so cold had the season been. From this 

 " coign of vantage " there is a most extensive view of the road as it 

 circles in and out on the gradients for miles adown the valley, and no 

 doubt traverses much ground that is entomologically good. Only one 

 insect could I find here, and that a micro, on the moss just outside the 

 galleries. One could only anathematise the weather and return from 

 this grand locality with the few samples it was possible to take, and 

 the wish to revisit with " better luck next time." 



{To be continued.) 



Notes on Collecting in 1914. 



By W. RAIT-SMITH, F.E.S. 



On previous occasions I have described my notes as collecting in 

 the Abertillery district of Monmouthshire, but as this has been objected 

 to on admittedly reasonable grounds I will change the title of my notes, 

 and more especially as I have done comparatively little collecting 

 locally this season. 



The early months of the year in Aoertillery produced nothing 

 beyond the common spring insects in fair numbers. Aimopteryx aexcii- 

 laria, once very abundant here, still remains unaccountably scarce. A few 

 Brejihos parthenias were noticed flying round the birches on sunny days 

 towards the end of March. ('/litnabachefaijella in both light and dark 

 forms, with ^ s largely predominating, were very common on tree 

 trunks during April, together with a few Tej>hrosia biimdidaria, of 



