JULY IN THE EASTERN PYRENEES. 13 



immense amount of detrition is evidently taking place here. As we 

 ascended — for the heat of the valley made our ascent imperative — up 

 the sides of a little water course a fine dark Satyrid, new to me, settled 

 a yard or two out of reach. A few steps among the rocks brought me 

 within its compass, but the balancing necessary on a steeply slanting 

 boulder just gave it a chance and off" it flew only to settle in a more 

 inaccessible place. In its flight, however, it showed its underside for 

 a moment, and that sight inspired the resolution to obtain the specimen 

 if possible. Up I clambered again, and in the end perseverance was 

 rewarded, for I returned with a lovely fresh specimen of the beautiful 

 Sati/riia jidia, and before the day was out a second also fell to my 

 net ; both are unusually black specimens above, whilst the underside 

 is in sharp contrast. As we wended our way upwards several 

 nice Laiiipides boeticiis were taken, and a single Kpinephele ixinipha'f, very 

 much worn, was also captured by me, showing that here it was 

 practically over though at Vernet it was in first rate condition. 

 Melitaea didijtiia was not uncommon and Mela)tariiia lachesia was still 

 quite fresh. Much of the hill-side was given up to vineyards and but 

 little occurred among them; an occasional C. ediisa flew rapidly across, 

 and as we neared the limits of cultivation and were arriving up to the 

 heath-covered summit, M. atJialia would come occasionally within 

 striking distance. Once on the top, however, we were more busily 

 engaged, for Papilio feistlia)iieli was by no means rare, but they took 

 some catching, fortunately all of us were more or less successful with 

 it. During a brief respite with this species I saw a large insect come 

 up the hill-side madly hurtling itself through the air, of course I made 

 for it, but alas without avail, for its pace was quite beyond me, and to 

 my great regret I saw my first Cliara.vcs jauus in its native haunts 

 disappear into the blue ether in front of me. Papilio iiiachann was 

 taken by Mr. Johnson, and M. plioebe was not uncommon, whilst on 

 our way down Drycift paphia, Satj/nis circe, and S'. alcynne were taken, 

 the first and the last by my companions, S. circe by myself. To quite 

 complete the list, by no means a long one, Pararge maera var. adrasta, 

 E. tithuuiis and /'>'. jnitina were also captured. A quiet walk to the 

 railway station finished the day at this interesting little place, and so 

 ended a most enjoyable trip. 



The following day we (the same trio) spent in the Gorges de Carenca. 

 To get there it is necessary to take the Mont Louis electric railway up 

 the Valley of the Tet and detrain at Thues, at the entrance to the gorge, 

 we, however, being at the very rear of the train did not realise, amid 

 the lovely scenery, that we had arrived there, and so we passed our 

 destination and w^ent on to Fontpedrouse, further up the valley. It 

 being only three miles further on the little detour made no difference to 

 us, nay, as a matter of fact, it added several species to our day's sport. 

 It was a fine walk, down hill all the way. Encldn'e eii/dienoides soon put 

 in an appearance and several nice fresh specimens fell to each of us, 

 then Mr. Johnson caught a single female " blue " we had not seen 

 before, and Glaucopsuclie ci/llco-iis was added to the list. Brenthis 

 (Arifi/nnis) daphne next fell to my lot, and as we wended our waj' down 

 Rioiiicia phlaeas, Plebeiiis aeyon, Poli/oijniiatiis icarus, P. hylas, P. esclieri, 

 Polyommatm seni.iaryiifi as also Lycaena a?7o» were taken. Ere long we 

 came to a steep rocky declivity, up and down which several Satyrids 

 disported themselves and by dint of patience and careful stalking S. 



