NOTES ON TUNISIAN AND ALGERIAN INSECTS. 85 



^colitantidea baton, known as var. faiiielica, Seitz. This is simply a 

 dwarf race of var. pa)iuj)tes, Hilbn., which differs from the type in the 

 absence of orange lunules from the outer margin of the hindwing. 

 One of my specimens shows a faint trace of orange. One of the most 

 characteristic butterflies is the small tailed-blue Telicanns tlieoplirastus, 

 which is always taken flitting up and down over a jujube bush 

 (Zizj/pJius). This is one of the thorniest and woodiest of bushes, a 

 perfect terror to one's net. The bush and butterfly are inseparable, 

 and both are highly characteristic of the Palasarctic deserts of the 

 region. Ruinicia phlaeas is not rare. I cannot suggest what it eats ; no 

 place on earth could be more unsuitable for a luscious sorrel ! The 

 specimens were extremely uninteresting. They showed no tendency to 

 blackness, indeed, two females had the pale ground colour of var. 

 intermedia, Tutt. Both sexes showed an occasional tendency towards 

 var. caerideopmictatn. Doubtless the summer brood would be more 

 interesting. I am afraid I have treated the butterflies at some length, 

 •but they are really rather interesting. 



The lights of the hotel were a great attraction to moths. The 

 following Noctuffi came my way: Eaxoa sef/etum, E. radius, Haw., 

 Af/rotis promiba, Pronotestra silenides, Staud., Cardepia irrisor, Ersch., 

 Cirphis l-albinn, Laphyr/ma exigiia, Atlietis flava, Oberth., A. 

 clavipalpis, Scop., T/uilpochares ostrina, Tatliorhynchus e.csiccata, Led. ; 

 also the following Pyrales : Eromene raiiiburiella, Dup., Peuipelia 

 ardosiella, Rag., Hetero/fraphis candidatella, Led., Mi/elois echinopiaella, 

 Chret., Constantia ayrtalis, Rag., Eceryestis renatalis, Oberth., 

 Noiiwphila nnctuella, Pionea ferrufjalis and Cornifrons ulceratalis. A 

 few Geoiuetridae also came to light, to wit, Gnoplios viiicidaria, Hb., 

 <y , Larentia jiuviata, $ , L. sandosaria, H.S., J , and Eupithecia 

 ^nunilata (quite common). During the day I took L. sandosaria ? , 

 L. disjunctaria, Stgr., ^ and Acidalia okharia, Chret. (?), $ . 



The small Acidalia merklaria, Oberth., was not rare. It is only 

 known from Algeria. On April 14th I took a 5 Acidalia of an un- 

 described species allied to A. cervantaria. It was sitting with its wings 

 flat, making an equilateral triangle. I have never seen a more perfect 

 example of protective coloration. The insect exactly matches the 

 stones on which it lives, and is exactly the colour of the desert lark 

 (Ammomanes). On Mont Lalbatre I found larvas of Eupithecia pumilata 

 devouring the blossoms of a gigantic, succulent " broom rape " 

 {Phellypaea sp.). The moths emerged in England. 



Among the Hymenoptera I saw the very rare Chrysis chobauti 

 several times, sunning itself on hot stones, and secured a ;? on the 

 day of my departure. I also took the following : Scolia bidens, L., ^ , 

 along a clay bank by a roadside ; Aunuopliila hirsuta. Scop., 2 s ; 

 Odynerus (Lionotus) niauretanicus, Lep., c? and J ; 0. parculus, Lep., 

 $ ; Vespa germanica, F., J ; Polistes yallicus, J ; Andrena runventris, 

 Lep., ? ; Anthophora senescens, Lep., J ; A. calcarata, Lep., 2 ; A. 

 atroalba, Lep., 2 ; Usuiia tricornis, Latr., 2 and workers of Apis 

 iiiellifica. The following ants mostly occurred under stones : Mynue- 

 cocystus viaticus, Messor barbarus, Playiolepis pyyuiaea, Latr., Mono- 

 morium subopacuui, Sm. and Tapinoma erraticuut, Stgr. 



The Orthoptera were very well represented. In one place some 

 small Decticid nymphs were devastating a barley patch. The only 

 other Locustid observed was a solitary Phujaster yuyoni, Serv. 



