240 THE entomologist's kecord. 



Lourdes, and though the weather was poor, and long excursions vetoed 

 by the hope of starting again on the first chance, we regarded the 

 country around as worthy of an entomological investigation on a 

 suitable opportunity. 



Lepidoptera in Southern France, 1914. 



By E. B. ASHBY, F.E.S. 

 {Concluded from page 221.) 



Alpes Maritimes and Riviera. — The long journey from Digne to 

 St. Martin Vesubie was very wearisome, it took rather more than seven 

 hours. For those who come after I advise the morning train from 

 Digne, as otherwise the slow journey by electric train in the pitch dark- 

 ness from the junction at La Vesubie to St. Martin is more than 

 trying, besides this part of the journey is very picturesque in daylight. 

 At St. Martin I stayed at the Hotel Regina, which I found very 

 comfortable. 



On the morning of July 27th I collected on the very winding road 

 that leads up to the little village of Venanson, meeting three German 

 collectors on the way. The day was very windy, and I saw but few 

 insects and took less. L'alliniorpJia hera was flying on the lower level 

 opposite to St. Martin and several were taken in perfect condition ; 

 apparently the species was here just emerging. In the afternoon I 

 went along the Nice Road and tried to find the oak copse where Laeo^a/iis 

 roboris is supposed to occur, but I failed to find the insect and had to 

 be content with several Poh/t/onia c-albiiut, and a view of /'. ciira which 

 was flying and settling on the face of a stone wall in the blazing sun- 

 light too high up to secure. This was the first and only time I have seen 

 the last named species on the wing. 



The next morning I again essayed the Venanson road, this time 

 going right past the village itself. As the day was again very windy, 

 insects were difficult to obtain, the best were a couple of I'uhjDiinuatus 

 iiielear/er, Calliniorpha hera, and a large moth similar to, but rather 

 smaller than our English Mania )iiaiira and subsequently found to be 

 A/iopesti'n spectrum. Here at St. Martin the type form of the female 

 of P. meleaijer is replaced by the brown fornl known as var. et ab. 

 steevenii. 



On the morning of July 29th I walked to Madone de Fenestre, a, 

 resort for pilgrims, consisting of a church, hotel and refuge in the 

 mountains past the Italian boundary, at a height of over 6,000ft. 

 Just as I reached the place, about 12.30, the sun went in and I was 

 unable to really test the insect fauna. It was a long and tedious walk 

 and pedestrians should leave St. Martin as early as possible. It would 

 bs, of course, better to stay a night at the hotel so as to get the early 

 morning sun. However, below the summit in going and returning I 

 took Brenthis pales, Parnassixs apollo, Erebia medusa var. hippo-medusa, 

 E. i/ort/i', E. epipkron, E. euri/ale, Chrysophanus hippotho'e, and Ueodes 

 virtjaureae. 



July 30th was spent in exploring the Val de Boreon, a very 

 picturesque walk, part of which reminded me strongly of Canadian or 

 Newfoundland scenery. This road is the nearest point from St. Martin 

 to obtain species of the genus Erebia, of which E. ligea was in con- 

 siderable numbers, and the males of H. rinjaureae were at the same 



