SWITZERLAND AND TYROL IN 1914. 247 



medusa, though a few quite fresh females were met with. A large 

 family of Vanesm io, in good condition, were noted in one corner and 

 were very partial to the flowers of the Rhododendron. How is it that 

 in recent years this insect has in many districts become so scarce ? 

 In my own garden (in Notts) this year we had many Ai/lais vrticae, 

 but not a single V. io, and I have not seen it in the district for years, 

 though it used to be plentiful. The last part of the walk to Poschiavo 

 was steep, rough, and very hot, and also unproductive, and we should 

 have done better to confine our attentions to Alp Grum, which is also 

 set in beautiful scenery. Visits to St. Moritz and Campfer were 

 marred by rain, but a few Erebia tijndarns and other small fry were 

 netted. 



The best thing taken at Pontresina was BrentJns pales ab. 

 napaea, and of this I got some very interesting forms, some being 

 nearl}^ black, and some with a fine suffusion of purple or almost pink, 

 though this was lost to a considerable extent after death. These were 

 found on some rough ground within half a mile of the town, but 

 owing to cloudy weather a good deal of hard work was required to get 

 a series together. When the sun broke through, the males, which 

 were large and fine, flew in profusion, and were very fond of settling 

 with wings outspiead on the flowers of (jrepiis aurea, which they almost 

 exactly matched in colour. The females, which only flew occasionally, 

 never settled with outspread wings, but clung to the rough grass stems, 

 where they were well protected by their dull and mottled undersides. 

 It was slow work to carefully examine the grass tussocks, but a nice 

 little series was got together and well repaid any aches in the back 

 endured in the process. However, I did not feel satisfied with the 

 "bag," and on our return from Trafoi managed to spend another day 

 at Pontresina on July 19th. Many of the males were still in good 

 condition, but the females had increased tenfold and provided a very 

 interesting series. A few Farnassiiis delitts were also on the wing, 

 including tAvo ab. inornata. Brentliis pales var. arsilaclie was not met 

 with, and [ am still waiting for a type of this insect, being probably 

 always too early for it, as I understand it usually appears when B. 

 pales is going over. Poli/oiiiDiatiis donzelii is another insect which I 

 have failed to turn up at ]?ontresina, though the exact locality for it is 

 given in this month's Ent. Record. 



July 7th began with a steady rain which changed to snow about 

 mid-day, and by night all the meadows were nearly four inches deep 

 in snow, which did not look promising for insects. We therefore took 

 the train to Tirano, finding bright weather and no snow directly after 

 passing Alp Grum, and motored from Tirano to the Baths of Bormio 

 at the foot of the Stelvio Pass, where we spent two nights. Insects 

 were again scarce, but we took two Lycaeaa alcon, two Erebia nerine, 

 and a few large Albulina pheretes, some of the females measuring 

 34mm. 



On July 10th we had a very fine drive over the Stelvio Pass to 

 Trafoi. The road on the top of the pass was cut through snow about 

 twice the height of the horses' heads and one of the leaders would 

 persist in snatching mouthfuls of snow though the driver explained to 

 him that it was not good for his " tum." Though I walked across 

 many of the zig-zags scarcely anything was seen beyond an occasional 

 Erebia (jonje or E. ceto, but the scenery was very fine, and under its 



