A MONTH IN THE RHONE VALLEY IN 1909. 127 



a very hot, dusty, and monotonous walk, with a strong wind and very 

 little sun. We secured, however, a very nice series of Brenthis dia on 

 a little spot of ground near Susten. We searched all the meadows for 

 Pob/oiiimatiis melecujer, but without success. Af/rmdes coridon and 

 roli/omnwtKs icarun were ubiquitous. In some meadows on the right were 

 many Iphidides podalirias, which were a delightful sight, with their 

 skimming flight and graceful poising on the flower-heads, from which it 

 Avas often difflcult to distinguish them. Velvety Knodia (/r^as emerged 

 heavily from the low bushes, but proved to be more wary than they 

 looked ; perfectly fresh Gonepteryx rJiaiiini fluttered here and there ; 

 E)}inepluie bjcaon, Urbicola comma, and Colias In/ale (the two latter not 

 in good trim) were in numbers. Nearing Chippis, we took a specimen 

 each of Euvancssa antiopa and Pontia daplidice, with a few Sati/nis 

 alcj/oiw. 



The next day we tried the slopes on the right bank of the Navigenze, 

 towards Niouc; but, although the day was sunny, we were unsuccessful 

 with regard to PobjommaUis meleai/er. There was a complete dearth of 

 insect life on the same ground that teemed on the previous visit. 

 All the Melitaea phoebe had disappeared. But, on returning to Sierre, 

 we found Pontia daplidice flying on the patch of waste ground 

 mentioned before, all in fine condition, and mostly ^ s. We were 

 tempted to remain at Sierre for the emergence of the 2 s, but were 

 anxious to push on to Zinal, where we spent the following fortnight. 



The walk from Sierre to Zinal was easily managed in a day, and 

 proved to be a most interesting one, although very little entomology 

 was done en route. The abundance of the mistletoe on fir-trees, and 

 the variety of wild fruit, especially the tiny wild gooseberries, and the 

 ripe but small black cherries of delicious flavour, were noticed. The 

 day being dull, with sunny intervals, and the valley mostly in shadow, 

 very few insects were about. Some rather yellow Melananjia (jalatea at 

 Fang, with Epinephele lycaon, Hipparchia semele, Sati/7-iis alcyone, 

 Erebia aetldops, and Agriades coridon were the only butterflies seen. 

 Fine broods of Vanessa io larvfe, almost fullfed, and tiny larvfe of Aylais 

 urticae were feeding on nettles by the roadside. The first few days at 

 Zinal were dull, wet, and very cold, with snow falling at night. 



On August 5th, on the path leading to the Cabane de Mountet, 

 were Erebia tyndariis, Melitaea dictynna, and Colias pincomone : Heodes 

 viryaureae of rather deep hue, with a few Aricia domelii and one 

 Albidina pherefes. Coejwnyuipha satyrion was, however, very much 

 worn, while Pieris napi was in good order and well-marked, and 

 included some var. bryoniae, some of which were inclined to be small. 

 Here we found Parnassius deliiis <? s in fine condition, flying swiftly 

 on steep slopes near a rushing stream, and difficult to net, owing to 

 the roughness of the ground. Another welcome capture was a 2 

 (Eneis aello, the only one seen. The slopes above the moraine of the 

 Durand Glacier were evidently good ground, as was shown by the 

 rising of insects whenever gleams of sunshine came, the sky having 

 clouded over during the morning. Mr. Page, however, while pursuing 

 a particularly provoking Parnassius delius, had the misfortune to 

 rupture the ligaments of one of his ankles, which confined him to the 

 hotel, where he was obliged to spend the remainder of his holiday in 

 setting. 



An expedition to the Roc de la Vache on the 6th, produced no 



