THE BUTTERFLIKS OF THE RHONE VALLEY. 183 



known entomologists was present, of whom Dr. K. .Jordan was obliged 

 to hurry oil", bound for the Dauphiny Alps to meet the Hon. VV. 

 Rothschild in order to explore that lovely region. There were also 

 Mrs. Burr, who accompanied Dr. Burr, Miss Walker with Commander 

 Walker, Mrs. Dixey, and Mrs. Poulton, who kindly provided tea for 

 the guests and the Museum staff. 



About 6 p.m. Professor Poulton, Dr. Dixey, and Dr. Longstaft", 

 who had made themselves responsible for the hospitality of the guests, 

 led them oft" to prepare for dinner at Jesus College, and at 8 p.m. the 

 company sat down to dinner with Professor Poulton in the chair. 

 Among others who were then present were Professor Selwyn Image, 

 Dr. M. Burr, Dr. F. A. Dixey, Dr. Longstaft", Commander Walker, 

 Messrs. G. T. Bethune-Baker, Borrer, .J. Collin, H. St. J. K. Donis- 

 thorpe, H. Eltringham, A. Harrison, H. Main, Guy Marshall, -T. W. 

 Tutt, G. H. Verrall, M.P., etc., after which an adjournment was made 

 to the Common Room, and informal chat occupied the evening until 

 the hour was getting late. Entomological matters by the score were 

 discussed and settled — until they should come up for argument again. 



The morning of the 3rd was stormy, but by 10 a.m., with our 

 various hosts for the night, the company adjourned to the museum, 

 where everyone was soon at work, and the hours passed happily 

 enough till lunch time arrived. It was only possible to look here and 

 there into the collection, but one could not help feeling astonished at 

 the huge an:ount of material that had been collected. The •' Dale 

 collection" also attracted a great deal of attention. The weather un- 

 fortimately spoiled the projected trip up the river, and, after meeting 

 at the Museum, an adjournment was made to Professor Poulton's 

 house, where again Mrs. Poulton served tea. Dinner at Wadham 

 College with Dr. Dixey, or at New with Dr. Longstaff, was the next 

 order of the day, and a meeting in the Common Room at Wadham 

 closed the evening. Unfortunately the writer and two other guests 

 had regretfully to leave for town, but the rest of the party stayed on 

 until Monday, when a most enjoyable visit was brought to a close. 

 The kind generosity of Professor Poulton, the good-humoured bon- 

 homie of Dr. Dixey, and the unfailing geniality and good nature of 

 Dr. Longstaft", as well as that of the members of the Museum staft' 

 who gave up their week-end to add to the pleasure of the guests, will 

 make the Oxford visit of 1910 one to be long-vemembered by those 

 who had the good fortune to take part in it. 



Early Summer amongst the Butterflies of the Rhone Valley. 



By .JOHN ALDEKSON. 

 Last summer I had the pleasure of spending six weeks amongst 

 the Swiss butterflies. As this was my first experience of Swiss 

 collecting, I was naturally very anxious that the weather should be 

 favourable, and so permit me fully to realise the entomological delights 

 of this most chai-ming country, but, in this respect, I was grievously 

 disappointed, for, during the major part of my stay in Switzerland, 

 the weather was most unsuited to the pursuit of entomology, and 

 although there lingers in my memory the remembi'ance of one or two 

 most delightful days, when the sun blazed from a cloudless sky, and 

 butterfly-life was in abundance, yet I do not think 1 have brought 



