BUTTERFLIES OF THE RHONE VALLEY. 207 



Triphon ; but, except during the brief intervals of sunshine, very few 

 insects were on the wing. Near the Gryonne, I was very pleased to 

 get some 5 Melitaea partlienie, for nearly all those I had seen hitherto 

 were S s. On the Gryonne banks a few " blues " were picked up, 

 including an extremely blue $ Plebeius arijurotpiomon having almost 

 the appearance of a J , except for a row of black marginal spots on 

 the upper surface of the hindwings. 



The next day the outlook was again disappointing, the day differing 

 from that preceding only in being colder and duller, with the sky more 

 full of rain clouds, and being in direct contrast with the weather of the 

 previous week, when one was being scorched by the blazing sun. A 

 walk up the Sepey Road proved almost fruitless, the only butterflies 

 seen being occasional specimens of Pieris rapae, Leptosia sinapis,. 

 Cyaniris fiennarijua, and Ciipido ))iinimus. It rained heavily from noon 

 until late in the evening, and the prospects of favourable collecting 

 weather appeared very remote, for notice had been issued to the owners 

 of vineyards to expect cold weather with frosty nights. 



However, the following day. May 29th, opened much brighter, with 

 the sun shining in a fairly clear sky. I took the train to Villeneuve, 

 walking thence up the Tiniere Valley. As the day wore on the sky 

 became more overcast, but there were fairly long intervals of sunshine, 

 and the temperature was higher than that of the preceding days. After- 

 passing the reservoirs, Cyclojddea palaemon and Powellia sao were taken 

 as they flitted about some rough ground by the roadside. Further up 

 the valley, on a grassy hillside leading up to a chalet, several species of 

 butterflies were found commonly, including Melitaea parthenie, Colias, 

 hi/ale, Xeuienbiiis htcina, Cyaniris semian/Ks, and Cupido osiris (sebnis), 

 with occasional Melitaea cin.via, and Erebia medusa. Following the road 

 up the valley, a footpath crossing the stream by a bridge led to a sheltered 

 little corner, where wild flowers grew luxuriantly. Here Mr. Wheeler 

 had told me to look for An'cia euinedon and C/irysophaiuis hipjinthoe. 

 The first insect netted as it was resting on a flower proved to be ^. 

 eiimedon, but a careful search produced no further specimens, nor was 

 C. hippotlw'e found. With the additon of Loireia dorilis, the species were 

 the same as those seen further down the valley. Regaining the road, 

 I pushed on up the valley to where the road crosses the stream over a 

 stone bridge, taking a footpath to the left which led to some favourable 

 collecting ground on a steep hillside. In the intervals of bright sun- 

 shine it was delightful collecting at this spot, with a splendid view of 

 the Valley of the Tiniere spreading out below, and the head of Lake 

 Geneva in the distance. Here the species previously noted were flying 

 more commonly, with Melitaea partlienie and Krebia medusa in some 

 numbers. One or two more Aricia eumedon were found, and Aijriades 

 thetis was fairly common. Hesperia malvae occurred here, as well as 

 occasionally on the way up the valley, whilst Powellia sao was quite 

 common, Avith a habit of quartering the ground similar to that of some 

 of the " swift " moths. Tana(/ra atrata was not uncommon. Knnychia 

 octomaculata was noted, and the presence of E. niyrata, Pyrausta 

 purpuralis, and Aridalia ornata brought to my mind another hillside 

 more familiar, and almost as steep — Reigate Hill. 



The morning of May 30th opened gloriously fine, with a brilliant 

 sun and a cloudless sky, although the wind was blowing rather 

 strongly. I had accepted the invitation of a Swiss friend to meet him 



