BUTTERFLIES OF THE RHONE VALLEY. 209' 



condition. Sitting on the path with wings widespread, was a J Loweia 

 alciphron var. (jordius, the brilliant upper surface of its wings reflecting 

 the bright sunlight. Seen thus, it is indeed an insect to arrest the 

 eye, especially if it be the eye of an entomologist gazing on it for the 

 first time. The warm summer day had induced a few scattered 

 specimens to burst their pupal skins, but the species was not yet fully 

 out. On the boulder-strewn slopes rising steeply from the rugged 

 pathway, a single example of Krchia xtyipw was taken, with two speci- 

 mens of 77. erias, all in very fresh condition and, on the same ground, 

 Erynnis lavaterae and Hesperia carthami were occasionally noticed,, 

 dashing to and fro with quick " skipper " flight. One of the new 

 species found here was Melitaea plwebe, which was fairly common, and,, 

 judging from its condition, recently emerged. It appeared to be very 

 fond of flying backwards and forwards along the footpath, a very 

 convenient habit from the captor's point of view. Of a much different 

 category was the flight of Ipldclides podaliriifs, which was strong on 

 the wing, ranging everywhere, showing little disposition to settle, and 

 although very common, was very difficult to capture. A very fine- 

 example of the ab. puncta form of Ayriades thetis was netted, and 

 amongst the other species noted were Pohjommatns icarus, Pararye 

 inaera, and /'. meyaera. As I wished also to work up the opposite 

 bank of the Rhone towards Branson, I retraced my steps in the direc- 

 tion of Vernayaz. On the ground lying between the Gorges du Trient 

 and the Rhone, I found Plebeiiift aryyroynonwn in profusion, and 

 Coenonyuipha pawphilus almost equally common. In the thickets 

 P. eyeria var. eyerides was very common, and, by the side of the Rhone, 

 I took my first specimen of Enodia hyperanthus, with a single example 

 of Anthocharis siniplonia var. flacidior, which was sitting in the sun- 

 shine on a patch of sand, with Avings widely spread. On crossing the 

 Rhone I found Aporia r/rtifl*'/// swarming at the puddles, and ParnasaiKu 

 apollo flying fairly commonly on the steep slopes, but difficult to 

 capture. Ayriades thetis and Aricia aHtrnrche were not uncommon ; 

 both sexes of Polynnunatus hylas were taken here, only c? s of this species 

 having been met with hitherto. Colias hyale was very common, and 

 here I took the first specimen of Epinephele ianira. Another specimen 

 of Erebia ecias fell to the net, and a few very nice Hesperia carthami 

 were taken, but the wind blew verj^ strongly in this quarter, and it was- 

 doubtless due to this fact that insects were not so numerous as on the 

 opposite side of the valley ; so I re-crossed to the Vernayaz side where 

 I picked up a few more Melitaea dictynna and Loweia alciphron var. 

 yordius before the sunshine prematurely disappeared; for the high, 

 overhanging clifts shut out the sun's rays from this favoured butterfly 

 corner at an early hour in the afternoon. 



The following day, June 2nd, was fine and bright, with a rather 

 gusty wind blowing. After lunch I took the road from St. Maurice 

 behind the Hotel du Simplon, leading to the bridge which crosses the- 

 Rhone at Lavey-les-Bains, returning by the opposite bank of the 

 Rhone, and entering St. Maurice by the picturesque old Roman 15ridge. 

 From an entomological standpoint the ramble was not very productive. 

 On the St. Maurice side of the Rhone very little was seen beyond an. 

 occasional Pararye maera and /'. meyaera. After crossing the river, 

 Aporia crataeyi was observed in numbers on the cultivated plots of 

 ground, and in the meadows lying at the foot of the hillside. A single 



