210 THE entomologist's record. 



specimen of Cydopides palaemnn, in perfect condition, was taken flitting 

 along the footpath, and a solitary, very ragged Eri/miis alceae. Some 

 marshy ground near the road, leading up to Lavey, produced Melitaea 

 dictijnna, and here I first came across Brentim ino, a perfectly fresh ^ 

 being netted. A large blue butterfly which attracted my attention 

 turned out to be only a <? P. icarus, but of exceptional size. At the 

 foot of the wooded hillside one or two Melitaea phoebe were flying, and 

 in the meadows Enodia hyperanthus was making a sporadic emergence. 



The next day, June 8rd, I left St. Maurice by an early train for 

 Sion, where I hoped to find Melitaea aiirelia and Polyoiiniiatus ainanda 

 in some numbers. The day was very hot and oppressive, and the sky 

 cloudy, with a hazy sun. At Vernayaz, two days previously, I had 

 only been able to find a single P. amanda, but here, in the marshes by 

 the side of the Ehone, the species was fully out, and, judging by the 

 condition of some of the specimens, had been out for some time. The 

 insect was very common, and I had no difficulty in picking out nice 

 series of both sexes in very good condition. Plebeiiis aryus [aeyon) was 

 very common all along the Rhone banks, with P. aryyroynonnm in 

 fewer numbers. On reaching the fields where Melitaea aurelia occurs, 

 I found it flying commonly with occasional specimens of M. parthenie 

 and M. dictynna. M. aurelia, though, was almost over, and I had to 

 work very hard for a fair series in presentable condition ; the 

 specimens varied a good deal in size, ranging from 28mm. in the <? s 

 to 39mm. in the J s. A few Pararye eyeria var. eyeridea were flitting 

 about the copses, where also occasional specimens of Leptuaia xinapin 

 and Aiiyiades sylvanus were seen. Amongst other species noted were 

 Gonepteryx rharnni, Vanessa io, Aricia astrarclie, Cupido itiinimus, 

 and, although a careful watch was kept for Evercs alcetas, none was seen. 

 Soon after midday the sky assumed a most threatening aspect, and 

 insects suddenly vanished; so a hasty return was made to Sion station, 

 which was reached just as the rain came pouring down. It rained 

 heavily during the remainder of the day and throughout the night. 



The following morning broke fine, but the temperature was very 

 low, with a dull, heavy sky and a very strong wind blowing. It was 

 not a morning to flatter one's hopes, but towards midday the sun began 

 tentatively to peep through the overcast sky, and induced me to take 

 train to Vernayaz, where I hoped to pick up something under the 

 shelter of the cliffs ; but I found very few insects on the wing there, 

 and these were in evidence only during the brief and distant intervals 

 of sunshine. A certain amount of compensation was derived from the 

 •capture of about a dozen Loweia alciphron var. yordius, in splendid 

 condition, though all except one were <? s. Some of the specimens 

 captured of this species were in perfectly fresh condition, save for 

 small pieces chipped out of the wings through some obscure cause. 

 The capture of a very ragged specimen of Scolitantides baton added 

 another species to my list. Other insects noted were IphicUdes 

 podalirius, Parnassius apollo, Eryunis lavaterae, Potrellia sao, Pararye 

 niaera, and Ayriades thetis. Following its usual custom, the rain started 

 falling in the early afternoon, and came down heavily before I reached 

 Vernayaz station. 



{To be continued.) 



