■258 THE entomologist's record. 



while the carriage waited for half an hour. It was getting late 

 however, and the only species I took were, Agriades thetis and 

 Polyoiiiwatiis escheri, both worn, P. hylas, very fresh, P. icariis, 

 Cupidn minimus (one only), Kliujia spini, Pieris napi, and Pararge 

 mcfiaera. I succeeded, however, in getting so far ahead that the 

 driver was most anxious to turn back to find nie, feeling sure I must 

 be behind, and assuring the ladies that it was " molto pericoloso " to 

 leave me there ; they, however, knowing that I was very well able to 

 take care of myself, insisted on continuing, and eventually overtook 

 me, nor did we ever discover in what the " great danger " consisted, 

 though the man was evidently genuinely perturbed. 



With regard to the insects taken in these two localities, the most 

 interesting forms were certainly those of Krynnis althaeae and Pohjcm- 

 matiis escheri. The former Avas small, square and compact-looking, 

 the hindwings very dark, the forewings much lighter than in more 

 northern specimens, giving something of the same contrast that one 

 gets in Erynnis lavaterae, except that, in this case, the tint is mauve 

 and not buff. The latter is also small, and of the blue of hylas rather 

 than that of icartis ; the one specimen I took was not so brilliant as 

 those of Fiesole, but this may be due to its condition, which was far 

 from fresh. The only specimen of Ciipido mininnts seen during my 

 expedition was rather large (though not approaching the alsoides of the 

 Laquinthal in size) and well spotted ; it is certainly a scarce species 

 in central and southern Italy. Polyommatns hylas is large, and of a 

 very brilliant blue. The other species taken show no peculiarity. 



(To be concluded). 



Early Summer amongst the Butterflies of the Rhone Valley. 



By JOHN ALDERSON. 

 [Continued from p. 239.) 



On June 9th I shifted my quarters to Martigny. The conditions 

 were still unfavourable for collecting, and slight showers were falling 

 at intervals as I set out about mid-day with the intention of walking 

 under the cliffs to Vernayaz. In the fields, Enodia hyperanthus was in 

 swarms, and a solitary Rnmicia phlaeas formed an addition to my list. 

 A single fresh Erebia styyne and three worn E. evias were picked up on 

 the stony slopes, and then the rain came down steadily and persistently, 

 compelling a retreat. In the morning, a J Melitaea parthenie, taken 

 the previous day at Bex, had been placed in a cage with fresh sprigs 

 of scabious and leaves of Plantafp) lanceolata. I put the cage upon 

 the window-sill where it would catch any fleeting rays of the sun, but 

 no ova were laid this day. 



The morning of June 10th opened brightly with a clear sky, in 

 pleasant contrast to the day preceding. I walked across the fields to 

 Branson with the intention of working the Colutea patch for Lycaena 

 iolas. On the roadway, just before reaching the bridge over the 

 Rhone, I took my first specimen of Hipparchia alcyone. After 

 crossing the Rhone, a single perfectly fresh Scolitantides oHon 

 was captured flitting about the rocks, and one or two Issoria lathonia 

 were noticed hereabouts. On reaching the Colutea patch, I found 

 Li/caena iolas flying about the bushes in the bright sunshine. Half a 

 dozen specimens, including both sexes, and in varying condition, were 

 captured, but the species were not very common, nor was it very easy 



