260 THE entomologist's record. 



took a fair series with a good proportion of $ s, Coenonympha ipkis, and 

 Melitaea dictijmia were the commonest. One or two Meiitaea athalia 

 were also picked up, and Iphidides podalirius was not uncommon. Other 

 species noted were Polyomwatus icarus, Plebeius argiis [aefjon), Loueia 

 dorilis, Nordmannia ilicis, Colias hyale, Paran/e maera, and Epinephele 

 ianira. Quite an unexpected find at this low elvation, and an addition 

 to the list was made in the capture of Coenomjvtpha satyrion, tha 

 specimen being a J^ in perfectly fresh condition. Another new 

 capture was Heodes virgaureae, a real entomological gem, brilliant in 

 the extreme, as it sat on a blossom with its brightly burnished wings 

 wide-spread, and reflecting the rays of the sun. Towards Vernayaz, a 

 few Loweia alciphron var. (jordius were taken. This species is very 

 fond of sunning itself with wide-spread wings on a bare patch of 

 ground, and, if disturbed, it generally returns to the same spot. After 

 eleven o'clock, when the sun disappeared, I netted very few insects, 

 but, on the return journey, a good many species were found at rest. 

 Amongst these were P. amandns and C. iphis on grass stems, M. 

 dictynna on the same, and also on flower-heads, whilst Aporia cratacgi 

 was crowding on scabious flowers, from which it was easily picked off. 

 The larvae of Vanessa io, in all stages of growth, were swarming on 

 hop and nettle, the majority showing a preference for the former 

 foodplant. A cocoon of Dasychira fascelina was found attached to 

 the base of a large rock, and well-hidden by the grass, and Arctia 

 villica was noticed clinging to the reeds in the marsh. 



The sky was of a clear blue the next day, June 14th, with the 

 bright sunshine tempered by a rather cool breeze. The route I took 

 was around La Batiaz, thence through the vineyards to Martigny 

 Bourg and La Croix, and a little distance up the valley which leads to 

 the Col de la Forclaz. About La Batiaz, Brent/us daphne was fairly 

 common, and in very fine condition, and Paniassius a polio was also com- 

 mon, but Melitaea deione var. herisalensis was not seen, although a careful 

 and prolonged search was made for this species. Erynnis lavaterae, 

 Hesperia carthaiiii, and Powellia sao were all fairly common about the 

 vineyard paths, whilst occasional Loweia alciphron var. iiordiiis flew up 

 off the pathway. Nordmannia ilicis was common about the brambles, 

 and Polyniiiiiiatits icants and P. hylas were noted. Around the 

 tower, specimens of Hipparchia nlcyone, and H. seinele were picked 

 up. The vineyard paths leading to Martigny Bourg produced 

 nothing except an occasional P. hylas, and two perfectly fresh Pontia 

 daplidice. On nearing Martigny Bourg, a Melitaea flitting about the 

 pathway was netted, and it proved to be the sought-for berisalensis. 

 Hereabouts, half a dozen ^ specimens of this species were picked up, 

 some, unfortunately, being rather ragged, and one large-sized specimen 

 having a wing expanse of 45mm. A few Issoria lathonia were alsa 

 flitting about the vineyard paths, and those taken were in very good 

 condition. The meadows in the valley did not prove so productive as 

 I had anticipated, although I added two species to the list in single 

 specimens of Chrysophanns hippotho'e and Adopaea lineola. Amongst 

 the species found here, the most interesting were Argynnis 

 adippe, Melitaea phoehe, Brenthis daphne, and Aricia eurnedon, all 

 occurrmg sparingly ; and here was also taken a solitary Runricia 

 phlaeas, one of the only two specimens of this species I met with in 

 Switzerland. 



