290 THE entomologist's record. 



fairly fresh condition. A single worn Polyovunatiis amandus was 

 noted, whilst Lycaena ariun was not uncommon. Here I took my 

 first, and, incidentally, my only specimen of Lycaena alcon, a (? in 

 perfectly fresh condition. A Lithosiid moth rising up occasionally from 

 the herbage proved, on netting, to be Lithosia striata. Other species 

 noted were Poirellia sao, Nonhuannia ilicis, Aporia crataeyi, Kitchlo'e 

 cardamines, Melanaryia yalathea, and hybernated specimens of Govep- 

 tery.v rhamni and Polyyoma c-alhinn. The return journey was made 

 by the road which traverses the fringe of the woods, and here Melitaea 

 phoebe of a fine size was flitting to and fro along the roadway, a 

 habit which was followed also by Hesjwria carthauii and Krynnh lava- 

 terae, which were not uncommon. An open glade in the woods was 

 flooded with bright sunlight, and here several Pajiilin viacJiaon and 

 IpJiiciides podaliriiis were flying to and fro, or playfully sporting one 

 with another, and exhibiting to perfection their graceful motions and 

 admirable powers of flight. At times they would daintily alight on 

 the tip of a pine branch, and anon would select a tall thistle for the 

 resting-place, or come sailing down the sunlit glade on outstretched 

 wings with the very poetrj'^ of motion. My acquaintance with their 

 charming powers of flight had all the delight of novelty, and I must 

 confess to a feeling of intense pleasure in watching their graceful 

 evolutions as they sported gaily in the bright sunshine. 



Taking an early train to Brigue the following morning, I walked 

 from there up the Simplon Pass to Berisal. In ascending the pass I 

 followed the short cuts, and avoided the winding road as much as 

 possible. The day was bright and sunny, and was in every way 

 favourable to collecting. On the first short cut, which zigzags up the 

 steep hill overlooking Brigue, a single Pcdyoiiniuitii.^ eHcheri was picked 

 up, and Miiitaea anrinia was noted commonly enough, but in very 

 worn condition. Further on, where the path clings to the side of the 

 high precipitous slopes, Papilio viacliaon and Iphidides pudalirius were 

 met with occasionally, whilst Paraiye viaera and Parnassiiis apollo 

 were becoming more common. A glorious prospect was now gradually 

 unfolding to the view, and I must admit that the magnificent scenery 

 of the Simplon Pass fully realised my expectations. The combination 

 of towering, snow-clad peaks, and deep rugged valleys, formed a 

 splendid picture, the composition of which was continually changing 

 and gaining in grandeur as one won fresh points of vantage. 



Near the second Refuge the rocky mountain path joins the main 

 road. On the roadway freshly-emerged Aylais mticae, of a good size, 

 were not uncommon, with a single ragged Polyyonia c-albnm. In that 

 particular corner, which is the favourite haunt of Plebeiiis zephyrns 

 var. lycidas, quite a number of species were on the wing. P. zephyvits 

 var. lycidas, though not uncommon, was not in any great numbers, 

 and not a few of the 3 s showed signs of wear. One <? of a large 

 size, and in perfect condition, was further distinguished by slight 

 additional spotting on the underside. The form of Melitaea parthcnie 

 met with here was much difterent from that of the lowlands, and 

 tended more towards the facies of M. athalia. M. cin.via, in fairly 

 good condition, was on the wing, and ilA. aurelia again turned up. 

 Here Plebeiiis argns (aeyon) was fairly common, and at the time of 

 capture I was much struck by the prevailing form, which has the 

 black margins to the wings so greatly increased in width. Of course, 



