I 



BUTTERFLIES OF THE RHONE VALLKY. 291 



I subsequently found that this form is characteristic of high elevations, 

 and is not at all peculiar to the Simplon. On the same ground 

 Pl('bci)is ar(t!/rni/nn)nnn was also taken, and the Simplon form of this 

 species also ditiered from that of the Rhone Ijanks. Although easily 

 separable from PlebeiKs an/iis, the Simplon specimens of /'. aripjroii- 

 nomon show some tendency to the former species in size, intensity of 

 blue, depth of margins and more pronounced appearance of nervures. 

 Other species met with in the neighbourhood of the second Refuge 

 were Hesperia cartJtotni, H. nlreiis, H. iiialvae, Nisoniadea tai/es, Pohjnm- 

 matns icariis, Af/riailes tlietis, Lycaena arion and Aricia astrarclie. Soon 

 after mid-day the sky clouded over, and in the absence of sunshine 

 few insects were seen during the remainder of the journey. Immedi- 

 ately after passing the Ganter Bridge Pieris napi var. bryoniae was 

 met with, but nearly all the specimens were more or less worn. 



The following day, June 19th, was bright and sunny throughout, 

 and I worked the ground in the vicinity of Berisal, but notwith- 

 standing the favourable conditions, the results were not very 

 encouraging. With the exception of Parnamua mveinm^yne, which 

 was swarming in the fields surrounding the hotel, at no time, and in 

 no particular place, did I find butterflies at all numerous. At this 

 elevation, and in so w^ell-known a locality, I expected to make the 

 acquaintance of many new species, and was looking forward with 

 much interest to collecting of a character that would be very different 

 from that of the lowlands. These expectations were not fully realised, 

 for I met with few new species, and the unseasonable weather recently 

 prevailing was no doubt accountable for the general scarcity in the 

 butterfly fauna, and the retarded appearance of many species. Pay- 

 naasina iii)U'iiiosy]if', as noted above, was in the utmost abundance near 

 Berisal. Its condition was generally good, and its flight, low and 

 somewhat lumbering, made its capture an easj' matter. In the 

 Ganterthal, and in the valley leading towards the Bortel Alp, insects 

 were scarce. A new species was taken here in Pararye Idem, one or 

 two somewhat worn specimens being captured. Other specimens 

 taken or noted were Flrynnis lavaterae, Plebeiits aryyroynniiinn, Brenthis 

 euplifoKyne, Leptoaia sinapis, and Melitaea partlienie. Occasionally 

 AnthocltariH simplnnia dashed past at a speed so rapid as to compel 

 admiration — providing one's series was complete. A single specimen 

 of what I took to be Coenonyinplia aatyrinn W'as noted. On the grassy 

 slopes below the roadway, occasional Aricia cuwcdnn were flying with 

 Polyniiniiatus iconts and ('yaniris seiiiiaryitx. Pifiis napi var. bryoniae 

 was not at all uncommon, hut there were few specimens that did not 

 show signs of wear. On the other hand, Kuchln'e canlainines was sur- 

 prisingly fresh. In the afternoon a walk up the Pass in the direction 

 of the Hospice did not produce much of further interest. Amongst a 

 few Pararye hiera taken was a dingy S , showing scarcely any trace of 

 fulvous coloration on the upper surface, and bearing only one spot on 

 each forewing and three on each hindwing. One or two Erebia evias 

 were flying about the road, and at damp places by the roadside 

 Hesperia vialroe was congregating, though not in great numbers, with 

 occasional Xisouiailen tayea. Pieris var. bryoniae became more common, 

 and Parnassins mneinnsyne less common, as one ascended the Pass. 



I left Berisal the next day, walking down from there to Brigue, 

 and collecting by the way. The conditions were all one could desire, 



