1911.1 99 



which, however, made up for its rarity by being of a quite unusually 

 deep blue, something very near to escheri, but bluer and more lustrous, 

 whilst on another occasion I took a second specimen that is the largest 

 and most brilliantly pale lustrous blue I have yet seen. Of P. dainon 

 I captured under a dozen altogether, so that it also could not be con- 

 sidered abundant, but it may come on rather later at this altitude, for 

 I remember finding it in very large numbers at Alvaneii Bad (a lower 

 altitude) during the first week in August ; a few examples of what 

 used to be known by the name of argus, quite fresh and good, also 

 made the acquaintance of my net. 



As I came to the fir trees, the Satyridse soon made themselves 

 seen, and if not secured at the first stroke generally made themselves 

 scarce ; 9 S. semele were beautifully dark, with broad yellow areas, 

 hermione also was fairly common, whilst cordula, in most beautiful 

 condition, deep velvety black, was not uncommon, but most elusive ; 

 it is an insect that always makes me covetous, and I cannot help going 

 after it, but it has a (to me) uncertain flight, and at the critical 

 moment has a peculiar knack of doubling, so that when you think he 

 is secured this time you find he has tricked you again, and is " lost to 

 sight, though to memory dear." 



At last, in spite of all the Scyllas and Charybdis, in the form of 

 these various enticements, the " lycidas ground " is reached, but, alas, 

 the hay is cut, nevertheless, here comes one along, which is secm*ed, 

 and another, and another, but evidently the time of their beauty is 

 nearly over, the females are as common as the males, and on the whole 

 in better condition, and, all told, only a moderate series falls to my 

 lot ; it was, however, delightful to make a first acquaintance in the 

 flesh with the species, and also on the same ground to take Parnassius 

 mnemosyne, the only one I saw during my holiday. Melanargia 

 gcdathea was also obtained in good order, whilst Melitsea didyma was 

 not uncommon, and Argynnis Jathonia presented itself in a single 

 example. 



One species that always delights me I omitted to mention, viz., 

 Heodes alci})liron var. gordius in both sexes, its colour always gives me 

 great satisfaction, and creates a sense of delight that no other of its 

 genus does, though virgaurese is a real jewel in the brilliant sun. 



Several of the following days were spent exploring the secrets of 

 the Bortel Alp and Glacier, and also in the Steinthal and around its 

 large moraine. For my excursion to the latter locality I had the 

 pleasure of having for my companion Monsieur de Beaulieu, of Cannes, 

 who was also a keen collector, and we had, so far as I was concerned, 



