100 [April, 1911 



several very liappy days together ; the one spent in the Steinthal, 

 however, was not altogether a suet-ess, from the entomological point of 

 view, for when we got well up in the valley the sky clouded over with 

 the natural result of quite a small list of captures. Perhaps the 

 commonest insect of all that we encountered was Psyrhe i^himistreUa 

 on the ridge of the mountain beside the Stein Moraine, and above 

 he Morpaine, where it was most plentiful, had one desii-ed it we 

 could have taken hundreds of specimens. Among the bilberry, so 

 plentiful on the side of the mountain, high up opposite Berisal, Colias 

 ■palieno was flying as late as 5 p.m., when the sun had appeared again 

 and was shining brightly, I took several specimens on our way back 

 from the Stein valley. The Bortel Alp and above it was also an 

 excellent hunting ground, whilst the valley leading to both localities 

 abounded with the species that haunted the lower levels. Parnassius 

 cvpnUn, large fine examples, were not infrequent beside the road below 

 the Pont Napoleon, and I noticed the spots were very deep carmine 

 red. For the first time in my life I was able to take Pieris callidice 

 in beautiful condition in the higher regions without having to bestow 

 on them any superfluous exertion ; they were quite common, especially 

 below the Bortel Grlacier, and a fair series of both sexes was obtained ; 

 napi was almost over, Collar pliieomone was plentiful here as elsewhere, 

 whilst the Argynnids were remarkable rather by their absence than 

 their presence ; aglaia was flying but rarely ; of evphrosyne I only 

 captured four, two c[uite fresh and two worn ; ^^fl/es in the higher 

 regions was as plentiful as usual, but I came across no varieties, such 

 as one sees not infrequently in the Engadine. 



On the Bortel Alp Melitsea cynthia was not uncommon, and was 

 in very good condition, one or two of my captures having evidently 

 emerged the same day. Here also Anthrocera exulans was flying most 

 vigorously and plentifully ; I do not remember to have seen this species 

 so active elsewhere, the males flying generally about eight feet from 

 the ground in a straight line and at a very rapid pace, I noticed it in 

 the first instance by missing the specimen I struck at, and wondering 

 which species it could be, as earlier in the day I had taken them on 

 the flowers or flying from flower to flower, but this afternoon flight, 

 between 3.30 and 4.30 p.m., was different to anything I had observed 

 before, it appeared to be confined to the males, as I did not take any 

 females at this time. Parasemia plantaginis was also much " en evi- 

 dence " on the same spot, where I also took both v. Iiospita and ab. 

 melas ; Setina aurita, var. ramosa wns likewise not infrequent, and in 

 beautifully fresh condition. 



