A FEW WRRKS' KNVO.MOLOaiSINO IX SPAIN. 85 



A few weeks' entomologising in Spain {with mip).''^ 



By T. a. chapman, M.D., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 

 [(JontiiiHed from p. 73). 



On leaving Cuenca we went northwards to Tragacete, staying a 

 night on the way at the village of Una, near which is a little lake, and 

 after leaving Tragacete we again made a two days' journey to 

 Albarracin. We set out on the theory that we rode on mules, and 

 that our belongings were to be carried in the same fashion. We 

 discovered, however, that we progressed quite as rapidly on foot, and 

 with much more comfort and freedom. On a good animal the two 

 days' journey would only be one, nowithstanding the roughness of the 

 roads and their hilly character, and a good walker would similarly be 

 able to shorten the time required. The pace, however, is set by our 

 guide in charge of the baggage mule, so that it pays better to walk and 

 even do a little collecting on the way. Throughout the country we so 

 traversed, having Tragacete for its centre, wheeled vehicles are 

 practically unknown, and everything is carried on mule or donkey back. 

 Harvest was in full swing and we saw these animals carrying home 

 the corn from the fields, often for distances of several miles. This 

 imperative employment of the animals, made it difticult to obtain any 

 when we wanted them. In driving his beast the Spanish peasant is 

 continually urging it on with loud shouts and occasional blows — " Arre 

 Burro," " Arre Mula," " Arre Cavallo" — are sounds that are as 

 continuous in these Spanish valleys, as the roaring and babbling of the 

 streams are in those of the Swiss mountains. Mules are, perhaps, the 

 more numerous, but the donkey, perhaps, requires more encourage- 

 ment, and consequently " Arre Burro," seemed to be constantly 

 shouted. It certainly was a full half of all the Spanish I heard, but 

 having learnt it, I was perhaps in error in believing that I knew half 

 the Spanish language. 



Between Cuenca and Una, we passed over a rather high plateau, on 

 which there was once a stratum of limestone some 30ft. to 50ft. in 

 thickness, but of which there now remain only large isolated masses, 

 with perpendicular or overhanging sides, in many remarkable forms, 

 like houses, castles and churches, producing a most extraordinary and 

 Aveird eftect, and well bearing out the name of the " enchanted city " 

 that has been given to the place. The limestone often stands out in 

 similar forms in the escarpments of the valleys, but how it acquired 

 them in very numerous, isolated masses, standing up on a level area, 

 as it does here, implied some very special conditions of weathering. 

 At Una the little lake is quite an unusual feature in the scenery here, 

 and afforded a swarm of Hydmrniiipa niiinphat'alis and some dragon- 

 flies. Euchdia jacohaeae was on the wing here, elsewhere we saw only 

 larvfe of all sizes, they were especially common at Tragacete on a 

 species of ragwort. All the larvse I saw differed constantly from those 

 I have seen in England and elsewhere. The ordinary form has a black 

 continuous belt right over the dorsum of each segment, but in these it 

 was divided into four portions. It is broken through on the dorsal 

 line, it then narrows down to a sharp point in front of the spiracle, 

 this angular patch containing tubercles i, ii and iii. The next portion 



* Read before the South London Entomological Society, Dec. 12th, 1901. 

 Apkil 15th, 1902, 



