90 THE entomologist's RECORl). 



time in which we could have walked it, nor was it by any means the 

 most comfortable method of travelling, but the only one available, 

 except, perhaps, on mule-back, had we been able to obtain such 

 animals. It saved us, however, some fatigue and shade from the sun 

 during the journey. From Noguera we explored the hills and pine 

 forest over towards Bronchales. This is, perhaps, a two hours' 

 walk, but, of course, we took much longer. Uur object in visiting 

 Bronchales, where we stayed the two following nights, was to meet 

 with hWehia zapatcri. On this first day we went through some of the 

 supposed best ground for the species, but saw no trace of it, and, in 

 fact, all the butterflies we saw were of fairly common species. We 

 had not, however, gone very far on our way from Noguera when I saw, 

 after a little searching, a larva of (i. imbdlac, and we found several 

 others afterwards. At Bi'onchales, on the foUowmg day, only one was 

 found, this by Mr. Champion ; towards afternoon, however, I picked 

 up one very fresh K. zajiateri, and just afterwards Mr. Champion came 

 across several. On the 5th we had to return to Albarracin, and made 

 a circuit on the way to Noguera, in the course of which we met with 

 A', zapateri, but still, somewhat rarely. It was obvious that the 

 species did not emerge before August 4th, and that our failure to find 

 it on the 3rd, as well as at Puerto de la Losillo, on the 1st, was that 

 it was not then out. I have little doubt that, could we have spent a 

 few more days at Bronchales, we should not have had to complain of the 

 rarity of the species. This was confirmed by finding the species on 

 the wing at Puerto de la Losillo on the 7th, but it is obviously far from 

 abundant in that locality. We also again noted on our return by 

 Noguera that It. isahdlw was much more frequent near that village. 

 On August 6th we visited the S. pricuri ground, and in the heat of the 

 day were interested to note that, though the various Satyrids there 

 were on the wing in fair abundance, instead of settling in the open as 

 we had been used to seeing them, they almost invariably, and espe- 

 cially S. jirii'ini, made for the shade close under some shrub or bush 

 before settling. This was, I think, one of the hottest days we had. 



In regard to the Aveather generally, I may say we had no rain, 

 without giving any false impression, though, as a matter of fact, we 

 did meet with a shower or two. Throughout this Albarracin district 

 the corn is all thrashed very soon after it is harvested, and in a manner 

 only possible in a very dry, nearly rainless, country, and which I had 

 always associated with ideas of such eastern eounti'ies as Syria and 

 Palestine, probably from pictorial and other illustrations with which 

 most of us are familiar. The threshing-fioor is a circular area, chosen 

 as near to the village as may be, on a little hillock, or at the end of a 

 ridge, or other situation exposed enough to meet with a little wind for 

 winnowing. This is a level, but no very great pains beyond constant 

 use seem to be taken to make it hard or smooth, it is, however, often 

 on the bare rock. The corn is spread on this, and a fiat sledge, armed 

 Avith some slips of iron beneath, is drawn over it and round by one or 

 two mules or asses. On the sledge is the driver of the animals, usually 

 standing, often squatted down, and occasionally an old lady, seated 

 on a chair, held the office. The winnowing is done by throwing the 

 mixed corn and chaff in the air with a shovel. 



In the pine forests we frequently saAv trees apparently wilfully and 

 uselessly damaged. It appeared as if some one who did not understand 



