216 THE entomologist's record. 



of Sedum. On Jiane 15th, one of these two P. delins larvfe assumed 

 an orange tint, very nearly that of P. apollo, and contrasting with its 

 fellow. Is this colour then a question of age as much as of species ? I 

 have handed the specimens to Mr. Bacot for further examination. 

 An imago of P. apollo was seen on the wing in the Val Verzasca 

 (Locarno) on May 28th, and three specimens were taken at Faido 

 (1000ft. higher) on June 6th and 7th. 



During the first few days at Locarno (May 14th and following 

 days) butterflies were exceedingly scarce, contrasting markedly with 

 the abundance noticed in early April in some previous years ; the early 

 species seemed to be over, the latter not out. This was true probably 

 in some degree, but a larger element was probably the recently wet 

 and cold weather, a day or two before there had been frost enough to 

 nip the vine shoots in some places (ash shoots in the hedges at 

 Brunnen were killed in many places). Lcpt'nUa sina])is, Fohjoiiuiiatns 

 bellarfpis, one or two Ai/loin articae, and a Jlditaea athalia, with an odd 

 specimen or two of some other species, would be all seen in the course 

 of several hours' walk. Gradually specimens got more numerous, 

 until various common butterflies were fairly numerous by the begin- 

 ning of June. Polyonimatus orion, fairly common in April, was absent 

 except for one specimen worn to rags, and only one Melitaea phoebe 

 was seen. M. athalia became quite abundant, as well as P. bellargus, 

 Aporia crataet/i, Cooionyiiipha paniphilus, with frequent P. astrarche, 

 P. icarus, Plebeius an/us, P. argyrognomon, Noiniades cyllanis, N. semi- 

 argus, and one or two Ciipido )iiinima. M. didyma, an odd one or two, 

 as well as sundry other species as little worth mentioning. Colias 

 hyale was frequently in evidence, always considerably worn, only one 

 C. edusa was seen (not caught). Goncptery.v rhamni was fairly 

 common, always worn, and continued frequent up to June 10th, when 

 my observations terminated. Where were G. rhaninl and the other 

 hibernating species in the middle of May ? At the end of May, Aylais 

 nrticae, hibernated specimens much worn, were common, larva hung 

 up for pupation, and pupa;, were also seen, and a newly-emerged speci- 

 men or two were seen about June 7th. A brood of Eiigonia polycJdoros, 

 nearly full-fed, was seen on May IGth. Vanessa io was abundant at the 

 end of May, very worn and tattered, each specimen keeping to its own 

 beat, and often seen at precisely the same part of the road on return- 

 ing home as it was noticed on going out. Euvanessa antiopa was not 

 rare, half-a-dozen or more being seen in the course of a walk. A 

 specimen full of eggs died after a few days, rather than lay them, when 

 sleeved over a spray of sallow. Pyra)neis cardui also was everywhere, 

 often worn to a mere colourless shadow, everywhere means up to 

 4000ft. as well as at lake level. A very fresh specimen was noted in 

 June, no doubt a locally bred one, but where, I repeat, were all these 

 in mid-May? The weather was then fine and warm, though cool perhaps 

 for Locarno, their greater abundance later, coinciding with an acces- 

 sion of July weather. Admitting the probability of P. cardui being a 

 fresh herd of immigrants, it is impossible to suppose that the PJ. 

 antiopa, V. io, A. nrticae, C. hyale, and G. rhamni were, in the main at 

 least, other than local specimens. 



The Psychidae at Locarno are always items of interest, Acantho- 

 psyche atra, Linn, {ojjacella, H.-S.), was over, no full male case being 

 observed, though ? cases with eggs were abundant. It was this year 



