LEPIDOPTERA OF HAUTE-SAVOIE i MEGEVE. 255 



('. /lijijiut/loe var. euryhia was over, and represented only by some very 

 ragged males. Neither ('. /i/ilacas nor ( . (larilis was seen. I'oli/oiii- 

 iiiatiiscnri/ilon was the only really common blue ; here and there /'. daiiinu 

 was not uncommon, nor was /'. iranis, but a single worn /'. astrarclw 

 and battered 3- and $ P. Injla^^, suggested that these species were 

 over. Towards St. Gervais, Plebriits aef/on was often observed in the 

 roadway at puddles. Rather high up on the mountains Xomiadcs 

 scmian/Ks was occasionally ohserved, usually worn, and, near the village 

 itself, Cnpido niiniiiia was now and again netted, whilst a fairly good 

 specimen of Lijcaena avian was unexpectedly taken. Li men it is ram ilia 

 occurred towards St. Gervais, but quite 500ft. -750ft. lower than 

 Megeve. One wonders whether I'lihjiiimia c-albiiin should not be 

 considered a real mountain butterfly. In 1901 I took several above 

 Au Pra,in the Pellice Valley, at an elevation that must have been nearly, 

 if not quite, 8000ft. ; here, at Megere, I took it on a flower in a pasture 

 from 5000ft. -6000ft., as well as on the wild hops in the wood between 

 Le Fayet and St. Gervais, low down at about 2100ft. KiKjimia 

 pob/c/iloros appears common hereabouts, many flying among the trees 

 between St. Gervais and Megeve, and one captured at dung in the 

 road near Combloux. Wiucssa io was not uncommon, Kiirancsm 

 antiopa, one only observed, and that with a pale border ; Pi/raincis 

 atalauta, rather common ; P. canhii, in abundance as larva^ on thistles 

 (at Chavoire the larva? were equally abundant on Artcuiisia ntlyarix), 

 and rarer as imagines, both worn and in fine condition. Only one species 

 of Mditaca was seen, M. (lirfynna, but this made up for much. I have 

 over and over again, contrary to the views of the recognised authorities, 

 stated that I doubted the specific value of this insect, the reasons 

 largely based on the fact that, at the many places I have taken it, I 

 have always found it with undoubted M. atlialia or .1/. aiiidia, which 

 again I do not seem to be able to distinguish properly now that I have 

 a fair number of specimens. Here, at Megeve, the 3/. dicti/nna were 

 undoubted, all were of the most approved dirtijnna type, and there was no 

 approach to the athalia or anrdia facies. On the other hand, at Le 

 Fayet, M. atlialia, or what I suppose to be this species, occurred. An/i/ii- 

 nis niube was found occasionally everywhere, but somewhat abundantly 

 about the little knolls covered with pines and with a thick undergrowth 

 of Vacciniiiiu iiii/i-tilli(s found scattered here and there all over the 

 district, evident remnants of the character of the country before it was 

 placed under such close cultivation as now exists. Ari/i/nnix adippc and A. 

 aijlaia were in beautiful condition, the former rather scarce and only 

 to be found by the wooded sides of the torrents running from Mont 

 Joly, the latter abundant and very generally distributed. With A. 

 adipjw was Ihcnthis aiiiathitsia, in poor condition nearer the village, in 

 good condition higher up towards the sources of the streams. None 

 of the smaller fritillaries was observed, but Ih-ifax paphiu became 

 common and was in good condition between Le Freney and Le Fayet, 

 quite outside the Megeve district however. Mdana n/ia i/alatca occuvved 

 sparingly everywhere from at least 1000ft. above Megeve, right down 

 to Le Fayet, and was still, wheiever found, in fair condition. The 

 weather prevented one discovering any Erebias on the higher slopes of 

 the mountains. Near Megeve, on the wooded slopes of the torrents, 

 worn Krebia Wjca of typical form occurred, with equally typical and 

 worn examples of E. canjalc. Higher up the streams the latter, in fine 



