B12 THE entomologist's record. 



ilex, prickly oak, and box, with which the cliffs of the Gard are 

 wooded, there are numberless open glades, and in them and 

 upon the warm rocks that face the river butterflies abound. The 

 Swallow-tails— Z^rtj>i7«o podalirius and P. macliaon — swung lazily over 

 the lower scrub ; Fieris brassicae, P. rapae, and P. napi, with those 

 typical butterflies of the Midi, Anthnrhci ris belia, Enchlo'e cardaininea 

 and E. eiiphenoUles, g s (ranked as a distinct species in the latest 

 Staudinger catalogue), with the flashing Gonepteryx dcopatra, and an 

 occasional Leptidia sinapis, were everywhere. Coliaa ediisa, small, but 

 in prime condition, suggested an early emergence. CaUophrys ritbi, 

 surely the commonest butterfly of the broom-clad Alpes-Maritimes and 

 the hot Provencal bills, was already in full force, while of the 

 Lycaenids, CyaniriH aryioliis $ s were settling on the ilex leaves, and 

 the herbage teemed with Polyommatm baton (somewhat worn), P. 

 icaru!^, IVianaos tayea (very common) and Chrymphanns phlaeas. The 

 hibernated Vanessids were also conspicuous, and, as a rule, looking 

 little the worse for theii- winter slumbers. Of them, Pyranieis cardni 

 was perhaps the commonest, with /'. ataJanta, Eiivanessa antiopa, Aylais 

 urticae, and an occasional Polyyonia c-albnm. Lastly, Pararyc eyeria and 

 P. meyaera completed the list of butterflies about. With the exception 

 of a few specimens of i'arcluirodus alceae on the grass plots outside 

 the wonderful bastions of Aigues-Mortes on April 1st, I met with no 

 further new species until I arrived at Digne, on April 5th. Here a 

 disappointment was in store. The weather, which previously had been 

 glorious since I left England, broke up, and of the whole week I spent 

 in the capital of the Basst's-Alpes, only one day was entirely fine. The 

 orchard -trees and the flowering shrubs m the gardens, however, were 

 worth a visit alone, and the plums especially proved attractive to P. 

 podalirius. On April 0th, going off in search of Erebia I'piMygne, and 

 taking La Collette from the Dourbs road, I saw several males, but, owing 

 to the wind, failed to secure them. In the more sheltered gorges, 

 Noiniadeti melaiwps, both males and females, were common enough, 

 Brentlm dia was already showing signs of wear, and Eurhlue caida- 

 minea (^s) was just coming out with Hespena tnnlvac, and again 

 swarms of Calloplirys ritbi. The afternoon turned wet, but next 

 morning, though the wind persisted, the sky kept clear, and on the 

 slopes behind the old cathedral I took a single ? E. epistyyne, a very 

 fresh pair of Tliais. mededcaste, and a sprinkling of AnthiKharis belia. 

 On th ewalls of the convent, Polyynnia eyea basked in the sun, and 

 Ooneptcrys deopatra was again extremely common. Meeting one of the 

 Coulets on La Collette, he had advised me as to a certain spot under 

 the Dourbri where I should undoubtedly find the desired Erebia. 

 Accordingly, on the 8th, I spent the whole day on the mountains. 

 Result, one $ and one single Hespoia sao, and with these the spring 

 season ended for me, as it rained four days on end after, and by the 

 15th I was back again in London. 



My second tour in France was not undertaken with entomology as 

 a chief diversion, and occupied but three days, mostly spent on the 

 bicycle between Etaples and Calais, by Crecy and Hesdin, to St, Omer. 

 I merely mention it because the country, especially in the neighbour- 

 hood of the river Canche, turned out unexpectedly charming and well- 

 wooded, the butterfly fauna strongly remmiscent of the New Forest, 

 where, in this late season, I found Limenitis sibylla, females, quite fresh 



