330 THE entomologist's record. 



legitimacy of a name under certain conditions. Still, after this " Writ 

 of Quo Warranto," Krauss restores many old friends, which were used 

 by the last generation of British entomolgists, and we think that his 

 innovations will be met with more general favour on that account. 



Collecting Lepidoptera in 1902. 



By (Kev.) FEANK E. LOWE, M.A., F.E.S. 

 Those who ought to know tell me that negative evidence is nearly 

 as much wanted as positive. This is my sole excuse for recounting 

 my disheartening experiences in June and July of this vear. The 

 wish had been — starting at a much earlier date than Mr. Tutt's visits 

 — to add something to his valuable " Contributions to the Fauna of 

 Piedmont." Thanks to his kindness I was provided with all the back 

 numbers of the Knt. Record bearing on the localities to be visited. Also, 

 at some little trouble and expense, 1 had little booklets printed, with 

 lists of all possible butterflies, and the page opposite ruled in columns 

 like a school register, that 1 might have no need to trust to memory, 

 but simply " mark the attendance " of each species in every locality, 

 with a series of signs to denote •' fresh," " worn," etc. London was 

 left on June 4th, and reached again on August 1st. Our trip was to 

 Freiburg in Baden, Turin, Susa, Valle di Pesio, Aosta, Courmayeur, 

 back to Turin, Vorona, Bozen, Brenner, and home. Well, we did all 

 this and more, but tlje whole tour has not given me a single new 

 species for the cabinet, and very few which may serve to renew or 

 extend existmg series. Everywhere but at Bozen, where we were too 

 late, insects were so abnormally backward that there was nothing to 

 be done. The weather was generally wet, and always cold for the 

 time of year, but, though the summer species were retarded, there was 

 no consolation of belated spring broods. At Freiburg, June 6th was a 

 dull day, thunder threatening, and nothing stirring in the woods 

 behind the " exercising ground " but a few Abraxas aylvata. The next 

 was a pouring wet day, and I was laid up with neuralgia. Sunday, 

 entomologically a dies non. On Monday, the 9th, as it looked more 

 promising, 1 was up and caught the 6.0 a.m. train to Neu-Brtisach. 

 It began to rain before 1 reached my destination, and never ceased for 

 more than a few minutes at a time. The motive of tlie detour to 

 Freiburg and Breisach, was the desire of a good series of (diri/wjdianns 

 dispar var. rutilus. Last summer I liad taken four in passable condi- 

 tion on June 14th, viz., one male and three females. Two of the 

 latter were boxed for eggs, ;i,nd ruined as specimens without obtaining 

 ova. This year 1 hunted up and down the sides of the moat which 

 surrounds the fortifications, in the same spot as last year, but took not 

 a thing, not even A(iro]/Jiila trahealia, or Bankia arrjentiila, which 

 abounded in 1901. Turning to go back to the station I was " halted " 

 by a sentinel of the 142nd Regiment of the Line, who calmly, but 

 very decisively, barred the way. From his remarks I gathered only 

 one word, *' verboten," at which I offered my apologies in English, 

 and again attempted to proceed to the station. At that he manifested 

 more excitement, and signalled to other soldiers who appeared ready 

 to hand. These made me understand that I must follow them. 8o 

 we marched back with arms at the slope to the guard-room. Here a 

 sergeant, pen and note book in hand, endeavoured to question me, but 



