THK STORY OF ACIDALIA COXTldL'AlUA. 



1^5 



after Acidulia cuiitii/uaria in the years that followed, were outside the 

 scope of this paper. The inn stands upon the main road to Conway, 

 just at the point where the turning which leads directly to the Sychnant 

 Pass branches off' the old road, a little longer, but far more pic- 

 turesque, which is a delightful way of old roads. Follow the Sychnant 

 Pass road for a short distance, and then turn to the right along a 

 charming lane and you are on the direct path to Moel Llys or Bilberry 

 Hill. This little hill, heather-clad from base to summit, and looking 

 like the tumulus that covers the resting-place of some sleeping Titan, 

 is undoubtedly the home of Aciilalia contii/iiaria. Odd specimens may 

 stray away from here, and captures have been recorded, as we have 

 seen, as far away as Bangor and Conway, but the extraordinary 

 localisation of this species is one of the most interesting features in 

 its history. Some years ago, during a dry summer, the heather in some 

 way became ignited, and the fire rapidly spreading burnt for many weeks, 

 a brilliant spectacle at night, and much of the mountain was blackened 

 and laid bare. For several seasons after this the insect was extremely 

 scarce, and doubtless thousands were destroyed. The lane I have 

 mentioned leads up to a gate, passing through which you find yourself 

 on the mountain-side. Still continue your course along the green 

 marshy sward ahead for about 400 yards, then turn sharp to the left, 

 taking a diagonal direction towards the summit. Small patches of 

 rock now break out from the luxuriant growth of the mountain-side at 

 irregular intervals. Search these well, for here you will find Acidalia 

 crnttii/iiaiia. And what more natural '? The rocks grey and covered 

 with lichen nestle among the heather, which thickly surrounds them, 

 and overhangs them above in glorious clumps. The insect is very lethargic 

 in its habits. The hpather is the food of the larva^ in their native state. 

 Without doubt the perfect insect, emerging from the chrysalis, 

 languidly flutters down from the overgrowth, and settles, both males 

 and females, upon the first convenient flat surface of rock, and 

 there its destiny is fulfilled. As they sit they need little persuasion to 

 coax them into your pill-box, and they very seldom give any sign of 

 activity unless the breeze be fresh, in which case they may very easily be 

 caught up and wafted away. Only be very careful lest they fall into 

 the thick tangle at the foot of the rocks, for then the difficulty in 

 tracing them among the tough and matted stalks may prove insuper- 

 able. You are now on the enchanted ground. All down the noi'therly 

 side of the mountain the thick clusters of heather brush the middle of 

 the thigh and the bilberries grow in the wildest profusion, the fresh 

 breeze blows in from the sea, the magnificent panorama of the Conway 

 Valley stretches out before you, the brilliant greens and purples of the 

 mountains around fade imperceptibly away into the misty blueness 

 of the distance, the shimmering heat waves dance in the dazzling 

 sunlight, the azure canopy above, flecked with fleecy clouds, completes 

 the ravishing picture ; and as for you, if you still retain a vestige of 

 your youth, and that is quite possible far into the eighties (if you are 

 an entomologist) you fairly shout aloud fur the very joy of living. As 

 you pass down the mountain-side the rocks are found in larger and 

 bolder groups, until at last they rise in huge and towering crags. 

 These are worth searching, but too much time should not 

 be expended upon them if your sole object in life is A. rnntiiju- 

 aria. Down below, just before you pass again on to the Sychnant Pass 



