66 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



valley, to the right, a few hundred yards beyond the baths. This is, 

 in my opinion, the best ground at Digne during the summer months, 

 nearly every species occurring in the district is there. Then one usually 

 gets a nice breeze blowing down the gorge, and of charms, not the least 

 is the fine spring of pure water at which one can drink, a boon, indeed, 

 in this hot and thirsty land. We found here, besides Satyrus circe, S. 

 hermione, in the lower portion ; iS'. alci/one, higher up ; S. cordala, 

 of both sexes in great profusion everywhere ; a few S. seinele : and of 

 8. fidia we got a specimen each at the entrance, and saw several 

 others. Papilio alexanor flies slowly along the precipitous sides of the 

 gorge, seldom, however, coming near enough to net, we were a little 

 disappointed to find this fine species somewhat passe, but a hunt on 

 the hillsides amongst its foodplant, Sesile vumtanum, soon disclosed 

 plenty of larv«, from which I have now sufiticient fine pupae to breed 

 a series. Parnassius apollo was common, but, contrary to expectation, 

 not larger than my Swiss specimens. Amongst the Lyctenids — 

 Polijoininatus meleager was frequent, and, between us, we managed to 

 obtain about a dozen females, 25 per cent, of which were var. steveni ; 

 P. rippertii was scarce; Chrysoplutnns (jordius common, but mostly 

 passe, I obtained, however, a fine female underside variety, with many 

 of the spots obsolete ; fine C. riri/aiurat' were frequent two miles or so 

 up the gorge, and, throughout its length, C.dorilis wa,s not infrequent, 

 my captures of it included several of the magnificent local forms of the 

 female, which is nearly as bright as, and much resembles, (J. (lordias, 

 female ; Melananiia ijalatea was plentiful, but the var. leucoiiwlas was 

 only met with in odd specimens, and they required looking for. The 

 local Coenonym))ha dorus swarmed, and was in good condition ; of 

 Polygonia eyea two specimens only, formed our united bag. 



We had one day on the Collette, finding much the same species as 

 on our other ground, with more female P. ineleayer and more P. rippertii, 

 and my captures of this latter species included a good underside 

 variety, with the spots greatly increased in size, and kidney- shaped. 



We spent a morning on the right bank of the Bleone, and here 

 unexpectedly found Satyrus artaea in profusion, and in fine order, quite 

 a fortnight early. There can, I think, be no doubt of the distinctness 

 of this species from S. cordtda, which was flying on the same banks, 

 but worn to shreds, and, as one saw the two insects on the wing 

 together, the difference in flight was very noticeable ; of the two, 8. 

 actaea is by far the more powerful and rapid. I also obtained a single 

 Hipparchia arethnsa, evidently this was just emerging. 



Other species observed included — Brenthis daphne, plentiful, but 

 with not a decent one amongst them ; Aryynnis adippe, types only; A. 

 niuhe var. eris, generally distributed ; Papilio jtodalirius, getting 

 towards var. zancleus, but not exactly it ; P. machaon, rare, and one 

 fullfed larva found upon 8esile montanimi, from which I bred a flne 

 imago during August; Pontia daplidice, just emerging and scarce; 

 Leptosia sinapis, common, and including var. crysimi, and some 

 intensely black-tipped males ; Colias hyale, abundant and fine ; (J. 

 ediisa, one or two, evidently not fully out m the second brood ; Oonep- 

 tery.c deopatra, not infrequent ; Ereres aryiades, a few, worn ; Eiisticus 

 arry<fs (rte//o«), plentiful ; E. aryyroynomon [aryns), vQvy local; Thecla 

 spini, generally distributed and frequent ; Polyommatus corydon, in 

 swarms ; P. Iiylas, fairly abundant, males only observed ; Limenitis 



