90 THE entomologist's record. 



the high monntain species at once appear. Amongst them was 

 Colias phicniiione, literally in tens of thousands, the males somewhat 

 flown, the females in prime condition ; Erebia tyndarus was in its 

 customary abundance, flying with Corn<myiiipha iphis and Polyommatm 

 eras, and, on the summit of a knoll, a great number of Melitaea cynthia 

 were flitting about, of both sexes. Unfortunately they had been on the 

 wing some time, and I only succeeded in obtaining less than a dozen 

 good ones. 



We took the diligence again for Abries on July 19th, where we had 

 intended to stay at least a week. Unfortunately, on our first ascent, 

 we all drank from a cattle trampled stream, which imprudence 

 effectually put an end to our mountain climbing durmg the remainder 

 of our sojourn. Memorandum in future, when dependent on streams 

 for quenching thirst, always take a pocket filter. On this ascent in 

 question, to the " Pointe de la Lauze," wisely recommended by 

 Mr. Tutt, we had a good time, though the lower slopes, until we got 

 above the larches, were not prolific. A certain number of Erebia 

 enryale, a few Chrymphanus viri/aureae, Erebia goante, E. tyndarus, etc., 

 were all that were observed ; the scarcity of species and examples being 

 caused by half the cows belonging to the village grazing on these 

 slopes. When, however, we had climbed a couple of thousand feet, we 

 came to a valley with a stream flowing down from the higher peaks. 

 Here Parnassiiis deliiis Avas flying in some numbers, the only specimens 

 seen in the district, and with them an enormous form of Fieria 

 napi — one measuring 56 millimetres in expanse. At the damp 

 places, drinking, were plenty of Polyonnnatns orbitulva and P. 

 eros, of which latter species Mr. Abbott was fortunate in netting 

 two examples of the rarely met with female. Following the stream 

 up another thousand feet, the valley narrowed to a steep ravine, here 

 Erebia (joante was abundant, males only, and for the first time I 

 captured Polyommatus donzelii, and also two good specimens of P. 

 pJieretes, which species I have always found rare. Still another 

 thousand feet upwards, and we were on the ridge ; here on the screes 

 Erebias were flying in numbers, they proved to be E. yorye and E. 

 ylacialis, all the males of which were var. pluto. Here also my son 

 netted a fine specimen of Prenthis. ino, at a height of considerably over 

 9000ft., evidently blown up from the valley below. 



After this we had two days' collecting round the hotel, but did not 

 find the low levels very productive in desirable species. There were 

 plenty of Coenonyiiijilia iphis, Carcharadiis laraterae, Pnlyonniiatus daiiiun, 

 P. esc/ieri, Erebia yoante, E. enryale, and E. styyue, and I was much 

 pleased to obtain a nice series of llelitaea partheuie, all the specimens 

 I had previously supposed were this species having turned out to be M. 

 at/ialia. M. partlieiiie is very easily recognised, when you know it, 

 the snuff-coloured nose being unmistakeable. 



We also took a few of the interesting local form of Parnassiits 

 apollo, with red spots on the upper sides of the superiors, as in P. 

 deliiis, from which it is, however, distinguishable by its more pronounced 

 dark shading, by the absence of the cream ground-colour, and by the 

 antenna-. I suppose from ten to twenty per cent, of those taken would 

 be this form. The ill-efl'ects of drinking bad water continuing, com- 

 pelled us to leave this delightful valley before the appointed time, for 

 doctors do not dwell there, and, accordingly, on July 24th, we journeyed 

 north a<?ain. 



