LEPIDOPTERA OF THE VAL d'h:6rENS. 209 



with do not quite cover all the collecting-ground of this lovely valley. 

 On one visit in 1899, I spent ten days at Evolene, commencing on 

 August 7tb (the 8th and 9th wet), with Dr. Chapman, and worked 

 steadily all around the village. Except for a goodwalker though, Evolene 

 is too low for really good collecting in August, and as, at the time of my 

 visit, I was too unwell to climb, I found my bag rather limited. A 

 footpath from the village down to the river was a favourite walk, and 

 here, at the puddles, Polt/ommatas damon, large and fine, but with rather 

 small spots on the underside, P. corydon, P. astrarche, scarcely a $ , 

 P. esrheri (only ^s), Painphila comma and Syrichthus alveus were 

 particularly abundant, whilst smaller numbers of Pleheias argyro^inomon 

 {aryiis) and Nomiades semiaryiis, the latter in specially fine condition 

 (both sexes) were observed. By the roadsides, too, Issoria lathonia in 

 first-class condition, Chrysopkanns virgaureae, Epinephele lycaon, and 

 Coenonympha pamphilus were not uncommon, Avhilst Pararye maera, Aylais 

 iirj,icae, and Pyrameiscardni were also abundant, Epinephele ianira being 

 much less common than E. lycaon ; Bienthis ino and B. amathnsia were 

 both going over, and Melitaea phoebe quite washed out. On the other 

 hand, Polyomniatus icarus, Cnpido minima (very small), and Ihynielicus 

 lineola were in fine condition. Erebia yoante was the commonest 

 Erebia, and very fine the specimens were, whilst it came with Poly- 

 ommattis eras to the damp spots in the grounds of the Hotel de la 

 Dent Blanche ; Argynnis niobe was the most abundant of the larger 

 fritillaries, both type and var. eris, although A. aylaia was also 

 common, but A. adippe was scarce and worn. Among the Syrichthus 

 alceus were three beauties, black, with clearly cut white markings, 

 with one late, worn S. cartliami. Although E. lycaon wa-s so abundant 

 the males were going overby August 10th, at which time, however, the 9 s 

 were m splendid condition. Of the specimens of Polyomviattis icarus, most 

 of the examples had one or other of the basal spots on the underside of 

 the forewings, as usual, absent. The females of Pararye maera were 

 also particularly fine. Emanessa antiopa, just emerged, was seen once 

 or twice, the earliest on August 14th, at which time a large brood, 

 from larvae taken at Fusio, was emerging in the hotel ; larvje of Papilio 

 machaon, Saturnia pavonia, and Hemaris tityus (bo)nbyliformis) were 

 also frequently picked up, as well as imagines of Dasydia obfuscata 

 and Gnophosglaiici)iaria, whilst Papilio podaliriits, Coenonym pha var . dar- 

 iriniana, and other species were also frequent. In one or two places 

 there was an abundance of Melanargia galatea, unfortunately worn, 

 tiipparchia semele, and two or three Limenitis Camilla were noted ; 

 Erebia ceto also was going over, and in poor condition. One ? 

 Goneptery.v rhamni was seen, and two C'olias var. helice on the 11th. 



One of the most productive little walks here is up to Villa, a 

 villiige of some 5600 feet elevation. Passing a short distance along 

 the road towards Hauderes, one turns off sharply to the right by an 

 easily overlooked little footpath, and immediately starts ascending the 

 zigzags that run up to the village. On these slopes, the larvae of 

 Hyles etiphorbiae were on the move, on August 10th, in amazing 

 abundance, from little ones just hatched to huge fullfed creatures, 

 stretched out over the foodplant, enjoying the sun which had been 

 absent for the two preceding days. Few insects were seen on the way 

 up, probably because it was too early, but, when we got beyond the 

 village for some distance, insects became abundant enough, and, at last, 



