NOTES ON COLLECTING. 215 



$ s were not more abundant. E. cardainines, on the other hand, was 

 rare, but Pararge merfaera was common and poor in condition, but 

 Pyrgua sao, Si/richt litis alveiiR, and Acn)itia luctuosa were only just 

 appearing. An immigrant band of Pynimeis cardiii appeared to haA^e 

 recently come over, mostly large pale $ s that were intent on egg- 

 laying almost everywhere. The joy it was to see Goiiepteryx dcopatra 

 banging up the wooded slopes again, poor as the 3 hybernators had 

 now become in condition, only those who have watched this insect can 

 imagine, whilst the $ s were still full of eggs, and often seen busily 

 inspecting the buckthorn bushes, and, in one opening on the edge of 

 the wood, there were plenty of freshly emerged Melitaea cinxia. Cross- 

 ing the ridge, and working through the woods in the direction of 

 Carqueiranne village, with the Mediterranean fully in front, a good 

 many insects were observed, and, besides Sesia stellatarum and Hetnaris 

 fucifnrniis busily at the flowers, we found a spot where a few Thais 

 niedesicaste were still in fair condition, but I got no eggs, and here I 

 put up a (? of Arctia villica. The afternoon, however, came over 

 somewhat dull, and, with the exception of a few more E. euphenoules 

 on the way down to the road, the work came to an end. The next 

 day, April 25th, I walked up the Castle Hill, and on across the laven- 

 der-covered slopes to the farm in the hollow, the historical Plan du 

 Pont. It was a glorious sunny day, and the common Pierids were in 

 great numbers. I am afraid I did not see many species, but the net 

 was busy all the day, and, down in the hollow, two lovely series were 

 obtained — one a long series of fine big Brenthis euphrosyne, the under- 

 sides yellow, and reminding one of daphne in the basal areas, and 

 approaching it in size, the other a fine lot of Melitaea cinxia of large 

 size and excellent colour. Brenthis dia was also abundant, but getting 

 worn, one bright large ? , however, being the largest I have ever seen. 

 Hybernated Gonepteryx cleopatra were very abundant, especially the 

 females, one or two lovely Limenitis Camilla were the forerunners of 

 those that Mr. Sheldon saw here in abundance a week or so later, 

 whilst a couple of splendid Pararge egeria were possibly late specimens 

 of the early brood. Euchloe cardauunes, both- sexes, were not uncom- 

 mon, but mostly worn, whilst, on the grassy banks, Nowiades cyllarus, 

 Polyomwatusicarus, Coenonympha pamphilus, Syrichthus alveus, S. malvae 

 var. melotu, Pyrgus sao, Urbaniis {Garcharodus) alceae, Eidonia atomaria, 

 Acidalia ornata, and Acoutia luctuosa were captured in small numbers. 

 Thais polyxena was quite over, a few colourless 5 s only observed, and 

 the young larvag were already a good size. Further on, towards the 

 farm, where M. cinxia became very abundant, a single freshly-emerged 

 Polyommatus corydon ? , and one bright Melitaea phuebe were 

 captured. On the slopes behind the castle, on the way there, a few 

 freshly-emerged Pontia dajdidice, and one or two worn Anthocaris belia 

 had been taken , whilst on the lavender flowers two brilliant greenAdscitids, 

 at present referred to Adscita statices, the same insect that occurs at 

 Auribeau, near Cannes, and here and there a specimen of Plemaris 

 fucifornns buzzed busily at the same flowers. It was noticeable what a 

 large percentage of $ M. cinxia could be captured in the afternoon com- 

 pared with <^ s, this sex being quite rare earlier in the day. Calling on Mr. 

 Powell in the evening, I found he had cycled to Montrieux monastery, 

 where he had taken L<?/>fo.smf/»;jo?ic/jeZf among other good insects. The next 

 morning, April 26th, was equally fine, and so about 9 a.m. a start was 



