202 the entomologist's eecord. 



although these was really very little except the usual common species 

 of the district, Pontia daplidice, Oolias edusa, C. hyale, Paranja maera, 

 Erebia neoridas, Issoria lathonia, and, most abundant of all, Argynnis 

 aglaia and A. niobe. But the district was a lowland one compared 

 with those already noted. The poverty of this district undoubtedly 

 is due to the geological (and consequent floral) conditions. Here 

 and there a piece of limestone breaks out of the interminable shales, 

 and then, as if by magic, a new insect fauna is seen — Melanargia 

 galathea, Epinephele lycaon, Melitaea didyma (the females of a fine 

 dark mountain type), Aglais urticae, Urbicola comma — but on the 

 whole the country is exceedingly poor in insects. Two or three 

 newly-emerged Euvanessa antiopa were observed, near La Foux, and 

 the stalking of these grand fellows gives an abundance of sport, but the 

 only one that I captured was a grand female, so deeply engrossed in 

 sucking the nectar from a large thistle-head that she fell a most easy 

 prey. Another district over which I roamed one day, and that was 

 equally disappointing, was that known as the Vacheries. It evidently 

 acted up to its name, for it was covered with cattle, and the cause of 

 the scarcity of insects was evidently due to them, for there was nothing 

 really seen in a long walk that was not common everywhere, e.g.', 

 Erebia neoridas, Pontia daplidice, Colias edusa, C. hyale, Argynnis 

 niobe, A. aglaia, etc., until we dropped over into the valley leading up 

 to the Lac d'Allos, when Nordmannia acaciae, and a few insects already 

 noted as occurring in that valley, were met with. Going down the 

 road produced better results. On the steep slopes between Alios and 

 Colmars, as well as on the lower ground by the banks of the Verdon, 

 was an abundance of species, although nothing much that had not 

 been seen elsewhere. Taking these in order, one could, almost as 

 soon as one was out of the village, begin to ascend the slopes, and, 

 serious as they look from the road, are, attacked in this way, really 

 rather easy to work. Erebia neoridas was here in swarms, Anthrocera 

 fausta and A. corniolica, of beautiful forms, were more sparingly 

 represented, Pontia daplidice was both fine and abundant, Melitaea 

 didyma frequent, but for the rest most of the species were distinctly 

 passe. Those particularly noticeable were Hcsperia carthami, Loweia 

 gordius, Nomiades semiargus, Cupido sebrus, Brenthis amathusia, 

 Adopaea lineola, A. thaumas, Thymelicus acteon, Powellia sao, 

 Melanargia galathea, and Epinephele lycaon, the females of which 

 have particularly well-marked, elongated, ocellated spots on the 

 forewings. Hesperia alveus, Urbicola comma, Melitaea phcebe, Pararge 

 maera, Polyommatus icarus ab. icarinus, Aricia astrarche, Ayriades 

 corydon, A. bellaryus, A. damon, Coenonympha pampJiilus occurred 

 everywhere, and were usually in fine condition, whilst the flowers were 

 frequented by an abundance of Colias edusa, C. hyale, Gonepteryx 

 rhamni, Issoria lathonia, etc. Anthrocerids were certainly over, 

 Anthrocera achilleae, A. ochsenheimeri, A. lonicerae, A. transalpina, 

 a few of each rather worn, being the only species besides those 

 already noted. Melitaea athalia (?) of the mountain form was frequent, 

 but worn altogether beyond cabinet stage, and only captured for 

 reference. Leptidia sinapis was also pretty generally distributed, but 

 not at all common. Polyommatus escheri was already over, also 

 Kluijia spini in the lower levels, although towards the lake the species 

 was still in very fair condition. Here and there on the slopes 



