SPRING BUTTERFLIES IN THE RHONE VALLEY. 53 



Spring butterflies in the Rhone Valley. 



By A. S. TETLEY, M.A. 



A few notes on a short excursion into the Rhone Valley during the 

 first fortnight of June, 1908, may prove of interest in comparison 

 with those on a similar tour undertaken in the latter half of May, 

 1907. The past season, at any rate in the early months, seemed to be, 

 if anything, a forward one in Valais. It was certainly very much in 

 advance of 1907. The early "blues" and "skippers," which were 

 quite fresh (even Xoniiades ci/llaras) at the end of May, 1907, were 

 worn out, or had entirely disappeared from the same localities in 

 the beginning of June, 1908. 



Accompanied by a friend who was very keen on adding to his 

 herbarium, I went straight through to Chexbres, which we chose as 

 our first resting-place, to visit an old colleague. The next day, June 

 5th, we spent very quietly on the western side of Mt. Pelerin. As we 

 strolled along the road out of Chexbres village, the sight of Mdananjia 

 (jalatea in perfect condition warned us that the early spring butterflies 

 were over. A piece of marshy ground, a few yards further on, tempted 

 us to stay, and, with one ej-e on some peasants near at hand, we 

 plunged in after some very obvious Brenthids which proved to be lirenthis 

 ino, just out. In one corner of the little marsh, we found Lijcaena 

 «/vrt.s, a rather small form, in fact, at first I had passed them as 

 Tanayra atrata ; two males taken measured 28mm., and one female 

 27mm., two other females being more normal in size. Oddly enough, 

 on returning about 3 p.m., when the sun was still bright on the ground, 

 we could not find a single specimen. Butterflies were numerous as we 

 pushed up the lower slopes of the mountain. I'ob/oniniatKs ale.cis was far 

 and away the commonest "blue," and next to it cume Ai/r lades bdlanjas 

 and Xoin.iades seniianius, the latter worn. Hesperia iiialrae, I'l.nnilia 

 sao, NisoniadeH tatjes, Xenieobius liicina, the " swallow tails," Jlrcnthis 

 dia, Melitaea aiirinia, ^J. parthenie, and Erebia iiiediiaa, were all much 

 past their prime. Chri/so])hanus hippothoe was just out in the meadows, 

 and I took one Melitaea didyma, a large fresh $ . 



The next day we went on to St. Maurice where we stayed till 

 June 11th. We worked through Lavey Woods to Bex and up to 

 Frenieres, but clouds came up at midday and heavy rain began at 3.30. 

 Butterflies seemed scarce all day. In the woods we saw or took two 

 Cydopides palaemon, Hesperia malvae ab. taras, lots of fresh Aporia 

 crataeyi, Iphidides podalirias (all worn), Liinenitis Camilla, Epinephele 

 jartina 1 $ , L'oenonympha iphis 1 ^ , and, most of the ordinary spring 

 butterflies. Near Frenieres a single Lycaena arion brought our 

 entomological work to an end, and between the showers, we returned to 

 botany. During the night the temperature fell between 30' F. to iO-" F., 

 so we were not very hopeful when next morning, under dull skies, 

 we tramped along the river to St. Triphon. Nothing would stir, though 

 we got wet through as we kicked our way through the herbage. From 

 St. Triphon we took train to Villeneuve and spent the afternoon in the 

 marshy ground at the river-mouth. We managed to rouse up a lot of 

 Aphantopns hyperanthus and Auyiades sylvanus, but much searching near 

 Les Grangettes produced no Brenthis Helene, though the ground and the 

 vegetation were very like those of our Yorkshire localities. 



June 8th found us at Martigny, but dull cold weather spoiled every- 

 March 15th, 1909. 



