COLLECTING IN SWITZERLANT* IN 190s. 77 



Collecting in Switzerland in 1908. 



By ROSA E. PAGE, B.A. 



Havin.o- spent a most deliohtful month in 1907, collecting on the 

 Simplon Pass, in the Val d'Hei'ens and the Val d'llliez, we decided, 

 in the summer of 1908, to taste the entomological delights of the 

 Vallee de Chamonix and the Nicolaithal. 



Going straight out to Martignv, we arrived on July 24th, much 

 too tired hy our long journey to do anything hut idle ; but on the 25th 

 (a glorious day), sallied forth for the famous walk under the cliffs on 

 the road to Vernayaz, expecting to find swarms of good things. In 

 this we were greatly disappointed, as the season was an early one, and 

 we were, therefore, about a fortnight too late. Leptidia sinapi^ 

 required considerable selection, but, by dint of continued application, 

 a short series was obtained. Hipiiarchia alcijone and Sati/nifi cordula 

 were plentiful, but going over ; scarcely a specimen was Avorth 

 retention. Other insects occurred as follows: — Iphidides poilaliriiix 

 ( ? ), a few Melitaea didi/nia, a single M. phoebe, two very worn 

 Xnrihiiamiia iliris, two ParuasMiiif< apnllo, one Euiionia poli/c/tloras, one 

 fresh Pobff/onui c-albnni, three (Toucpteri/.v rhanini, two Colias eilusa, and 

 worn Poly())innatiis damon: Ficris rapae, Kpinephele jiivtina, and f>n/ax 

 paphia were plentiful and in good condition, while Mdanar<iia ijalatea 

 and Af/riades corydon were worn. One or two specimens of very worn 

 Loireia alciphron var. (ford i us were observed. We also took a few 

 fresh Cyaniris seiniayfius, and were delighted to see the pretty little 

 [jDiveia dorilis for the first time. 



Somewhat disappointed, we walked over to Branson in the after- 

 noon. E71 route we saw no insects at all, and, on the noted ( 'nllutea 

 ground and along the banks of the Rhone, there was very little about. 

 Ah is well known, a very high Avind, accompanied b}- much dust, often 

 springs up at Martigny in the afternoon, making it almost impossible 

 to use the net, and the walk back to Martigny extremely disagreeable. 

 Ennilia hi/perantliiis was fairly common, but going over ; one very 

 tattered Apatiirci irh was seen, but not captured. Practically, the only 

 insects taken were a few very fresh Ih-eres alcetas (summer brood) and 

 two very fresh Pontia daplidice. 



On the 26th, we visited the cliff walk again, but with similarly 

 disappointing results. We missed a fine Euvanessa antiopa, but 

 captured Aporia cratae.iji and Ripparc/iia xewde. In the afternoon we 

 climbed through the vineyard path to the Tour de la Batiaz, on Melitaea 

 herisalemis intent, but, although we had a very interesting view of the 

 Rhone Valley, we did nothing entomologically. Nothing was about 

 but Pierh rapae and Epinepliele jiirtiiw, a very worn Papilio uiarJtaon 

 and a few Anthrocerids. 



By this time, we had come to the conclusion that we were wasting time 

 at Martigny, which is not a place that anyone, who was not entomo- 

 logically inclined, would choose to stay at, as, besides the terrific 

 afternoon winds, the dust and the innumerable mosquitoes, the place 

 is not well drained ; so, on the 27th, we walked up to the Col de la 

 Forclaz, on the old diligence route to Chamonix, having been attracted 

 thither by Mr. W. G. Sheldon's note, in the Entomolof/isfti Record, 

 vol. xvi., pp. 98 et seq., and having been, by his kindly help, posted up 

 with information as to localities, etc. On the road which passes through 

 April 15th, 1909. 



