80 THE entomologist's record. 



which the Rhone valley, with the St. Bernard route, appeared spread 

 out before us like a map. The geological formation and the flora here 

 were similar to those of the Vanelot. BreutJiu pales were not in such 

 good condition as those taken on Monday on the ^'^anelot, while, on 

 the other hand, Jssirria lathonia was just emerging. There were 

 plenty of good Erchia tj/ndanis, but ' 'oewmyinpha satyr ion was worn ; 

 one i'leheius optilete and one fine Pyrauieis atalanta were seen, the latter 

 looking very strange to one Avho has always associated it with the 

 plains. Colias palacno were generally fresher than on the Vanelot, 

 but gave one plenty of exercise. They were never in any numbers, 

 but appeared one or two at a time and flew very fast. The distant 

 Bernese Alps appeared remarkably distinct, betokening a break-up of 

 the fine weather, which proved to be only too correct. On the 5th we 

 left the Col de la Forclaz with regret, having had splendid weather 

 most of the time and some very good collecting, although insects did 

 not swarm as we believe they would in a more favourable year. At 

 any rate, they compared very unfavourably with the number seen 

 during the same period last year, in the Simplon Pass. We heard 

 afterwards that the weather bi'oke up on the day we left, and that the 

 Col was wrapped in clouds for some days, the visitors shivering in the 

 hotels with nothing to do. From which fate may the gods preserve us. 



Walking on through the beautiful Tete-Noire Pass to Chatelard, 

 we saw hardly an insect, with the exception of a few Flrehia liyca. 

 One perfect Apatnra iris settled on the road so near to us that we could 

 easily have taken it, had not the nets unfortunately been packed. 

 From Chatelard we took train to Argentiere, and were surprised to see 

 the new railway-banks, which had been planted with a kind of white 

 crucifer, alive with Ficris rapae. 



The same afternoon we walked to Les Tines, on the road to 

 Chamonix. On the left bank of the Arve, a la,rge fresh Pontia daplidire 

 ? was netted, but the sun disappearing at the same moment, and a 

 storm coming suddenly up the valley, we hurried back to the hotel. 

 The 6th, 7th, and 8th were cold and rainy. Although we were out 

 each day. not even Fieri s rapae was bold enough to venture from its 

 hiding-places, and by the 9th we were beginning to feel a little bit 

 desperate, so set out by train to Chamonix, thence to climb the 

 Brevent. The weather proving better, we took a few Fie7-is rapae, 

 Heodes riryaitreae (passe), and verj' fail" Aryynnis aylaia in the great 

 gully, a freshly-emerged FoUpjnnia r-albmn, and an occasional Erehia 

 liijea in the zigzags of the forest. On the open slopes near Plan- 

 Achat, we found a few Krebia hinestra, and should have obtained a 

 very nice series, but the sun vanished about 2 p.m., and the weather 

 became dull and gloomy for the rest of the day. Other insects taken 

 were very fair Melampias luelampus, one Krebia cetu, good E. tyndarnSf 

 worn ( Oenonyvip/ia arrania, very fresh Erebia yoante, and Aglais 

 nrticae. Near the houses of Les Moussoux, on a bank of flowers, were 

 Ihyas pap/iia, Artiynnis niobc, A. aylaia, Folyounnatas icariis, and 

 Farnassias apullo. One beautiful Eiiranessa antiopa was seen careering 

 wildly down the slope near Plan- Achat, but neither Fontia callidice, 

 (Jolias palaeno, Far)iassiiis deliiis, nor Brentkis pales were seen, 

 although these have been previously recorded from the Brevent ; 

 probabl} we were too late. 



On the 10th, the weather having improved, we sallied forth prepared 



