BUTTERFLIES IN SWITZERLAND ISOR. 101 



Butterflies in Switzerland in 1908 {>rith plate). 



By J. N. KEYNES, M.A., D.Sc, F.E.S., and G. L. KEYNES. 



The chief object of our Swiss tour in 1908 was an attempt upon 

 the Apaturidae at Eclepens, but our efforts elsewhere were also 

 rewarded by several interesting captures and observations, which it 

 may be worth while to record. 



We began our collecting at Sion on June 24th, and worked on 

 the morning of that daj' in the valley ; here Poh/umwatus aviandus 

 was plentiful, but very worn, and it was difficult to get any males 

 worth keeping. We were somewhat surprised to find both Apatnra 

 iris and A. ilia among the trees, as we had supposed it to be stiil too 

 early for these species. This served as a useful Avarning that the 

 season was ahead of its normal time — at least a week in the lowlands 

 — and we decided to visit Eclepens some days sooner than we had 

 originally intended. The only other captures of interest were a 

 minute specimen of Plebeins argiis {aeiion) var. alpiita (17mm.), and a 

 very pale yellow form of Coenmujnipha pain)ihiliiR ab. pallida. In the 

 afternoon we searched above Sion towards Ormona for Melitaea deione 

 var. berisalcmsis, of which we took five males and four females, all in 

 good condition. This species appeared to be very local, bat it would 

 doubtless have been fairly plentiful had not the sun soon become 

 clouded over. Pontia daplidice was flying in some numbers, but in 

 very worn condition. 



The next day, June 25th, we walked up the Vex road, in the hope 

 of finding A(p-iades iiielea>/er, but in this we were disappointed ; we 

 were doubtless too early. On the other hand, we took Folt/oniuiatiia 

 anuuidiis, in better condition than on the previous day, Nordnunmia 

 [T/iecla) ilicis ab. cerri, Breiithis daphne, and JMelitaea phoebe. On the 

 whole, however, this road was found to be unproductive, and we left 

 it to pay another visit to the valley, where we took Melitaea athalia, 

 M. aurelia, Limenitis Camilla, and another specimen of Apatnra iris. 

 In the afternoon we took train to Martigny. 



June 26th was spent under the clifls between Martigny and 

 Vernayaz, and a wonderful hunting-ground this is. Foli/ommatus 

 aiirandus was very plentiful and in good condition ; it did not seem to 

 differ from the Sion race in size or colouring. We also obtained a 

 splendid series of Brenthis daphne, and were glad to get specimens of 

 Krynnis althaeae, Lou-eia alciphron var. gordius 5 , Polynmmatus hi/las, 

 Kluijia (Thecla) spini, Apatnra ilia, and Satyrus lieriiiione. Coeno- 

 nymjiha iphis was plentiful, but very worn. In the evening we moved 

 on to Lausanne. 



During the next three days, June 27th-29th, Ave had our first 

 experience of the wonders of Eclepens, and we were in no way disap- 

 pointed. Both Apatnra iris and A. ilia were out, not yet, it is true, in 

 very large numbers, but they were all absolutely fresh, and we 

 obtained a very fine series. We Avorked chiefly on the Oulens road, 

 but on the third day (June 29th) we found A. ilia to be much more 

 plentiful on the lower road. A. ilia var. clytie or eos, we found to be 

 A'ery much less common than the type. We took one specimen inter- 

 mediate betAA^een var. clytie and the type, the hindwing only showing 

 the brown suffusion. We saw no more than one female Apaturid and 

 no A. iris ab. iole, but we should, perhaps, have been more likely to 

 May 15th, 1909. 



