LEPIDOPTERA OF THE GRISONS ZERNETZ AND THE OFEN PASS. 197 



Aberration of Abraxas grossulariata. 



By C. W. SPERRING. 

 The aberration of Abraxas (jrossulariata figured below was captured 

 during the third week in July, in a garden at Charlton, by Mr. 

 Coppeard, when dusking. The antennae are broken off, and the legs badly 

 set. No yellow appears on the wings, and the pattern of the forewings is 

 not symmetrical. As Avill be seen by the figure, the forewings are much 



more suffused than is usual, even in dark aberrations taken in the 

 London district. It would be interesting to learn whether similar 

 aberrations have been taken wild, of course many such have been bred 

 in past years, and what the range of similar wild-caught aberrations 

 is, especially within the metropolitan area. 



Lepidoptera of the Orisons — Zernetz and tlie Ofen Pass. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



No British collector of lepidoptera appears to have recorded any- 

 thing of the fauna of the Ofen Pass district, a wild piece of country 

 lying between Zernetz in the Engadine and the Munster-Thal. It is, 

 however, well-known geologically as comprising an outlying portion of 

 the dolomite mountains, and was bound to produce some useful details 

 as to the geographical distribution of some species if not actually any- 

 thing new or rare. Time, however, was wanting to do more than 

 examine that section of the road nearer Zernetz, followed up by such 

 chances of collecting as the slownesses and stops of a drive over the 

 Pass finally aftbrded. Fortunately, the morning of August 12th, 1908, 

 was splendidly sunny, and, after half an hour's walk, the cultivated 

 districts began to be left behind, and insects commenced to appear. The 

 first species of interest was Polyommatns awandns, of which a few were 

 seen, but mostly worn, although a $ and 5 were selected that were 

 almost newly-emerged, and that appeared to be of good size, whilst, 

 with them, on the lower part of the same flowery slopes, was a form of 

 Plebeixs arr/Ks (aerion) with good border, which still provided a few 

 good specimens that proved to be var. kilUad. With them were 

 Aijriades coridun and Hirsutina da)iion, both much less abundant here 

 than between Sus and Lavin, a rather large form of Pohjommatus 

 teams and Aricia astrarche, whilst Adopaea lineola, Coenony)irpha 

 pamphilus and other common species were observed, Adopaea ffava 

 [thaumas) and Heodes virgaureae, the latter with very yellow (^ s, were 

 going over. Over the steep stony slopes to the left, an occasional 

 Parnassixs apollo of large size floated down, the specimens in good 



September 15th, 1909. 



