LEPIDOPTERA OF THE GKISONS ZERNETZ AND THE OFEX PASS. 199 



unexpectedly, a single A. heUarijus, with quite a nice lot of Aricia 

 'lonzelii not before noted in the valley, and more sparingly, J s of 

 Piilt/onniiotus eras. On the fiower-slopes above the spring just 

 mentioned, one or two $ A. donzdii were netted, so that the species 

 Avas evidently quite at home here. Besides Adopaea lineola, Hesjieria 

 alreiifi was very abundant, and so was Melampias melainpits, indeed, a 

 very considerable bag was made in this corner in a comparatively 

 slnort time. Swinging over the bridge the road led through the 

 larches again, and the common fritillaries were joined by Pi/rameis 

 atalanta, which sailed under the lower boughs of the larch trees, or 

 stood Avaving their wings against the bright green of the larch -needles. 

 The species, however, was less frequent here than above Lavin, on 

 August 10th, when it affected the birch-trees. The zig-zag soon led 

 back again, and the ]'arcini uin-coveved ground produced a few nice 

 Vacciniina optilete, as one walked along. Again and again the path 

 turned, and soon one saAv ahead the characteristic steep rocks that 

 had been blasted for the making of the road, but, before reaching the 

 rocks, an open hollow full of blossoming-thistles was perfectly 

 covered with swarms of butterflies, mostly the common Pierids, and 

 the equally common large fritillaries, but comprising, also, Pt/ramns 

 atalanta, I'anensa io, and Isxoria lathonia, the latter species, how- 

 ever, being much more abundant as one progressed, settling on the 

 road and dashing off with characteristic vigour whenever approached. 

 Just beyond here, one gets one of the most delightful pictures in the 

 Alps. The steep dolomite rocks rise up almost perpendicularly from 

 the roadway on one side, Avhilst on the other, a massive stone wall 

 about 4 feet high protects one from the dangers of the steep skrees 

 that fall away for probably 1000ft. to 2000ft. in some places, away to 

 the river that looks like a silver thread winding its way from the 

 gorge from Avhich it emerges in the bed of the valley far, far below, 

 whilst here and there the snowy caps of the mountains in the back- 

 ground make a perfect setting to one of those pictures that tourists 

 travel the wide world over to see. Hardly had we reached the steep hot 

 rocks before a black Erehia tumbled doAvn in front of us, lifted itself 

 gently over the stone wall on the other side, and, before we could look 

 over, was gently dropping down the steep skrees as safe from the net as 

 if 1000 miles aAvay. How well I knew the habit. Thirteen years before 

 I had seen Erebia nfrinc on the Mendelstrasse in hundreds, and had 

 Avritten up some of its interesting habits (/-'r«r. Sth. Land. Ent. Soc, 

 1897, pp. 63 et stY/.), and I knew I Avas on the track of this species 

 again. Specimen after specimen came tumbling down, often to escape, 

 more often to find itself in the net, or Avas observed sitting tightly in 

 a cranny of the hot rocks. It Avas a little late, and so many examples 

 had to be liberated that only a small bag could be made, but how 

 delightful it was to lounge in the hot sun and watch the habits of 

 this grand black A'elvety-looking felloAv again, to see the S s drop over 

 on to the skrees, to AA-atch them battling for a fioAver, or to bag a J as 

 she sat lazily sucking the nectar from a flower groAving in a cranny of 

 the rock as high as the net Avould reach. But there were other insects 

 besides Erebia nerine here. Strangest of all, ^lelitaea dictijnna, that 

 repeatedly settled on the road, coming, one wonders from Avhere to 

 such a resting-place. By the roadside, too, Botijs fiaralis Avas not 

 uncommon, another unexpected species, Avhilst an occasional Ai/riades 



