TWO DAYS AT ECLEPENS. 41 



absurd to imagine that if these larvae really feed externally, that they 

 would not have been observed. Taking into consideration these facts, 

 as well as that of the larvje burrowing into fresh peas, one is forced to 

 the conclusion that the larva of orinn after its third moult lives in the 

 roots or stems of some plant, and it should not be difficult for those, 

 who have time at their disposal, to solve the mystery. At one period 

 it was suspected that gorse was in some way necessary for the welfare 

 of this insect, as this plant was usually found in the localities in 

 England where arion occurred. This view, however, must be rejected, 

 as the butterfly is common on dry hillsides in Hungary, where gorse 

 does not grow. The object of these few remarks is to stimulate 

 collectors to endeavour to solve this entomological riddle, which is 

 really of much interest. 



Two days at Eclepens. 



By GEORGE T. BETHUNE-BAKEE, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



The two closing days of my summer holiday were spent at 

 Eclepens. Instead, however, of working the place from Lausanne or 

 perhaps better from Vallorbe, I resolved to risk the hospitality of 

 the little town of La Sarraz, and 1 shall venture to do so again, when 

 next I am able to devote a few more days to that favoured district. I 

 found the simple quarters of " La Croix Blanche " in the main street of 

 the village, if not luxurious, very clean, whilst the fare though 

 plain was always well cooked, and the hostess and her daughter most 

 attentive. Other advantages are that La Sarraz is on the main line 

 and is only forty minutes easy walk from the desired hunting ground. 

 Leaving Stalden in the Visp Valley at 7.30 a.m., on August 15th, I 

 walked to Visp and caught the first morning train to Lausanne in 

 burning heat. Early though it was, a few insects were astir. A large 

 Satyrid suddenly doubled in front of me before I had even thought of 

 mounting my net, and shortly a second did likewise, but it did not go 

 free, for a quick stroke secured it and revealed Sati/ms alcyone, then 

 Hijiparchia setiiele shared the same fate and several of each eventually 

 fell to my net, whilst lower down where the Visp widens out over a 

 broad stony track, another species attracted my attention, and I was able 

 to secure several S. var. corJula, though their first beautiful velvety 

 gloss had passed away, but considering the lowness of the altitude and 

 the warmth of that part of the valley the species must have been 

 decidedly late, for I had taken it plentifully at Berisal, where it should 

 have been later in emergence, more than a fortnight previously. Of 

 Lyci^nids, A(inades cnridon was in evidence in fair numbers and quite 

 fresh, a single 2 Hirsutina damun also fell to ni}' net, whilst a few 

 Leucophasia sinapis flew lazily about in the early morning sun. The 

 one insect that I was specially on the Avatch for was, however, Nadia 

 ■punctata. It seems to be especially active between 6 and 9 a.m., its 

 flight is not easily mistaken, but I was getting towards Viege before I 

 saw it and then it seemed limited to a small spot where it would rise 

 almost vertically out of some juniper bushes. Time, hoAvever, was 

 pressing and I had to be content with a couple of specimens. At 

 Villeneuve I was glad to transfer my quarters from the train to the 

 steamboat and to enjoy a delightful hour on the ever beautiful lake, 

 though the heat was so great that the distant mountains were wrapped 



