TWO MONTHS AMONG THE BUTTERFLIES IN SOUTHERN SPAIN. 295 



Mditaca or An/i/nuis groups. It was very interesting collecting — but 

 the sand-flies! They were most persistent in their attacks. One day 

 I worked among the more cultivated ground to the high road to Granada, 

 but scarcely saAV a butterfly. 



Shady walks in the Alameda, the pleasant climate and the good 

 collecting, make Granada an agreeable place for a prolonged staj'. At 

 Miss Laird's Pension near the Alhambra Palace I found most comfortable 

 quarters, and remained there from April 27th until May 27th. During 

 this period I had the pleasurable companionship of Mr. Sloper, and many 

 were the excursions we made. My collecting was chiefly confined to the 

 Genii Valley, about an hour's walk beyond the Cemetery. This valley 

 was most unproductive, until a field of peas in full bloom was reached, 

 and here butterflies were in some numbers. On certain occasions 

 Zi'i/ris i'Hji/ieuie var. iiwi idionalis was fairly numerous, but on others 

 scarcely one was to be seen. This magnihcent butterfly was somewhat 

 diflficult to capture, and pursuit was useless. Along the edge of the 

 precipitous slope overlooking the Darro valley, at an elevation of 

 about 8,000 feet among lavender, butterflies were very numerous, 

 principally F. macJiaou, P. podaliriiis v&v. ffist/iamelii, Melitaea }ihoebe 

 var. nixitanica, and (.'allojihriii^ riibi. A little way down. the hillside on 

 the way towards the Cemetery, M. sijlUits occurred occasionally, and 

 on the lower slopes M. ines. Blues were in abundance, principally 

 Lyccwna (Siolitantides) baton var. jmnopten, /., (Glaitcojisi/che) iiidcmops, 

 a few />. {I'olijomiiiottis) icariis, commonly, L. bdlay(/iis {Ai/riades tlietis) 

 and L. {Aricia) astrarche, both occasionally. M. phoebe var. acdtanica 

 appeared in the open country, but XL dejone var. nevadensh was quite 

 confined to the ravines, which intersect the hills in many directions. 

 The best collecting ground seemed to be in these ravines sheltered 

 from the wind, but very hot during sunshine. Here the flies were 

 very tioublesome, but not so bad as the sandflies at Ronda. 



Whilst I remained at Granada the weather was by no means good 

 for collecting, dull, overcast, wet, and windy days were numerous, and 

 cold nights always prevailed ; the snow-covered Sierra Nevada at no 

 great distance off, being, no doubt, the cause of these atmospheric 

 changes and Ioav temperature. 



List of Species Observed. 



I'apilio pudaliriuH xajV. feistiiaiiielii, Dup. — First seen on April 20th, 

 at Ronda ; occasional specimens taken there up to the 27th. At 

 Granada frequently met with at flowers of lavender on the plateau 

 overlooking the Darro Valley — April 28th to May 20th. 



/'. liiac/iaon, Esp. — First seen at Malaga on April 17th, fairly 

 common both at Ronda and Granada during the whole of my staj*. 



'J'lica'.s rtdiiina. — Two specimens at Cape Spartel April 2ud, 

 Occurred at Linea, but by April 9th the species was getting worn at 

 Malaga, where only occasional specimens were met with. The form 

 was a small one compared with the Ronda specimens, a variety I took 

 here was without any red markings on the upper surface of the fore- 

 wings. Worn specimens were met with at Granada on April 29th. 



J', riiiidna var. canteneri, Stg. — One specimen at Malaga, the dark 

 ochreous ground colour being very pronounced. 



I'ieris brassicae, Esp., and /'. rapa- Esp. — Common throughout* 



