34 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



Our first expedition here led us through the Puerto del Campo. 

 The day was rather dull. Just outside this gate we found what 

 appeared to be a parcbed-up expanse of waste ground, strewn with 

 masses of bare rock, through which ran a narrow little stream bor- 

 dered with tall trees, at which dozens of women were busy washing, 

 while the snow-white linen was bleaching on the bushes. On further 

 inspection we found some vegetation, among which were several 

 species of thistles (CanliiKs), and an extensive bed of nettles. Not an 

 insect appeared to be about, and we were making for the higher 

 ground, when passing through one of these beds of nettles we disturbed 

 first /'.'. tithonuH, and then a large butterfly, which was immediately 

 recognised as Dnjas pandora, was netted with the suppressed excitement 

 that the acquaintance with a species seen alive for the first time always 

 causes. -Once among them, these grand creatures rose at every 

 footstep, and we now saw them to be sunning themselves with 

 outspread wings on the sandy paths. They were very wary ; as the 

 net was swept at one, up flew three or four others ; but they always 

 managed to settle just out of reach of one's arm, no matter how 

 carefully they were stalked ; and owing to the assimilation of their 

 wings to the tawniness of the surroundings, were at first difficult to 

 see, until one was practically upon them, when up they would fly and 

 move oft' just far enough to be very tantalising. Both sexes were in 

 plenty and in fine condition, if we except a good percentage of slit 

 wings due to the thistles among which they were continually moving. 

 The sight of these grand Ann/nnidi flying all around one, their 

 beautiful purplish-green upper wings scintillating in the sun, the rose 

 and green of the under wings flashing as they settled on the thistles, 

 is something to have lived for, and well worth all the trouble of a visit 

 to tawny Spain. I think perhaps the very bareness and parched 

 appearance of the locality made them appear more glorious by 

 contrast. 



The next day was sunny ; 1). pandDva was flying freely, feeding on 

 the thistle flowers, and pairing, and hence more easy to capture than 

 on the preceding dull day. Ttie aforementioned women who were 

 washing in the brnok were naturally much interested in our procedure, 

 as also were their accompanying children, who, with the natural kind- 

 heartedness of their race, badly wanted to please the " Ingles " by 

 supplying him with the insects they could see he was seeking. The 

 way in which they crept slowly and stealthily up to the thistles and 

 stalked the butterflies from flower to flower, picking off' with thumb and 

 forefinger insects which we found it difficult to catch Avith the net, and 

 bringing them to us, was very amusing — so diff'erent to the more robust 

 English child's notion of entomology. They would sometimes bring 

 us a dozen or more wriggling butterflies of various species threaded on 

 a grass stem ; and one of the women showed us with great pride a fine 

 T). jiandora which she had caught and pinned alive to her clothes line. 

 We much regretted being partly responsible for this waste of such 

 beautiful creatures. 



Another interesting insect at La Granjawas Coennnijiiiplta iiiJiinides. 

 These we found on both the lower and' upper bogs, fresh J s and $ s 

 flying with worn ones. The species is very easy to capture, but 

 difficult to find at rest. They rose one or two at a time, and much 

 patience and a good deal of tramping up to the ankles in mud and 



