A SWISS ELDORADO IN 1913. 271 



full to overflowing : the Jungfrau bad been wrapped in mist for six 

 weeks. 



On the 17th we were roused at 3.30 a.m. by our vigilant 

 friend, with the news that it was a grand morning; by 4.30 we 

 were off for our third attempt, reaching the Club Hut at 9.0, the sun 

 shining brilliantly, but the valley being nob yet reached by its rays. 

 How we enjoyed our walk in the clear cold air, the herbage covered 

 with hoar frost, the freshly fallen snow on the peaks glittering as the 

 sun lit up point after point, the forms of the mountains being outlined 

 by the shadows thrown on the valley slopes. A few Gnophids were 

 resting on the rocks as we passed them on the ascent. As soon as the 

 sun had had time to warm the ground and disperse the frosts, we 

 commenced to search the forget-me-not besprinkled slopes to the right 

 of the Club Hut, but not an insect appeared. We sat down in blank 

 despair, words failing us to express our feelings at the havoc worked 

 by the continual rains ; we even gave up trving to console each other 

 by drawing attention to the magnificent views all around us. 



About 11 a.m. we wandered over to the moraine, where a stream from 

 the glacier comes down between deep stony banks of debris, and here 

 we were delighted to see an Krcbia (jlacialis (type) airily skimming 

 along a yard or two above the stone-bestrewn ridge. Further search 

 was rewarded by our seeing about a score in varying condition, together 

 with a few K. uort/e. On returning to the Hut we found Mr. 

 Muschamp's son George had taken a var. alecto on screes to the left of 

 the Club Hut (going up). Both he and Mr. Muschamp worked the 

 same screes in the afternoon, but found no more, although they saw a 

 few worn Melitaea cyiit/iia. 



We slept again at the Hut, and were aroused about 5 a.m. by the 

 blithe carolling of the maid outside the " Damen-Salon " window, to 

 find another brilliant day. As soon as the sun reached the Hut we 

 commenced the descent, working the slopes en route. Near the moraine 

 Antlinicera [Zuiiaena) exidan» was fairly plentiful on its food-plant, a 

 species of trefoil, and on Alpine rose, but there was no sign of Latio- 

 rina oibitidiis, although Mr. Muschamp had taken one on the previous 

 day. Few butterflies were seen until we got to the steep grassy slopes 

 leading down to the river, where Anthroceia (Zi/fiaena) ochseiilwimeri 

 were plentiful on flower-heads, with an occasional E. tijndarns and a 

 few A'. pJiarte. But as one descended, half glissading on the slippery 

 grass, and revelling in the " grilling " due to the return of the sun-eod 

 in all his power, after weeks of bad weather, the soft flutter of Erebias 

 all around one (chiefly E. iiianto, most of which had just emerged), and 

 the joy of being once more on the warpath almost made one forget 

 past dolors, and one could easily imagine what Eldorado must be like 

 in more favourable times. 



After a frugal lunch at Kilsern, the weather suddenly became dull, 

 the air softer, and very little was done in the lower woods ; the only 

 Drijaa paphia seen this year, a small and crippled specimen, was rest- 

 ing on the herbage by the roadside near the Klonthal Hotel. Next 

 day, rain and thunder visited the valley once more and the weather 

 had evidently broken up for good, so we gave up further attempts at 

 collecting and left Klonthal, hoping to revisit it at some future date, 

 under better auspices. 



