COLLECTING RHOPALOCERA IN SPAIN, 1913. 279 



"verted by the Bouvbon king, Philip V., into a residence rivalling the 

 glittering creation of Versailles, and surrounded as it is by lovely woods, 

 which extend for leagues in every direction, by gardens, lakes and 

 streams, the Palace of San lldefonso, in the month of flowers, is a 

 paradise and a miracle combined. I found the Hotel Euiopeo quite 

 ■comfortable, and as the King and Queen of Spain were staying at the 

 Royal Palace of La Granja at the time, full of officers of the Spanish 

 garrison. 



After " merienda " (lunch) I went out by the Puerta del Sol towards 

 the hills, but did not find much except some very fine Apmia cratae/ii, 

 which are much larger than those caught in Switzerland or France. 

 A thunderstorm prevented much being done, but I subsequently captured 

 a very good specimen of Macrnt/tj/lacia rubi, which dashed straight at 

 my face. The next day, June 17th, I worked the hills above La 

 Granja to little purpose, except that I was fortunate enough to get 

 several specimens of F.rebia evias, and three large beetles which I have 

 not as 3^et identified. A few C'o/m.s edima were flying on the lower 

 slopes, together with several var. helice. In the afternoon, after leturn- 

 ing to the level of La Granja, and working in the direction of the well 

 known farm, I found insects abundant, especially Melitaea aininia of 

 the form var. ibcrica, Obthr., in good condition. Among other species 

 were ['Icbeius ari/us [ocijon), Aiy/i/imis aijlaia, A. niobe, Melanar(jia 

 lachesia (one, which seemed to have just emerged), lltais riiinina 

 (slightl}^ worn), and a few commoner insects. 



On June 18th my collecting was much hindered by cloud and rain, 

 but I " sat it out," and during the bright intervals got some good 

 things. Colias ediisa, Ponfia dapUdice, and about a dozen Drj/as pan- 

 dora absolutely fresh. This last species was seen first on this date, 

 three days earlier than I calculated before I left England that I should 

 take it. They are really extremely abundant at La Granja, and though 

 difficult to catch in the early morning when settled on the ground under 

 the ferns, they are very easily swept ofi' the thistles on which they 

 settle during the sunshine later in the day. After getting wet through 

 during this long day, spent on both sides of the stream between La 

 Granja and the farm, I returned to the hotel rather knocked up. 



The following day, June 19th, the sun came out in all its strength 

 in a cloudless sky, conditions which continued until I left La Granja, 

 at the end of the week. I spent the da}^ on the left side of the Segovia 

 road, past the polo ground, in a ravine down which a stream runs, 

 uniting with another stream by the bridge under the main road. Leaving 

 La Granja by the Puerta del Segovia, in half an hour I was on the 

 ground. I took Lampides boeticns for the first time, but it was somewhat 

 worn. Melanan/ia lacltesis and M. japtjijia var. rleaiitlie, were on the 

 banks above the stream in small numbers. Dnjan pandora was abun- 

 dant, as was Anjijnnis aqlaia, and a few A. niobe and one Pontia 

 daplidice turned up. 



June 20th I incended to spend in the same place, but by half past 

 twelve I was compelled to give up on account of the heat and return 

 to the hotel and rest for the remainder of the day. My captures 

 were the same species as on the previous day with several more 

 examples of L. bueticus. 



The next day I made an early start and worked on both sides of 

 the stream leadmg to the farm. Many Dnjas nandora were obtained 



