EARLY SUMMER IN THE VALAIS AND NORTH ITALY. 301 



to many other things previously taken. A few Adsita {Inn) .ttatices were 

 sitting on scabious blossoms, and a huge, pale female Hamearis 

 (Neiiieobius) lucina was taken. 



At St. Triphon, on the 18th, the insect of the day was Paran^e 

 achine, which swarmed in the pink of condition. New captures were 

 Limenitis sibi/lla, very fresh Arifi/nnis aglaia and A. niohe var. erisy 

 Brenthia dia, Pobjommatns icarus [ale.vis), and one specimen of Poly- 

 ommatits thersites. A curious teratological specimen of Coenont/Dipha 

 painphiliis was taken with a minute left forewing, eyeless and pointed. 



The 19th, between Vernayaz and Martigny, produced plenty of 

 new species — Ljeptosia sinapis and ab. erysimi, Melitaea phoebe, ]\L 

 dictynna, some quite fresh and others worn to rags, Brentliis daphne in 

 profusion, Limenitis Camilla, Kluyia (Thecla) spini, and Noidniannia 

 ilicis, Satyrus alcyone, Issoria lathonia, Loiceia (Chrysoplianiis) alcipltron 

 var. gordius, and Heodes viryaureae, the last only just emerging and 

 the var. ynrdins swarming and in perfect condition. The "blues" were 

 conspicuous by their absence, except Plebeius argiis and a solitary 

 Polyommatiis amanda. Hesperia carthami and Poirellia sao were well 

 in evidence. The weather, which had hitherto been perfect, now 

 showed signs of breaking, and the next day was a continuous down- 

 pour. A walk in the afternoon to Les Grangettes, near the junction 

 of the Khone with Lake Geneva, a locality for Brent/n's selene, produced 

 Brenthia ino and Melitaea didyma, sitting on flower heads in the rain,, 

 and allowing themselves to be boxed without trouble, but no B. selene. 



With the exception of Eclepens, the localities so far visited had 

 been worked from Montreux. A move was now made to St. Maurice,, 

 in the Rhone valley. Round about St. Maurice and Lavey les Bains,, 

 on the 21st, a dull day, produced only one new species, Satynts cordida. 

 At Sion, on the 22nd, " blues " swarmed, and very little else. Only 

 three species seemed, however, to be present : — Plebeius aryus, Polyom- 

 matiis icants {ale.vis) and P. amanda. 



On the 23rd, a fine day, round the Tour de la Batiaz in the 

 morning, and Vernayaz in the afternoon, produced plenty of good 

 things, although Melitaea berisalensis, which was specially looked for, 

 was not taken. New species were Erebia styyne (worn), Pararye 

 meyaera, Aryynni^ adippe, Polyynnia c-album and var. hutcJiinsonii, 

 Erynnis lavaterae and Hesperia carthami. K. spini and X. ilicis, var.^ 

 cerri, were plentiful on the bramble blossoms, their attempted capture 

 resulting, however, in mote damage to the silk-gauze net used than to 

 the butterflies. Brenthis daphne were plentiful and in good order at 

 Vernayaz, although only one specimen was seen at La Batiaz. The 

 most plentiful " blue " was Polyommatas hylas. 



The weather now became very unsettled, and even in the Rhone 

 valley it was cold enough to wear an overcoat. On arrival at Brigue,. 

 intending to walk over the Simplon, the conditions were so depressing 

 that a change of plan was decided on, and the train taken to Pallanza,. 

 on Lake Maggiore. The transformation in the comparatively short 

 time taken to traverse the Simplon tunnel was astounding ; on the 

 Swiss side leaden skies and an icy temperature, and on the Italian side 

 cloudless blue skies and brilliant sunshine. The walk from the station 

 at Pallanza Foiula Toce (the mouth of the river Toce) along the bank 

 of Lake Maggiore, to Pallanza, a distance of four miles, is a very 

 interesting and beautiful one. Small sallow bushes on the lake bank 



