202 THE entomologist's record. 



Contributions to the fauna of the Dauphinc Alps. 

 Vlir. — La Grave en Oisans — Sweet lavender— The Rhopalocera 

 OF La Grave — Abundance of Polyommatus escheri. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



La Grave en Oisans, between Le Lautaret and Bourg d'Oisans, 

 is most delightfully situated. Perched on a rock, 5,000 ft. in height, 

 it lies in full view of the fine glacier of La Meije, which stretches 

 away to the south ; whilst to the east and north the Col du Goleon 

 and the Plateau d'Emparis extend to an elevation of some 9,000 ft. 

 above the level of the sea. To the west the Romanche valley runs 

 down between lofty, precipitous and glacier-covered mountains, 

 into the Combe de Malaval, a ravine of picturesque grandeur, and 

 almost unparalleled wildness. The steepness of its sides causes the 

 glacial streams to fall over the rocks in magnificent waterfalls, whilst 

 the (Ichris is covered with forests of sweetest lavender. At the termina- 

 tion of the Combe is the hamlet of Le Dauphin, whilst a sterile, 

 rocky valley lies between the latter and Le Freney, beyond which, 

 again, is the magnificent gorge, L'Infernet, which is shut in by almost 

 perpendicular walls of gneiss, which rise hundreds of feet from the 

 bed of the torrent. This leads out at last at the Pont St. Guillerme 

 to the valley in which Bourg d'Oisans stands, the Pont being at the 

 junction of the Romanche and Veneon rivers. 



The collection of buttertlies made at La Grave must be looked 

 upon as somewhat of a fraud, from the fact that, during the week 

 (Aug. 5th-12th) we were at this delightful place, we did not have a 

 dozen hours of sunshine. All the butterflies were taken in three 

 mornings' work of aboiit two hours' duration only, so far as sunshine 

 was concerned, added to an afternoon's walk from La Grave to Le 

 Freney. We are under the impression that, given sunny weather. La 

 Grave would have proved a perfect El Dorado of butterfly life. The 

 following is an annotated list of actual captures : — 



Hesperides. — Hksperidi.— Si/ricJitJius alirus.— A series of about a 

 dozen fine examples, captured on the slopes on the outskirts of the 

 pinewoods leading up to the Glacier de la Meije. They were taken 

 oft" the flowers, in the drizzle, whilst resting, with their wings over their 

 backs in the most approved butterfly fashion. The range of variation 

 was considerable. PAMPHiLmi.— 77/v»^'^/r».v Jinenla. — Abundant on the 

 slopes high up towards the ^Nleije. Common also, but worn ; on the 

 roadside about a mile below the village. PampJiila rouinta. — A few 

 taken at rest on the flowers, probably common. 



Papilionides. — Lyc^nid.e. — C'hri/sopha)tns ciri/auirac. — This species 

 was generally distributed, and evidently common. The 3 specimens, 

 however, were very worn. C Mjipi)tli()c var. eiin/hia. — Common on 

 the rough ground directly at the commencement of the ascent to the 

 Meije. The specimens appear very similar to those from Le Lautaret, 

 the females with a slight coppery tinge on the fore-wings. Poli/oni- 

 matun cori/don. — Abundant, the undersides, as usual throughout the 

 district, very pale. 1'. da)nun.— Still more abundant. The specimens 

 were of a deep purplish blue with broad outer margin, and very 

 sparsely spotted on the underside. P. esc/uri. — On a steep shaly slope, 

 with but little vegetation, this beautiful species was abundant, the 

 males were in first-class condition, the females, probably, not out, at 



