tHE Rtloi'ALOCERA FOUNt) IN THE MSSES-ALPES (dIGNE) IN APRIL. 225 



hybernators, and so, in my opinion, were those of (i. cleupatra, nor do 

 I observe, in the few Digne dcopatra captured, any difference in the 

 size between them and rhamni. Does (r. cleopatra hybernate in the 

 same manner as G. rluinini' What larval and pupal differences are 

 there? The eggs are certainly much alike, the food-plants the same, they 

 cover the same ground here (at Digne). They are of the same size. 

 Certain it is that at Cannes, dcopatra is the larger, but is this only a 

 concomitant of increased food supply, and consequent energy 

 resulting in larger size and brighter colour ? Who, of our southern 

 observers, can give us facts with regard to these points ? 



Nymphalid^. — Pohjijonia ('//*'(/.— Two or three specimens seen each 

 day sunning themselves on the dark shaly rocks, in the crevices of which 

 grows the Parietaria, on which the female lays her eggs. Very wary 

 and difficult to capture. P. c-alhum. — An odd specimen or two, 

 hybernated and very worn, were captured. Eiujunia jtoh/chluros. — 

 Several hybernated specimens observed. Eucanessa antlopa. — One 

 specimen, with most approved white border, on the Col de la Croix- 

 Haute, evidently searching out the sallows for egg-laying. Frey says 

 that this species is universal singly, and suggests that probably the high 

 Alpine Salices explain the phenomenon. He further says that the 

 butterfly is single-brooded, with " partial hybernation." What does 

 he mean by "with partial hybernation?" Pi/ra>neisatalanta. — Flying 

 with P. inac/iaon round the tops of the mountains. P. canlui. — Two 

 only seen, and these appeared to be in fine condition ; one was busy, 

 and looked as if egg-laying, the other flying with /'. atalanta, P. 

 iiiachann and P. podaliri.Hs, about some precipitous rocks at the summit 

 of one of the smaller mountains. This species is almost polyphagous, 

 and appears as uncertain in appearance inmost parts of Europe north of 

 the great mountain chain as with us. I saw no Vanessa io, but 

 A<jlais urticae was locally abundant in the larval stage. Some of the 

 larvee were sent to Mr. Merrifield, and the earliest of these produced 

 imagines on May 5th, at Brighton. Melitaca cinxia, — ^ Widely dis- 

 tributed all over the neighbourhood. Well out, large, in fine condi- 

 tion, and moderately abundant. Frey says that in Switzerland this 

 species occurs in meadows and low mountain pastures almost every- 

 where. Melitaca aurinia. — Just out on rather dry grassy slopes, and 

 in meadows, becoming very abundant on April 28th and 29th. The 

 specimens were mainly of the ab. artemis, Fb., but the ab. brunnea, 

 Tutt, and ab. prorincialis, Bdv., were also represented. Some of the 

 females were very large, and came very near var. ibcrica, Oberth. 

 {(hsfimtalnesi, H.-S.). I had expected to find the species here 

 exhibiting quite racial characters in the direction oi proiincialis, Bdv., 

 but cannot say that this altogether happened. M. athalia. — Just 

 appearing. I got four specimens on April 22nd, the doctor one. I 

 do not know whether the species became abundant later. It was a 

 strange experience to see, on April 22nd, in a meadow almost ready 

 for mowing, Melitaca cin.ria, M. aurinia and M. athalia, flying with 

 many P>rcnt/ns dia and an occasional Arc/i/nnis lathonia. I must own 

 this day alone knocked a great deal of the London fog, accumulated 

 during the winter of '96-'97, out of me, and made quite clear that 

 the summer of 1897 had arrived. Brcnthis dia. — Really abundant ; 

 some specimens were already worn. P. euplirostjnc. — The first and 

 only specimen taken by the doctor on April 29th, a large male. 



