274 [November, 



of the male population of Digne appear to lie in wait for it when it 

 appears in May, and you are liable to be approached in tbe streets with 

 a torrent of \oluh\e provengal, the upshot of which is that you should 

 purchase for some fabulous sum a specimen of this variety that the 

 fortunate native or his son has secured in the spring. 



We left Digne on the 29th July, and stopped for a few days at 

 Grenoble on the way home, whence we made an excursion to La 

 Grande Chartreuse; but we had left the sun behind us in the south, 

 and the old familiar leaden skies with rain began to frown upon us. 

 Judging from the number of interesting and local plants that we noticed 

 on the way to the Monastery, it ought to be an excellent locality in 

 fine weather. We were, however, a little disappointed in seeing a 

 collection of butterflies made by one of the monks and shown in the 

 library of their Monastery. 



I have appended a few notes on some of the most interesting 

 species noticed at Digne during our stay, besides those mentioned 

 above : — 



Papilio Podalirius. — A second brood was not uncommon, especially near almond 

 trees. P. Alexanor. — The imagines noticed of this species were mostly worn. The 

 larvae, however, were to be found in all stages on Seseli montanum. The larva is 

 very conspicuous on its slender food-plant, which it frequently entirely demolishes. 



Leuoophasia Duponcheli. — A second brood ; the variety cfstiva, of Staudinger, 

 of this local species was common all round Digne. The characteristic green mark- 

 ings of the under-side of the hind-wing are entirely absent in the male, and only 

 very faintly indicated in the female of the summer form. 



Thecla ( Lceosopis) rohoris. — A few worn specimens were taken in the gorges 

 leading out of Brachet's land. 



Lyccena Meleager. — The male of this species was common round Digne, and a 

 few specimens of the handsome females were taken, including three specimens of a 

 brown variety approaching the variety Stevenii, of Treitschke. L. Admetus, var. 

 Rippertii. —A fairly long series was taken flying round the flowers of lavender 

 {Lavandula spica). L. Tolas. — A few larvae of this fine blue were found in the 

 unripe pods of the bladder senna {Colutea arhorescens), which was common about 

 Digne, especially on the hill-side at the back of the old Cathedral. 



Libythea celtis. — One specimen of this curious butterfly was taken on bramble 

 blossom on Brachet's property. The celtis tree does not appear to be indigenous 

 about Digne, so probably the larva will feed up on some other tree, possibly Prunus 

 padus, which is very abundant. 



Melanargia Oalatea, var. leucomelas. — A fair proportion of the females of 

 Oalatea taken about Digne were of this form. 



JSrehia Sfygne, E. Tyndarus, and E. Goante. — Les Dourbes, flying with E. 

 Scipio. A few E. Neoridas, which was just beginning to emerge, were also taken 

 on the occasion of our second visit to Les Dourbes on the 28th July. E. Neoridas 

 is abundant about Digne in August. 



