300 THE entomologist's record. 



notes are most meagre. Coleopterists will find very full notes covering 

 10 years' work by Mr. Donisthorpe in vol. x., p. 87, and others in 

 vol. IV., p. 280 (Bouskell); vol. xi., p. 339 (Donisthorpe, with special 

 reference to water-beetles) ; vol. xii., p. 263 (Donisthorpe) ; vol. xv., 

 p. 152 (Chitty). The only reference to other groups is an article by 

 Mr. Porritt (vol. ii., p. 291) where he gives lists of Neuroptera, 

 Trichoptera, and Orthoptera taken towards the end of July, 1891. 



Swiss Butterflies in 1908. 



By DOUGLAS H. PEARSON. 



"Under the cliffs at Vernayaz." This frequently recurring phrase 

 in Mr. Wheeler's book and the hhit. Hecord, had long been a reproach, 

 as I had many times hurried through Martigny without staying to 

 sample its rich entomological treasures. 



June 19th, 1908, found us at last on the classic ground, and the 

 net was soon at work. The first good thing met with was Brenthis 

 daphne, which was fairly plentiful and was specially attracted by a. 

 very SAveet-scented white bramble ; a nice series was obtained, but 

 nothing showing marked variation. Loweia alciphron var. gordius 

 was plentiful, both J and 5 in good condition, and a few well- 

 marked Erebia stygne were taken. On reaching the marshy ground, 

 search was made for Pohjumuiatus amanda and it soon turned up, 

 principally ainong the beds of high reeds. It was nowhere common, 

 but was in fresh condition, though several specimens had chipped 

 wings, possibly from contact with the reeds. Here also we found a 

 few Coeiioni/iiipha i/ihis, a species new to me, but all were somewhat 

 worn and past their best. I worked diligently above the Tour Batiaz 

 for Aijriades meleayer but could not turn it up, though I saw one 

 taken by Rev. W. Pilson, betweeen Saas-Grund and Stalden, about 

 ten days later. One or two Melitaea berhalensis were bagged, two 

 Thecla ftpini, and several T. ilicia on brambles, but the weather was 

 windy and cloudy, and such gales arose at nights that many trees 

 were rooted up, and in some cases the steamers on Lake Geneva were 

 unable to land their passengers. A visit to Branson for Xomiades iolas 

 was a failure, and nothing else of importance was taken. 



On June 23rd we moved up to Visp, and on the 21th walked from 

 Stalden, up the beautiful Saas Valley, to Saas-Fee, an interesting walk 

 of fifteen or sixteen miles. 



Insects were fairly plentiful all the way, and Erebia ccto, E.eini/ale, 

 El. evia>i, E. st)///)ie, Faranje inaera, Cnenony)it})ha var. darwinimta, with 

 very large spots, and Lycaenn avion were numbered among the victims. 



We stayed at Saas-Fee until July 8th and found it rich in both 

 butterflies and flowers. I have never seen so many Oeneis aello as were 

 flying together below a rocky face of the Gletscher Alp, and took three 

 with one stroke of the net, and on the same ground took two Erebia 

 (joante, E. yorye, and one Colias editsa, a $ in good condition. 0. 

 phicowinie was fairly common, but C. palaeno was not seen. Melam- 

 pias epiphron was very common in the flat meadows near the village, 

 and also at Saas-Grund. 



A nice series of ScoHtantides baton was taken, and though it was 

 nowhere plentiful it was fairly widespread, and over a dozen were 

 captured in the course of a morning's walk. A few Polyomuiatiis eras 



