TKN DAYS IN THE (JJiVKNNBS. 119 



second brood, here also ( 'allimorpha hera was taken several times. In 

 our stony valley, whilst waiting for our special quest, I took a long and 

 splendid series of Anthmrera aarpednn, this species being quite the 

 commonest of the genus at this time. Among those taken are several 

 handsome aberrations, mostly in the way of increased size and con- 

 fluence of spots. A. hippocrepidis was taken here sparingly. Among 

 the Melanarifia (jalathea var. Iriiroinflas was occasionally seen, Mr. 

 •Tones taking several. I, however, had to be content with but two. 

 Along one side of the ground were some fine large trees, around which 

 Satynis alcf/uuf loved to disport themselves, but they were excessively 

 wary. They, as usual, delighted to rest on the main trunks, and unless 

 you saw them settle it was very difficult to find them, and at the least 

 sign of the net oft" they flew among the leaves above. Li-jitosia miaijia 

 was not uncommon, and we secured several beautiful sj^ecimens of 

 var. dinieiisis. 



Our experience of H. dohif. may be of some interest. It is one of 

 the most beautiful of European blues, and as such they behave. It 

 was a most unusual thing to see them before 12 o'clock in the day, 

 most were taken on the wing, their flight being decidedly rapid, 

 occasionally we saw them settle. I do not think I saw one toying 

 with other species of the group, they appeared to he generally very 

 exclusive. In another locality where a streamlet crossed the path, 

 and where croAvds of other blues were drinking, we only saw two 

 doing so, though the sun was so intensely hot that we avoided standing 

 still in it as much as possible. Their habits differ according to 

 locality, on the Causse we found them frequenting a grassy field with 

 much very long grass in it, here they were entirely in stony quarters. 

 About a quarter of an hour's walk from this spot was a very narrow 

 valley with the hillsides somewhat precipitous and a small stream 

 running quietly along the centre. Here was a profusion of valerian, 

 clematis, bramble and many herbaceous flowers that I did not 

 recognise, and at a certain bend there was a perfect cmharras de richetise 

 of these flowers and shrubs, which were the delight of Argynnids, 

 of Limenitu Camilla, of Paran/c iiiaera, etc. At one moment we saw 

 several Arnynnis ninhe var. crh sucking the nectar of honeysuckle, 

 Dryus paphia by the half dozen, l>renthis daphne sluA I), dia, whilst over 

 all swung and hovered in its lovely flight L. Camilla in abundance, 

 it was a sight that neither my friend nor I will forget for its perfect 

 beauty of life and colour and situation. In addition to the insects 

 already named, I^arnaxfiiiia apolln was there and several Hesperids as 

 well. As we entered this lovely spot from the road a large insect 

 flew by, which I at once recognised as an Apatura, fortunately for me 

 It doubled back wnth the result that it found its onward course 

 suddenly stopped by the folds of my net. It turned out to be a perfect 

 specimen of A. ilia var. clytic Previously to this we had met with 

 the species on the main road much nearer Mende, when a beautiful 

 specimen fell to Mr. -Tones' hand. Whilst in this neighbourhood we 

 took several others of both A. ilia and var. rb/tir. Here also I took 

 Riiyonia jiolychlorns in nice condition. 



We also spent one or two days on the top of the Causse, well over 

 1,000 ft. higher than where we had been working for H. dolus. Our 

 first day there produced several species not seen at all at the lower 

 altitude. Ascending by way of the Ermitage de St. Privat, we saw 



