﻿NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 283 



following morning (May 14th) Mount Etna was hidden by clouds, 

 and I returned to Messina with a very poor opinion of " Sunny 

 Sicily." 



Again I braved the elements, and on May 14th went with my son 

 to Eeggio in Calabria by ferryboat for a day on the hills. It was an 

 eye-opener to come into contact with poverty unequalled anywhere 

 I have been ; the men had not even a spare sou to spend on their 

 favourite indulgence — tobacco — and the women slave at carrying 

 heavy burdens for the merest pittance. We had forgotten our 

 customary " tin of sardines," and could get no eggs even at the 

 wine shop, only bread and wine, so did not stop long. The geological 

 strata were most striking, and entomological possibilities great ; but 

 the day was sunless, and not a butterfly was seen. The records for 

 the third week in May are chiefly " cloudy," and also include 

 " scirocco " and " cold and boisterous." The month practically 

 kept up its bad reputation to the end. True, on May 23rd, I visited 

 Mount Etna, and stopped three nights. During short intervals of 

 sun I captured sufficient specimens of Euchloii davione to complete 

 my series, but I obtained no fresh species, and several that I had 

 taken before were not in evidence. Excursions near Messina were 

 also made without success, owing to lack of sunshine. My most 

 fatiguing day w^as May 31st. I took train to Scaletta (twelve miles) 

 at the foot of Monte Scuderi (4000 ft.). It was cloudy, but I had 

 hopes the clouds would break, so I walked up in order to reach 

 uncultivated ground where it is possible to wander about quite freely. 

 I reached the part where only the goatherd and his flock are inet 

 with, noting on the way a possible " marble white " locality. The 

 goatherd pointed out to me the only available natural fountain of 

 drinking water, carefully protected by his class, and I was able to eat 

 my lunch there comfortably. Then I was tempted to go to the top, 

 a thankless task, for the top is bare rock, and increasing clouds shut 

 out entirely the view. I decided to return quickly, but half way 

 down I was enveloped in the cloud, and soon was unable to see my 

 way. Only those who have been in a cloud know what it is like. I 

 missed the track, got amongst long grass, and when the rain came 

 I had to sit down and wait. In common with the vegetation I was 

 soaked through. After a seemingly interminable walk I was very 

 glad at the first wine shop to swallow hurriedly a glass of their 

 " cheap and nasty " wine to gain a little Dutch courage to help me 

 to the station. 



The first week in June was a continuation of the May weather, 

 but on the 5th I started a campaign to look for "marbled whites." 

 I crossed the straits to Scylla, in Calabria, to search for Melanargia 

 arge ; I reached an apparently suitable locality, but met with no 

 success. Possibly I was too early, the season being late, or the 

 " scirocco " stopped its flight. My captures were egea, one ; dorilis, 

 one; viera, a few; and others. — J. Platt Barrett; " Westcroft," 

 South Road, Forest Hill, London, S.E. 



(To be continued.) 



