300 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



wild and rocky pass before reaching the ruins, which burst upon 

 you quite suddenly. 



It is an imposing group of eleventh century Roman work in 

 pale grey granite, the tower alone standing erect and uninjured, 

 as though it would brave eternally the tempest and the storm. 

 It stands on a high isolated plateau, from which, on one side, is 

 a splendid view over the smiling Valley of Vernet, and on the 

 other a dark and frightful abyss, the bottom of which is covered 

 with verdure — a singular contrast. 



At the further end of the Abbey is an extension of the narrow 

 plateau, well covered with grass and shrubs, alternating with 

 huge blocks of granite, and here the form of E. stygne, before 

 mentioned, was excessively abundant. I took rather a singular 

 example of it, in which the band was grey instead of red, and 

 four-eyed spots on the fore wing instead of the customary three ; 

 but it can only, I think, be considered a curious colour aberra- 

 tion. Parnassius apollo seemed to be coming out quite fast, and 

 it was a pretty sight to see them, together with feisthamelii and 

 machaon, fluttering about that grandest of Cistuses — the lauri- 

 folius — many large bushes of which adorned the banks a little 

 lower down. I took here also a fine specimen of Chrysophanm 

 alciphron var. gordius, and Jones a Pararge mcera var. adrasta. 



Thus ended our brief visit of ten days to one of the most 

 lovely and productive places in the Pyrenees. There is no doubt 

 that from the middle of June to the middle of July would be the 

 most favourable period of the year for working this district, and 

 I believe that a few days spent at the comfortable hostelry on 

 the arete of Mont Canigou during the second week of July, 

 working downwards, would result in a complete mastery of the 

 Erebias of the district. 



I append a list of the Rhopalocera taken and observed : — 



Papilio podalirius var. feisthamelii, Dup. Common, frequenting damp 

 ground and resting on mud. The type also occurs rather earlier in 

 the year. — P. machaon, L. Common locally. 



Thais rumina var. medisicaste, 111. One worn specimen seen, and 

 larvse nearly full grown on Aristolochia pistalochia. 



Parnassius apollo, L. Common about St. Martin du Canigou. — 

 P. mnemosyne, L. Two females ; 5000 ft., Mont Canigou. 



Aporia cratmgi, L. One of the most abundant butterflies of the 

 district. 



Pieris brassica, L., and P. rapes, L. Scarce. — P. napi, L., and 

 P. daplidice, L. Occasionally. 



Euchlo'e cardamines, L. One on Mont Canigou at 7000 ft. — E. 

 euphenoides, Stgr. Common and fairly fresh. 



Leptidia sinapis, L. Occasionally. 



Colias hyale, L. Two males in good condition on the Castell road. 

 Rondou gives August oidy for this species, but there must be a spring 

 brood also, I imagine. — C. edusa, F. Occasionally, quite fresh. 



Gonepteryx rhamni, L. Several, worn. 



