THE LEPI-DOPTERIST 



93 



were a number of Eros aurora, a very striking Lampy- 

 rid beetle brick red in cok>r runniuL^; about on fallen 

 timbers. We left our tra]) lantern here, preparing to 

 collect on our return in the evening. 



We then started for the Half Way House, intending 

 to eat ou*- lunch there as it is a good three or four 

 hours climb from the base. The balsams began to ap- 

 pear and once or twice a Eupithecia fluttered out. 

 They proved to be latipcnnis Ilulst and catskillata 

 Pearsoll. Hydrelia inornata became quite abundant 

 and I should not be surprised if either balsam or spruce 

 were its food plant. Also what apeared to be a wild 

 currant was in flower, with a number of yellow and 

 black spotted longicorns feeding on it. So far we had 

 seen only geometers and one or two noctuids mostly 

 Notodontans, but no butterflies. As we progressed 

 towards the third mile post the climb became harder 

 and the air cooler as we were some 2100 ft. in altitude. 

 On the right the trees became thinner and we could 

 see a great valley spread out below. The birchs were 

 hardly leaving out and the flowers of the bunchberry 

 were quite green. We saw two or three Lyca^nas 

 fluttering along the road, the first butterflies we had 

 seen. Beyond the third mile post the trees became 

 more stunted and there were practically nothing but 

 diptera about. After quite a walk we came to the 

 Half Way House where we sat down for a rest and 

 had luncli. In reality it is only an old house where 

 the men who repair the road stay and is not inhabited 

 in the winter. It overlooks the country for miles 

 around and is held down with chains to keep it from 

 blowing over during the mountain storms. In the 

 rear there is an old iiarn used to keep the teams and 

 a path running down to an old pasture in the rear. 

 There were no flowers in blossom except what ap- 

 peared to be the shad bush. It was quite chilly and 

 the wind was very strong so that it was impossible to 

 collect any Lepidoptera. Evidently at the altitude of 

 the Half Way House. 4000 ft. there is httic to be taken 

 so early in the season- Mr. Cassino decided to return 

 down the road where we left tlie lantern, while his 

 son and Mr. Sweet prepared to go to the top of Mt. 



