50 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



looked a little more hopeful, and I started in good time to work 

 among the vine-clad hills on the north of the railway. Here 

 Pieris rapce, Hipparchia semele, Issoria lathonia, B. dia, and 

 L. sinapis were met with. A large clump of the hemp-agrimony 

 {Eupatorium cannahinum) in the hedgerow proved a bait for Thecla 

 syini, of which a short series was obtained ; but the insect was 

 getting past its best, and required careful selection. Away across 

 the valley, on a wooded hill-top, were to be seen the ruins of a 

 castle, and I determined to make for them. In the low-lying 

 meadows which bordered the high road a single specimen of 

 Everes argiades was taken, the other Lycaenids noted being 

 Polyommatiis astrarche and Cupido minimus. In the village of 

 Pagnoz a lane was found which led up the hill-side in the 

 direction of the ruins, which I subsequently discovered to be 

 those of the old chateau of Vaulgrenans. When nearing the top 

 of the hill a fine male Apatura iris settled on the footpath, but 

 he was too quick for me. A stern chase down the steep pathway 

 left me the victor, and I am able to record the capture of the 

 only specimen of the genus I took during my summer holiday. 

 The next butterfly secured was an insect which puzzled me when 

 I boxed it, but it turned out to be a worn male Pohjommatus 

 icarus with a decided approach to hcllargus coloration. I suppose 

 it would be var. clara, Tutt, of which I got a brighter and 

 better example at Poligny a few days later. Among the females 

 of this species, taken at Mouchard, is one in which the lower 

 spots of the central row on the under sides of the fore wings 

 coalesce, and form a streak running towards the anal angle. 

 Aphaiitopiis hyperanthus was rather abundant, ab. vidua being 

 not uncommon. The key of the castle grounds is kept at a farm- 

 house some distance below the ruins, and the girl who acted as 

 custodian found on arrival at the gate that the lock had been 

 changed and her key would not fit, so I had to wait while she 

 returned to the house. When she came back she explained that 

 she could not find the missing key, but she quickly solved the 

 difficulty by pulling up the fence. In the grassy enclosure at 

 the foot of the keep quite a little collection of species was to be 

 found. Acontia luctuosa was in company with P. icarus, C. 

 arcania, C. pamphilus, E. jiwtina, Thymelicus lineola, Pampihila 

 sylvanus, and, most common of all, Melanargia galatea. The 

 morning's catch also included Aglais urticrs and Vanessa io, 

 while Argynnis adippe was seen. A walk in the afternoon along 

 a road which led to the forest in a more westerly direction 

 yielded no fresh species. Zygaenids taken near Mouchard were 

 Z. achillce, Z. transalpina, and Z. pilosellce. 



Poligny is an ancient little town lying at the entrance to one 

 of the picturesque eroded valleys so frequently found in the Jura. 

 Dominating the town is a lofty wooded hill surmounted by a 

 huge cross and the rather steep declivity formed a very good 



