﻿230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



A NOTE ON COLLECTING IN THE HIMALAYAS; 

 WHERE THE EAST AND WEST MEET. 



By J. C. MouLTON, B.Sc, F.E.S. 



Our favourite study, entomology, is fortunately above most 

 of the restrictions imposed upon mere man. Thus Kipling's 

 immortal decree that " East is East and West is West, but never 

 the twain shall meet," has no force in the realms of entomology. 

 The East and West do meet, and, what is more, fly together side 

 by side in the Himalayas ! 



Like many others in these troublous times, the writer has 

 laid aside the forceps and net for the sword — only for a short 

 while, let us hope — so it is with more than usual enthusiasm 

 that Sunday is welcomed as a respite from an uncongenial 

 occupation. Off with the cares of khaki and let us away to some 

 wooded dell, where insect life abounds, where the mind can turn 

 to higher thoughts. 



A further word of personal explanation is perhaps necessary. 

 The Indian hot weather began towards the end of April, and 

 our half battalion left the sweltering plains of Delhi for the 

 more habitable hill-station of Kailana. This stands on a narrow 

 ridge some 7000 ft. above the sea-level, a little west of the centre 

 of the Himalayan range; lat. roughly 31° E. and long. 78° N. 

 On a continuation of this ridge northwards is Chakrata, where 

 more Territorials are stationed for the hot weather. Some fifty 

 miles north-west is the well-known hill-station of Simla, the 

 present seat of Government ; thirty odd miles to the south-east 

 is the less fashionable station of Mussoorie, well-kuown to 

 students of Indian butterflies as the provenance of several impor- 

 tant collections. To the north-east of the Kailana, Chakrata 

 ridge, some sixty miles away, the wonderful chain of snow-clad 

 mountains rises in majestic grandeur to 25,000 ft., a magnificent 

 sight on clear days. To the south-west one has a glimpse of 

 the jagged Siwalik Hills, bordering the Himalayas, and beyond 

 them stretches an interminable expanse of heat — the plains of 

 India. 



Two hours' walk from Kailana brings one to the bottom of a 

 valley rather less than 5000 ft. above the sea-level ; two hours 

 in another direction leads to Deoban, alt. 9300 ft. Try the first 

 walk and the Eastern collector is busy with Acrasas, Danaines, 

 Euplceas, Papilios, Kalhmas, and other familiar friends. Try 

 the second walk and the entomologist might fancy himself in 

 England chasing Culins, Vanessa cardui, Fritillaries, "Whites," 

 our old friend the " Sulphur," not to mention " Small Coppers " 

 and familiar Satyrines. Being used to Oriental butterflies, the 

 lower walk appealed to me first, but it was not until I had 

 collected on the higher altitudes that the contrast, and more 



