1'eoc'keiiings^ 1!)14. 55 



and beans we were soon wanned tlinnigh and felt fine after mir tramp uf abont 

 ten miles. 



Tlie weather was an.vtliin^c but ijromisiug for insect-life during onr stay of a 

 week, amidst continual sleet and snow falls, only seeing the sunshine for an hour 

 or so at a time. Nevertheless, it was remarkalile how much insect-life could he 

 found as soon .-is the sun ni;ulo its a]>iH'ar:ince after a snow-storm. Poiiiia 

 occhlcntalis. P. xixiinilui. Siinchhiv miisti. 'I'licchi criiiilioii, T. mossi. and Eiicliilea 

 riispidra were fairly common close to the cabin in a sheltered clearing in the woods. 

 Several small day-flyers and a few specimens -of Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were 

 also taken. 



We departed from Schoonover Cabin at 1 p.m. on Ajiril 2Gth. arriving at 

 Shuttlewortli Creek about .") p.m. 'I'IkxIu irnidcs and Lycwna ni(/reKcrns were 

 common in spots along the mountain-trail. With the use of a lantern we collected 

 every fine night in camp, but with little success. onl,y a few CucuUia and Geometers 

 being attracted by the light. Being disgusted with our previous catches. "ive decided 

 to try our luck in an orchard a short distance from the camp. 



On the night of Jlay ."ith moths were found in countless numbers feeiling on 

 cherry and peach blossoms. I'.y spreading a blanket under the tree and shaking 

 the branches carefully, a dozen or more moths would fall intoxicated to the ground, 

 and with tlie use of a lantern and foroeiis the desired specimens were riuicljly 

 phiced in killing-bottles and pinned and labelled the following da.v. We collected 

 long interesting series of Muiiirstia. XiiHiki. Xnloiiiii/rx. flrui)}iii)liora. and other 

 early moths mentioned in list of captures in the following pages. About 1.000 

 moths were taken in two nights. 



The most undesirable of insects during April and May were the ticks, which 

 were so abundant in the grease-wood benches in tlie vicinity of onr camp that 

 Mr. Garrett and I were both badly bitten, and at times the jaws of ticks were 

 found well buried under the skin, and had to be removed with a lance, absolutely 

 refusing to release themselves when coal-oi! or the lighted end of a cigar or 

 cigarette was applied (a method frecjuently used by settlers). 



On May Ifith another camp was jiitched at A"aseaux Lake, seven miles soutli of 

 Okanagan Falls, Camping close to the roadside and lake-shore, we were situated 

 in an ideal spot for collecting. We managed to find time to collect daily during 

 the heat of the day. taking scores of PapUios. LeiiiniiUis. Pniitian. Si/iirlilirx (orange- 

 tips), skippers, and blues, and many others too numerous to mention. 



A second trip to Schoonover Mountain was made with the aid of pack-hor.ses 

 on June 1st, returning to Yaseau.x Lake on June Gth. The trip over the mountain 

 was a pleasant one. and instead of encountering rain and snow, as in April, the 

 weather was at its best, trees and wild flowers were in splendour, and nature 

 seemed at peace with all the world. In crossing Schoonover prairie, insects were 

 found in thousands — blues, skipi)ers, Eirlihis. liiTjitliix, AUiiJias, etc. — and many 

 small day-flyers hovered all round us as we wended our way through the tall 

 grass. The prairie is a beautiful grassy plateau at an altitude of about 3,0iX) feet 

 on the south side of Schoonover Mountain. 



Returning from the mountain, we candied from June cth to July Sth at Vaseaux 

 Lake. Dog Lake. Okanagan Falls, and Penticton. Considerable rain fell in June; 

 nevertheless, we took advantage of all the tine weather and added a large variety 

 of insects to our collection. It was remarkable to note the disappearance of certain 

 species of Lepidoptera after a heavy rainfall of two or three days" duration. Some 

 insects quite connnon previous to a wet S|pell were enlirely wiped out of existence; 

 this was noticed principally among the blues and Thcvliix. The skippers and other 

 forms seemed to survive all weather conditions thro\ighout the season. 



I shall endeavour to make a list of the most important captures. There still 

 awaits a number of insects to lie classified and arranged in the Museum collection. 



Before concluding. I wish to thank Mr. C. B. Garrett for his valued assistance 

 in the field, and also for bis careful .-ind jiainsljiking methods in Ibe iireservation 

 of the specimens. 



