LEPIDOPTERA OF LA SAINTE BAUME, VAR, S. FRANCE. 15 
motive of preserving its religious uses. And to those to whom 
it appeals, there is an extraordinary charm in the devotional 
atmosphere surrounding the place. For centuries it has been 
a sacred spot to the warm-hearted and highly imaginative 
Provencals. The centre of this feeling is a Grotto three-quarters 
of an hour walk above the Hotellerie, in which, according to tradi- 
tion, St. Mary Magdalene spent the last thirty-three years of her 
life in penitential devotions. This large cave has been transformed 
into a spacious church. At the back is a narrow natural plat- 
form in the rock, upon which the Saint is said to have performed 
her devotions, called Le Rocher de la Pénitence. Below is a . 
reclining figure in marble of the Magdalene, a gift of the famous 
Mgr. Dupanloup. The Grotto has for centuries attracted annu- 
ally great numbers of pilgrims, among whom have been both 
Popes and Kings. It is still in the present day the most highly 
esteemed goal of Provencal devotees. 
There is a beautiful little modern chapel in the Hotellerie, 
containing some good mural paintings. Here Mass is celebrated 
every morning, and all the staff and many of the visitors attend. 
The Plateau du Plan d’Aups is reached by carriage and good 
roads, ascending in the usual sweeps and zigzags, either from 
Aubagne vid Gémenos on the west, or vid Nans from St. Maxmin 
on the east. There is also another way from Auriol, joining the 
Gémenos road outside the village of Plan d’Aups. 
The plateau itself, of curious geological formation, is a stony, 
arid plain, covered with stunted vegetation and a few small 
isolated fir trees; flowers, at least at midsummer, are few. The 
mountains of Sainte Baume wall it in on the south side, and 
corresponding hills of less altitude, and more irregular, on the 
north; at the east and west are deep valleys, through which 
the above roads descend. The north side of the plateau is 
curiously seared by irregular ridges of rock running from east to 
west, about which is a considerable growth of broom and scrub, 
often concealing dangerous holes and fissures between the up- 
standing rock. All this is good ground for “‘ Hairstreaks,” and 
** Blues ” especially. 
On the first two days the wind rather interfered with collect- 
ing, afterwards the weather was perfect. On June 22nd, there- 
fore, I confined my work to the north side of the plateau where 
the shrubs and rocks afforded some shelter, and there were many 
warm corners. One of my first captures was an excessively 
small female Chrysophanus alciphron var. gordius. This insect, 
I fancy, is very far from common in this neighbourhood. I only 
took one other this year; that also a female. But their condi- 
tion did not in the least suggest that the species was over. 
Last year I only took one male. C. phleas, the only other 
“‘ Copper” seen, was also quite a rarity. Perhaps later broods 
would be more abundant. At this date Thecla spini was just 
