88 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
the lapse of fifty-eight years it may be agreeable to those 
interested in the butterflies of a little-known corner of the 
Alps to retrace the footsteps of these pioneers. 
The published account of their experiences given by Guillemot 
is rare. It is tobe found neither in the library of the Natural 
History Museum, South Kensington, nor of the Entomological 
Society of London; and it is only within the last month, and 
after this paper was printed, that I saw a copy included 
among the separata of a foreign bookseller. I am indebted, 
therefore, to the kindness of M. Charles Oberthiir for a loan of 
the work.* 
As far as I can see, Larche has changed little in appearance 
since Guillemot and Bellier were there in 1855, from Jnly 
29th to August 3rd. The hotel accommodation is decidedly 
worse, for while they speak of comfortable quarters and good 
plain food, 1 am afraid I cannot endorse their recommendation 
of the inn I visited. However, I was lucky enough to find my 
bedroom occupied when I came up from Barcelonnette on the 
morning of the 25th, and by the courtesy and kindness of the 
Commandant of the garrison, whom I chanced to meet in the 
road, I was enabled to obtain excellent quarters with M. Mathieu, 
the local butcher—quarters usually filled by officers of the 
Alpine regiments on the march and on manceuvres. Both 
Monsieur and Madame were extremely kind and attentive, and I 
cordially advise any of my readers who may fancy a week or 
two at Larche to do as I did—put up in their chalet, lay in a 
good supply of tinned foods, biscuits, &c., for lunch in the open, 
and which are for sale at the small grocer’s shop in the village ; 
and after the premier déjeuner of coffee and rolls, return to the 
auberge only to dine. 
In one respect, it is true, Larche has changed. Many of the 
enterprising inhabitants having amassed fortunes, especially in 
Mexico, have come back to build large stucco villas and live in 
their native place, for the summer months at any rate. It is 
possible, therefore, that with the steady increase of motor traftic 
into Italy by this route, one of these proud proprietors may 
devise a scheme for the reception of boarders, though the summer 
at this altitude—5568 ft.—is short: eight weeks at the most. 
I did not know, when I decided to finish my entomological 
tour at Larche, that M. Oberthur’s two collectors from Digne 
had passed the previous season (1912) there. Nor had I the 
report of their experiences to guide me, as partly recorded in 
recent published fascicules of ‘ Lépidoptérologie Comparée’ 
(Rennes, 1918, fase. vii., ‘Observations sur les Syrichthus du 
* © Vinet-Cing Jours de Chasses aux Lépidoptéres 4 Barcelonnette, et a 
Larche,’ par A. Guillemot. Clermont. 1856. Cp., also, ‘Observations sur 
les Lépidoptéres des Basses-Alpes,’ par Bellier de la Chavignerie, Ann. 
Soc. Ent. France, 1854, p. 29, 1856, p. 5, and 1859, p. 177. 
