154 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
and with our combined three nets we captured fifteen specimens of 
Huchloé damone in excellent condition, before rain practically put an 
end to collecting for the day. We each took a specimen of Lycena 
aleiphron (var. gordius), and amongst other species were Polyom- 
matus baton, Aporia crategi, Pieris daplidice, Thais poluxena (quite 
passé), Huchloé belia (var. ansonia), cardamines, &c., and a small form 
of zygena. We got shelter from the rain and enjoyed a cup of tea 
which Frau Hosfer was able to make by the aid of a spirit lamp 
Stina with them, and water obtained at the adjoining farm- 
ouse. 
Next day (May 21st) we agreed to take different directions. We 
got up early, and before 9 a.m. damone was flying in the sun. Later 
on clouds began to gather, and about eleven o'clock specimens of 
Aporia crategi became quite common. Apparently I was in a 
swarm, they were on all sides of me, moving steadily in one direction 
—westward. I captured about a score—all males—not one female, 
in order to get a series of the Sicilian form, which has been named 
augusta, and I had to hurry up, for before noon a thunderstorm 
broke. Then I had to run for shelter from the downpour, and 
fortunately reached a cave excavated by the labourers for that 
purpose. The storm lasted about an hour, and then of course 
Aporia crategi had disappeared, and the herbage being soaked, it 
was necessary to keep to a pathway. After lunch I followed a mule 
track up the mountain in the endeavour to reach the highest zone of 
vegetation, where only Sedwm grows, but after a three hours’ climb, 
I had to be satisfied with finding out that the various trees which 
form a wood, very conspicuous from below, are not pines as I 
expected, but beech, oak, white poplar, and a kind of berberry. 
Making a hurried return to Randazzo, I had a narrow escape of a 
night out, for at dusk a dense cloud, damp as well, enveloped the 
district and hid Randazzo from view, though I had almost reached 
the railway station, where an engine was whistling continuously. 
In the dark I missed a sudden turning in the broad cinder path and 
got on a dangerous rocky slope, where I thought it prudent to 
remain still. Fortunately, after a couple of hours the cloud lifted a 
little, and after some careful searching I found a narrow track which 
led to some huts. The occupants had retired to bed and at first 
refused to open their only door, but at the third hut I found a Good 
Samaritan willing to direct me. The following day was nice and 
sunny, but we found the heavy rain had apparently diminished the 
number of butterflies. Herr Hosfer and myself were both desirous 
to visit Palermo, and we agreed to meet there. I returned to 
Messina and he contined his tour vid Girgenti. 
From May 24th until I left Messina on June 14th there was an 
entire absence of rain, and a heat-wave gradually increased in 
intensity. I found Messina hot and dusty, and Palermo still hotter. 
By arrangement I met Herr Hosfer and his wife, on Monte Ciuccio, 
near Palermo, on May 26th, early. It is a steep rocky slope without 
any shelter. Melanargia pherusa was flying about in abundance, but 
we failed to capture a single specimen worth keeping. The heat, 
combined with the slippery slope, fairly beat us, and we had to retire 
to the valley below for shelter. In the valley I caught a newly 
