Hymenoptera aculeata from Majorca and Spain. 593 



Jitnc 29. — During my visit in the previous year I had 

 made a special note of the Pass of Soller, 22 kilometres 

 from Palma, as likely to be a favourable locality. The 

 varied character of the ground, the numerous plants, the 

 high elevation above the Plain of Palma behind, and 

 the Valley of Soller in front, the descent on both sides, 

 the much higher ground readily accessible on either hand, 

 all pointed to the Pass as a place in whicli a naturalist 

 might well spend a few days. 



We started to drive across the Plain of Palma towards 

 the foot of the Pass, without any certainty that we should 

 find a place to sleep in. When well out in the middle of 

 the Plain we stopped at a neglected field covered with 

 umbelliferous flowers and collected for an hour. I had 

 specially bargained at the Fonda Mallorca for a most 

 persuasive driver, who would do his best to induce the 

 proprietress of the little inn on the summit to allow us 

 to stay. He certainly acted up to his promise, and un- 

 deterred by repeated failure, plied every oratorical art for 

 a considerable part of the afternoon. Although several 

 times the hostess seemed to be upon the point of yielding 

 she was finally inexorable. At last, however, she sug- 

 gested that we should ask if we might stay at a neigh- 

 bouring house — Son Allegra — where Seiior Antonio Pascual 

 resided. Here we were kindly received, and here our collec- 

 tion attracted the most lively interest and inquiry. In dumb 

 show — for the Senor understood no English, and I only a 

 word or two of Mallorquin — I was asked whether our cap- 

 tures were not intended to be stirred up in water and drunk 

 as a medicine ! The idea that insects were taken in order 

 to be eaten or used as medicine was also met with many 

 times in various parts of the island. 



Towards the close of that afternoon we collected upon 

 the summit of the Pass and the eastern slope rising 

 from it. 



June 30. — The whole of this day ^vas occupied in work- 

 ing the summit and the slopes rising and descending 

 from it. 



July 1. — The steep southern slope leading from the 

 summit to the Plain of Palma was explored from top to 

 bottom, and a little work was done on the edge of the 

 Plain. 



July 2. — This day was passed like June 30, at and near 

 the summit. I explored the high ground rising to the 



