82 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



eastern France, we got our first experiences with the butterflies 

 of the region, by capturing Pararge mcera and Aporia cratcegi 

 which were flying in the hotel garden. Both were worn, the 

 latter especially having seen its best days, though dilapidated 

 females were to be met with for several weeks after this date ; 

 in fact the insect was on the wing during the whole time we were 

 at St. Maurice. Mr. P. J. Barraud had travelled with us from 

 Paris and remained for about a fortnight, during which time we 

 made many pleasant excursions together. After breakfast we 

 set out to explore the hills at the back of the hotel. Hardly had 

 we crossed the little footbridge which spans the Moselle than I 

 took a very fresh Carcharodns alth(e(s, the only one seen during 

 our visit. A number of specimens of Rusticus argus (agon) were 

 secured, a species which proved to be common in the district. 

 On a piece of waste ground near by and in the meadows which 

 were being mowed, Erebia sti/gne was flying, but was already 

 getting over, and we found it difficult to pick out good specimens. 

 Proceeding up the mountain side and capturing an occasional 

 Melitcea athalia and M. parthenie, we saw a bigger fritillary 

 which Mr. Barraud captured. It proved to be Argynnis niobe 

 var. ei'is, and higher up the hill several others were taken. 

 Melanargia galatea was well represented and in excellent condi- 

 tion, and the same may be said for Lyccsna arion, some boldly- 

 marked forms of which were obtained during our stay in the 

 Vosges. Several beautiful specimens of Chrysophanus alciphron 

 (type) rewarded a rough scramble. In the afternoon we again 

 crossed the river and worked lower down the valley. Near the 

 bridge my companion suddenly plunged into the brambles on the 

 river bank and returned with a beautiful specimen of Limenitis 

 Camilla in his net, and a few minutes afterwards two others fell 

 to my lot. Polygonia c-album was sporting in the bushes by the 

 roadside, and an amorous pair allowed themselves to be caught 

 without much trouble. In a bushy place on the edge of a wood 

 Argynnis adippe was to be seen in first-class order. On the 

 whole our first day's bag was a most encouraging one. Tempted 

 by our successes we again visited the same hillside the next morn- 

 ing, but working up to a higher level, spending most of the time 

 on the margin of the fir forest which crowned the summit of the 

 mountain. On the way up, when climbing a steep grassy 

 declivity, Mr. Barraud netted a specimen of Papilio podalirius, 

 but it escaped, and although it came my way I had no better 

 luck. This was unfortunate, as we did not again see this attrac- 

 tive species. The four larger Argynnids — paphia, aglaia, adippe 

 (with its var. cleodoxa) and niobe (mostly var. eris) — were 

 abundant; a few Brenthis selene were seen; the Melitaeas were 

 athalia, dictynna and parthenie, while Lyccena arion flew about 

 everywhere. After lunch we determined to try our fortunes on 

 the opposite side of the valley. On the high road Pararge mara 



