108 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



COLLECTING IN HUNGAEY. 

 By Albert F. Eosa, M.D. 



Whilst in Hungary during the early half of June last 

 summer, I had the good fortune to secure a considerable num- 

 ber of species of butterflies quite new to the writer, including 

 several rare and eastern species occurring in the districts 

 visited — the neighbourhood of Budapest and at Herculesbad in 

 the Mehadia. 



At Budapest I became acquainted with Herr Abafi Aigner 

 Lajos, who gave me a very cordial recej)tion. I was delighted 

 to have an opportunity of collecting with him ; and he was good 

 enough to introduce me to the Entomological Society of Buda- 

 pest on one of their evenings. Herr Aigner recommended an 

 early departure for Herculesbad, but being desirous to obtain 

 some of the local species before going south, I remained at 

 Budapest until the 8th, spending most of the time on that strip 

 of what has been apparently at one time fenny ground extending 

 from Budafok towards Kelenfdld. 



In these parts, the season of 1908 was more forward than 

 usual, the weather during my stay fine, though often hazy, and 

 butterflies here were very plentiful, and were represented, besides 

 the special ones about to be noticed, by many common species, 

 including Aporia cratcegi, which was in extraordinary numbers. 

 Nor were the good things long in showing ; some large well- 

 marked Nomiades cyllarus were taken at the Budafok end, and 

 soon the splendid copper Chrysophanus dispar var. rutilus put in 

 an appearance, and though never common, I secured a nice 

 series of males and three females. These are of fair dimensions, 

 measuring, males 34-45 mm., and females 41-47 mm. During 

 my stay I only encountered three specimens of C. ihersamon, not 

 more than one occurring on any single day. Apatura ilia var. 

 clytie was common flying about the willows, and occasionally 

 alighting on the roadway, but was very wary, only a very few 

 being netted. A couple of MelitcBa trivia were picked up, the 

 species being very scarce, though I must admit I expected to 

 obtain it later elsewhere ; and Coenonympha ipli'is was on the 

 wane, but amongst those taken a few are in good condition. 



At Budapest I also got a few full-fed larvse of Thais polyxena, 

 which soon pupated, and I expect will emerge at an early date. 

 Pyrgus orbifer was worn, but Herr Szlabey, one of the members 

 of the Society, handed me a fine example he had just taken. 



I moved on to Herculesbad on the 9th, and arrived in a 

 deluge of rain, but fortunately this was the only wet day I ex- 

 perienced. South of Temesvar Jozsephvaros the natives of the 

 different neighbouring States are much in evidence. The pea- 

 santry of this immediate vicinity I believe speak a Latin dialect. 



