COLLECTING IN HUNGARY. 109 



Advanced as things evidently were around Budapest, it was 

 not so apparent here ; some species which it was expected would 

 be getting worn were in fine condition. The usual hosts of more 

 common, everywhere abundant, late June species were noticeably 

 absent, not even one Epinephele jurtina or Melanargia galatea, 

 probably still to come ; and in the Cserna-thal at least nearly 

 everything was more or less a novelty. The first seen was 

 Melitcea athalia, often clustered in groups, common enough in 

 itself no doubt, but amongst these some were of the fine large 

 form mehadiensis. Neptis lucilla, in fine condition, hovering 

 over the herbage on the banks, or at more shrubby ground 

 soaring overhead. N. aceris also, not too common and some- 

 times worn, in similar spots or often lingering over loose stones, 

 where a beam of sunshine finds its way down to the road. Of 

 this scarcer species I obtained a series of eight or ten good 

 specimens, Thecla iv-albiim was flying in some numbers, just 

 making its debut; and a fine brood of Polyommatus orion ex- 

 hibiting a good range of variation, chiefly var. ornata, Stgr., to 

 ab. nigra, Gerh., showed up at certain parts. Here also, before 

 the road crosses the river, Apatura iris was generally to be 

 noted. Two or three of Pieris rapce in the, to me, unusual form 

 rossii, Stefanelli {vide Entom. vol. xxxvii. p. 53), and P. napi in 

 the var. napcece was not infrequent. 



On the other side further down, Chrysophanus alciphron was 

 taken flying at wild thyme on the hillside ; the specimens, all 

 males, being very large and beautiful, expanding about 42 mm. 

 One or two of Argynnis adippe var. cleodoxa and plenty of Bren- 

 this daphne in the freshest order. 



Accompanied by a Hungarian gentleman from Karansebes, I 

 made a start one morning with the intention of ascending one of 

 the neighbouring mountains, but we found collecting so good in 

 the forest on the higher level, further advance for the nonce was 

 deemed inadvisable. The slopes of the mountains here are 

 very densely wooded, and for a considerable distance upwards 

 damage worked by the larvae of the gipsy moth was most exten- 

 sive, nothing but the bare branches, from which the larvse 

 dangled, at the part affected mostly oak. Further up, after 

 passing the Weisses Kreuz, the forest vegetation changes, and 

 the ravages of the larvae become less apparent. At this part 

 several Pararge liiera were secured, as large as P. mcera, for 

 which at first they were mistaken, as also one taken as a sample 

 at Budafok, and probably others seen and passed over in the 

 Cserna Valley, as the latter species were the same. The path 

 descends a little before entering a ravine, leading on to the base 

 of the Domogled peak. In this rocky ravine, especially in the 

 forenoon, Limenitis populi and its var. tremulce were nearly 

 always in evidence, and often easily secured. L. Camilla and 

 L. Sibylla were very common, and these I think the writer never 



