A PEW NOTES FROM BERISAL DURING JUNE. 57 



the stones and rocks prevented the day from being (even entomo- 

 logically) wasted. 



Of the Argynnids, only Brenthis euphrosytie was abundant ; 

 one pupa, found on June i6th, produced a butterfly in ten days. 

 Mr. Griffiths also found a pupa of B. amathnsia. Issoria lathonia 

 was pretty common near Eefuge 11. , but not in very good con- 

 dition. Among the Melitseids, M. plioehe was found in abundance 

 as a larva and pupa, the first imago appearing on June 17th, 

 and a female being bred in captivity as late as August 22nd. 

 The cold summer in England seemed to have a very retarding 

 effect on these and other larvae, they ceasing altogether to feed 

 during dull chilly weather, and always exposing themselves on 

 their thistle-tops to such sunshine as was to be had._ The com- 

 monest pupa of the genus above and below Berisal was M. 

 dictynna, the butterflies emerging in the following July. The 

 pupse hang, regardless of aspect, on perpendicular rocks and 

 stones, frequently on such as afford no very obvious projection 

 or irregularity for convenience of pupation. Many developed 

 parasites, and some freshly turned examples were found being 

 devoured by large ants. The butterfly was scarcely out before 

 our departure on June 22nd, but I believe Mr. Griffiths secured 

 one specimen. M. parthenie var. varia, also M. athalia, were 

 met with, and M. cinxia had been out some time, judging from 

 its condition. A few M. aurelia were taken near the Ganter 

 Bridge, and a specimen bred from a stone-hung pupa on July 

 26th. Males of M. diclyma were out in superb condition by 

 June 18th, soon becoming commoner, and females were taken 

 half-way down to Brigue on 17th and 22nd. One pupa was 

 found which yielded a male imago on July 19th. 



Barely has one the pleasure of recording seven species of 

 Vanessidse on a single occasion, but on June IQthAglais urtica (fine 

 and fresh), one Eugonia polychloros (also fresh), and hybernated 

 examples of Pyrameis atalanta and cardui, Euvanessa antiopa, 

 Vanessa io, and Polygonia c-alhum were all to be seen between 

 Berisal and Eefuge II. 



Species of the genus Erebia naturally were not out in full 

 force during our stay. E. evias was, however, abundant both 

 above and below Berisal, E. ceto began to appear on June 18th, 

 and Mr. Griffiths netted the first E. tyndarus in the Ganterthal 

 on the same day. Pararge hiera was abundant, especially above 

 Berisal, and P. mcera began to appear below on June 18th. A 

 few larvse were found on grass, and pupse suspended from stones, 

 of this species. Coenonympha arcania var. dariviniana was re- 

 corded first on June 19th. 



The "skippers" were represented by Hesperia carthami, H. 

 alveus, H. serratula, H. malvce and H. sao, Nisoniades tages, and 

 Pamphila sylvanus. 



Several species of Noctuae and Geometry were found at rest 



