A FEW NOTES ON THE DIURNI AT LA BOURBOULB. 19 



containing some meadows only partially reclaimed and planted, 

 and which afforded a very fair proportion of the species seen in the 

 district. 



Hesperia serratulce, Embr. — The commonest " skipper " in the 

 neighbourhood, being seen in most of the meadows, the specimens 

 being rather larger than those obtained near B6risal. Guillemot, 

 writing in the "fifties" on the Auvergne Lepidoptera, points out in 

 connection with this species that in fresh specimens the wings are 

 thickly powdered with yellowish scales ; this feature is very notice- 

 able in the examples captured, especially in the fore wings of the 

 females. 



Nisoniades tages. — Common, but in rather wasted condition, 

 5th to 19th. 



Paviphila sylvanus. — Common after 14th. 



Chrysophanus hippiotlioe. — This species was fairly plentiful in all 

 the meadows round the town, and at considerable elevations above 

 it. All the specimens seen were of the lowland form, varying, as 

 commonly, in the degree of purple suffusion of the males, some of 

 which are very splendid examples. The females varied very con- 

 siderably, even from the same meadow, in the proportion of orange 

 suffusion over the fore wings. Guillemot mentions the not infre- 

 quent occurrence of specimens in which the black dots on the under 

 side are prolonged into dashes. Three specimens were obtained, one 

 male and two females, in which this is well marked ; in the two 

 latter cases, however, on one side of the wings only. In another 

 specimen, a male, all the black spots and their encircling pale rings 

 are missing on the left hind wing (under side) with the exception of 

 the marginal row. The females lay pretty freely on stems of sori'el ; 

 the resulting larvae retired with much unanimity while still very 

 small into withered leaves and crevices as early as the end of August, 

 the cool, wet summer perhaps suggesting the near approach of 

 winter, this being in great contrast to some examples in my 

 possession in 1908, some of which fed up rapidly and endeavoured, 

 though fruitlessly, to produce a second brood, two getting as far as 

 pupation. 



C. jMcBas. — Two specimens, both wasted, June 7th and 21st. 



Cupido minima. — One wasted specimen, 19th. 



Nomiades seviiargus. — Not common from 5th to 21st ; very fresh 

 specimens on both dates. Noticed in cop., Idth, the male carrying 

 the female in flight when disturbed. 



N. cyllarus. — Two wasted specimens, male and female, 14th; one 

 worn male, 19th. 



Polyommatics alexis, Hb. — Common in meadows throughout the 

 month. Very variable in size, and the females in absence or presence 

 of blue coloration ; both these factors were noticed by Guillemot from 

 specimens in this district. 



P. astrarche. — Not very common, 7th to 19th. The specimens 

 much resemble those captured in Surrey in the size of the red spots. 



Galloplirys riihi. — One specimen, 14th ; two, 21st. 



Zephyrus hetulce. — Larvae were obtained of this species on the 

 scrubby roadside sloe bushes on the w^ay to St. Sauves, west of 



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