88 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the lapse of fifty-eight years it may be agreeable to those 

 interested in the butterflies of a little-known corner of the 

 Alps to retrace the footsteps of these pioneers. 



The published account of their experiences given by Guillemot 

 is rare. It is to be found neither in the library of the Natural 

 History Museum, South Kensington, nor of the Entomological 

 Society of London; and it is only within the last month, and 

 after this paper was printed, that I saw a copy included 

 among the separata of a foreign bookseller. I am indebted, 

 therefore, to the kindness of M. Charles Oberthiir for a loan of 

 the work.* 



As far as I can see, Larche has changed little in appearance 

 since Guillemot and Bellier were there in 1855, from July 

 29th to August 3rd. The hotel accommodation is decidedly 

 -worse, for while they speak of comfortable quarters and good 

 plain food, I am afraid I cannot endorse their recommendation 

 of the inn I visited. However, I was lucky enough to find my 

 bedroom occupied when I came up from Barcelonnette on the 

 morning of the 25th, and by the courtesy and kindness of the 

 Commandant of the garrison, whom I chanced to meet in the 

 road, I was enabled to obtain excellent quarters with M. Mathieu, 

 the local butcher — quarters usually filled by officers of the 

 Alpine regiments on the march and on manceuvres. Both 

 Monsieur and Madame were extremely kind and attentive, and I 

 cordially advise any of my readers who may fancy a week or 

 two at Larche to do as I did — put up in their chalet, lay in a 

 good supply of tinned foods, biscuits, &c., for lunch in the open, 

 and which are for sale at the small grocer's shop in the village ; 

 and after the premier dejeuner of coffee and rolls, return to the 

 auberge only to dine. 



In one respect, it is true, Larche has changed. Many of the 

 enterprising inhabitants having amassed fortunes, especially in 

 Mexico, have come back to build large stucco villas and live in 

 their native place, for the summer months at any rate. It is 

 possible, therefore, that with the steady increase of motor traffic 

 into Italy by this route, one of these proud proprietors may 

 devise a scheme for the reception of boarders, though the summer 

 at this altitude — 5568 ft. — is short : eight weeks at the most. 



I did not know, when I decided to finish my entomological 

 tour at Larche, that M. Oberthiir's two collectors from Digne 

 had passed the previous season (1912) there. Nor had I the 

 report of their experiences to guide me, as partly recorded in 

 recent published fascicules of ' L6pidopt6rologie Comparee ' 

 (Rennes, 1913, fasc. vii., ' Observations sur les Syrichthus du 



'''- ' Vingt-Ciuq Jours de Chasses anx Lepidopteres a Barcelonnette, et a 

 Larche,' par A. Guillemot. Clermont. 1856. Qj., also, ' Observations sur 

 les Lepidopteres des Basses-Alpes,' par Bellier de la Chavignerie, Ann. 

 Soc. Ent. France, 1854, p. 29, 1856, p. 5, and 1859, p. 177. 



