154 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and with our combined three nets we captured fifteen specimens of 

 Euchloe damone in excellent condition, before rain practically put an 

 end to collecting for the day. We each took a specimen of Lyccena 

 alciphron (var. gordius), and amongst other species were Polyom- 

 matus baton, Ai^oria cratcsgi, Pieris dcqiUdice, Thais ijolyxena (quite 

 passe), Euchloe helia (var. ansonia), cardamines, &c., and a small form 

 of zygana. We got shelter from the rain and enjoyed a cup of tea 

 which Frau Hosier was able to make by the aid of a spirit lamp 

 carried with them, and water obtained at the adjoining farm- 

 house. 



Next day (May 21st) we agi-eed to take different directions. We 

 got up early, and before 9 a.m. damone was flying in the sun. Later 

 on clouds began to gather, and about eleven o'clock specimens of 

 Aporia cratagi became quite common. Apparently I was in a 

 swarm, they were on all sides of me, moving steadily in one direction 

 — westward. I captured about a score — all males — not one female, 

 in order to get a series of the Sicilian form, which has been named 

 augusta, and I had to hurry up, for before noon a thunderstorm 

 broke. Then I had to run for shelter from the downpour, and 

 fortunately reached a cave excavated by the labourers for that 

 purpose. The storm lasted about an hour, and then of course 

 Aporia cratcegi had disappeared, and the herbage being soaked, it 

 was necessary to keep to a pathway. After lunch I followed a mule 

 track up the mountain in the endeavour to reach the highest zone of 

 vegetation, where only Sed^im grows, but after a three hours' climb, 

 I had to be satisfied with finding out that the various trees which 

 form a wood, very conspicuous from below, are not pines as I 

 expected, but beech, oak, white poplar, and a kind of berberry. 

 Making a hurried return to Eandazzo, I had a narrow escape of a 

 night out, for at dusk a dense cloud, damp as well, enveloped the 

 district and hid Eandazzo from view, though I had almost reached 

 the railway station, where an engine was whistling continuously. 

 In the dark I missed a sudden turning in the broad cinder path and 

 got on a dangerous rocky slope, where I thought it prudent to 

 remain still. Fortunately, after a couple of hours the cloud lifted a 

 little, and after some careful searching I found a narrow track which 

 led to some huts. The occupants had retired to bed and at first 

 refused to open their only door, but at the third hut I 'found a Good 

 Samaritan willing to direct me. The following day was nice and 

 sunny, but we found the heavy rain had apparently diminished the 

 number of butterflies. Herr Hosfer and myself were both desirous 

 to visit Palermo, and we agreed to meet there. I returned to 

 Messina and he contined his tour vid Girgenti. 



Prom May 24th until I left Messina on June 14th there was an 

 entire absence of rain, and a heat-wave gradually increased in 

 intensity. I found Messina hot and dusty, and Palermo still hotter. 

 By arrangement I met Herr Hosfer and his wife, on Monte Ciuccio, 

 near Palermo, on May 26th, early. It is a steep rocky slope without 

 any shelter. Melanargia pherusa was flying about in abundance, but 

 we failed to capture a single specimen worth keeping. The heat, 

 combined with the slippery slope, fairly beat us, and we had to retire 

 to the valley below for shelter. In the valley I caught a newly 



