312 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



seen here were E. stygne and E. euryale, both passes ; the 

 Hesperiids P. sao, H. alveiis, and, among the very few 

 things flying on the close-grazed, wind-swept clayey tops, 

 H. carliiKs. I can recall no Satyrids of the larger kind on the 

 wing except S. cordulea; and this was infrequent except on 

 the hot hillside, where I had sought Erehia scipio in vain. 

 Chrysophanus virgaurece, too, was not as common as usual ; the 

 females taken are intermediate in colour between the type and 

 var. zermattenis. This pathway winds up to one of the well 

 sources from which Monetier draws its thermal waters. The 

 forester's hut marks a convenient centre for the chase, and had 

 not the Fates ruled otherwise, I should have extended my 

 explorations considerably in this direction. 



It is a curious fact that until I wended my way towards the 

 Col d'Arsine on July 29th I had not observed a single Theclid 

 in France this year. The few T. ilicis left on the Millefolium 

 had seen their last days, and it was the same with most other 

 species on the wing — very difficult to secure good specimens. 

 In the lower forest B. amathusia, B. ino, and Limeiiitis Camilla 

 occurred, the first-mentioned commonly ; but it was disappoint- 

 ing to plod miles under the burning sun and find so few species 

 besides on the wing. Even Argynnis nioie was rare, A. aglaia 

 more so ; and at the higher levels towards the summit of the 

 Col (7874 ft.), on the steep slopes above the little Lac d'Arsine, 

 there were surprisingly few butterflies, though the day was per- 

 fect. Mr. Tetley had bid me look for E. scipio here ; I saw 

 none — only E. stygne— and compared with the locality at 

 Monetier it seemed a less likely spot and elevation for the 

 species.^ B. pales, generally swarming, was represented by 

 single individuals; A. simplonia rather common, but wild and 

 wary. By the brooks P. delius floated temptingly, and I took 

 one beautiful female. E. tyndarus and E. lappona^NQiQ battered 

 and broken; no sign oi H. andromedcB, but again several ex- 

 quisitely fresh H. carlince and imperfect H. serratulce, all of 

 which repeated themselves, only even more rarely, on the high 

 valley below the Monetier Glacier, where I spent the last day of 

 my holiday on the flowery slopes. 



Sunday, August 2nd, 1914, is not likely to be forgotten by 

 France for many years to come ; it will remain indelibly fixed 

 on my memory as long as I live. The long summer day wan- 

 ing to its close, a perfect peace brooding over the hills, made 

 musical by the thousand bells of upland-pastured sheep. I had 

 reached the hotel about 5 o'clock, and was making tea in my 

 little bedroom when suddenly I heard the tocsin begin to ring. 

 Thinking at once that there was a fire, I slipped on my boots again, 

 and ran out into the little square just in time to hear the Mayor 

 read out the fateful order for the general mobilisation of the 

 French armies. A conflagration indeed ! War ! And by midnight 



