A MONTH'S COLLECTING IN HUNGARY. 161 



On the 12th C. rutilus was really quite common, though some of 

 the males were even then beginning to get a little bit worn. On 

 the 12th, too, I took a single specimen of Argynnis niobe var. 

 eris, which I had not seen before. 



The afternoon of the 11th I spent on the Schwabenburg, 

 where in places butterflies were numerous. On one slope on 

 the south side of the hill, A. niobe var. eris was rather common ; 

 here also, but confined to one very small dell, were three or four 

 Brenthis hecate, a species whose acquaintance I had not expected 

 to make until I got to Peszer ; it is very rare near Budapest, 

 and extremely local in the few places it does occur in. M . trivia 

 was very scarce, and I saw only three specimens, and these 

 were a good deal worn ; but I. lathonia was common, and I 

 netted one fresh Melitaa, aurelia, the only specimen seen. A. 

 thetis and P. hylas were common in one or two spots, the latter 

 rather small ; R. argus was frequent, but I saw no P. orion. 

 H. carthami flew about gaily, and was still quite fresh, while 

 other species noted on the Schwabenburg were A. sylvanns, 

 E. cardamines, E. ianira, P. nicer a, Loioeia dorilis, P. icarus 

 (very common), M. cinxia (worn), M. phoebe, and the two 

 "clouded yellows," C. hyale and C. edusa. 



Before I left England I had been told it was extremely diffi- 

 cult to get permission to go to Peszer, which, besides being a 

 most wonderful locality for butterflies, is a very interesting place 

 from other points of view. The forest is all Crown property, 

 and leave can only be obtained from headquarters. However, 

 thanks to the kindness of a friend in a high official position 

 at Vienna, the necessary leave was willingly granted, and all 

 arrangements made for me by the Agricultural Department, and 

 I cannot say enough for the kindness and courtesy of the gentle- 

 men who made the plans which enabled the journey and day 

 spent at Peszer to be enjoyed under the most delightful con- 

 ditions. 



Accompanied by Professor Schmidt, of the National Museum, 

 and Mr. Czillinger, of the Forestry Department, I left Budapest 

 by the early morning train on the 13th. The day was almost 

 perfect, a brilliant morning becoming slightly hazy towards the 

 afternoon. Arriving at Also Dabas Station about 8.30 we were 

 met by a waggonette, and then had a most interesting drive of 

 over two hours, for the last hour across a flat plain, where the 

 road or track got fainter and fainter until it disappeared alto- 

 gether, and we simply drove over the short grass. On our left 

 large swamps stretched away for miles, while in front lay the 

 low line of forest towards which we were making our way. Small 

 rodents, about the size of a guinea-pig, watched us keenly from 

 the edge of their holes ; these were hamsters (Cricetus frumen- 

 tarius), very pretty little brown animals with brown and white 

 heads. 



ENTOM. — MAY, 1913. N 



