Rhopalocera in the Taunus Hills. 



By Alfred Sich, F.E.S. Read October 24th, 1907. 



After three seasons working with the lens among the Micro- 

 Lepidoptera, a few weeks in the sunny valleys of the Taunus Hills, 

 chasing the Rhopalocera with the net, came as a distinct relief. 

 On July 21st, 1900, we arrived at Bad Ems, Germany. On the 

 23rd July we saw the first Papilio machaon just outside the town. 

 In an opening on one of the wooded hills above the town Melanargia 

 galathea was common, and appeared much attracted by the flowers 

 of Centaurea scabiosa. In the same place Ccenonympha arcania y 

 Chrysophaniis virgaurece, and Adopcea thaumus also occurred. July 

 24th was very hot ; and having found, near Lindenbach, a flowery 

 meadow with a large bramble bush at one end, backed by a screen 

 of trees, we decided to remain there for the morning. Off the 

 meadow we took P. machaon, Leucophasia sinapis, Lyccena arion y 

 and Augiades sylvanus. The bramble gave us Gonepteryx rhamni y 

 Lymenitis sibylla, and one L. camil/a, as well as Argynnis adippe, A. 

 paphia and C. virgau?-ece. We saw Apatura iris, which my son 

 netted as it flew by, though it subsequently made its escape. I got 

 the net over it a few minutes later as it settled in the road, but it 

 dived down a cart-rut, and again took flight. It gave us no other 

 chance, though we wasted a beautiful peach in the hopes of attracting 

 it. Polygonia c-album and Chrysophanus phiceas were also seen. 

 Next day in the same place we took the only Vanessa polychloros we 

 saw, and also V. io, Chrysophanus dorilis, and Lyccena euphemus. 

 We saw the first Euvanessa antiopa flying high up over the trees. 

 Perhaps the two most common butterflies were Pieris napi and Epi- 

 nephele jurtina. Pieris rapa was less common. On July 28th we 

 added Pararge cegeria, P. megcera, Epinephele hyperantns, and Thecla 

 cv-album to the list. 



On July 30th we left Ems for Wiesbaden, one of my old haunts. 

 Here I met my friend, Dr. Pagenstecher, and again looked over his 

 splendid collection. I also made the acquaintance of Herr Caspari 

 II, whose collection of Palaearctic Lepidoptera was very interesting. 

 The weather now changed, and we had copious downfalls of rain. 

 We, however, managed to take the following species : Erebia celhiops, 

 Lyccena semiargus, L. euphemus, Chrysophanus dorilis, Co/ias hyale, 

 Thecla w-album, Argynnis se/ene, A. aglaia, and Augiades comma. 

 Near a field of lucerne one Argynnis lathonia was observed. Off 

 tree trunks we took Liparis monacha, Habrosyne derasa, and the 

 autumnal form of Ochrostigma melagona. From an alder bush we got 

 a larva of Acronycta aim, which produced a fine moth the next 

 year. 



