34 



struck me as having something peculiar in its manner. As soon as I 

 saw what it was I looked out for others, but only met with two. 

 The statement of certain authors that it shows a preference for 

 thistle-heads is misleading ; it w^ould be more correct to say flowers — 

 in fact, whatever happens to be in bloom at the time of its appearance, 

 which is practically the summer through, as I have taken it at rest on 

 some umbelliferous plant, in the Gorge of the Chartreuse, as late as 

 the last week in August. It is safest to net it; it readily takes flight, 

 and buzzes round the killing-bottle almost before one has time to 

 get the cork in. 



Orthoptera. 



It was rather too early in the year to expect to do much with the 

 Orthoptera, but several species were in evidence to prove that it w^as 

 at least not a bad locality. 



Edobla lapponka was seen on the juniper bushes on the hillside 

 quite active in the sunlight. 



Stenobothrus ; several species as larvK, and one mature in clearings 

 in the forest. 



Tettix bipiinctatus ; must have been abundant, for they frequently 

 lodged on my net while walking along, and occasionally they were 

 seen hopping about the road. 



Platycleis grisea ; larvae were common in the long grass in many 

 places. 



Gryllus campestris ; young specimens were not uncommon. I 

 have never taken the perfect insect, but I have seen many scores of 

 larvae. It is said " to be of retiring habits," and Burr says " it 

 frequents hot, dry, sandy places." That must refer to the imago ; 

 the young are very precocious, and are to be seen frequenting the 

 roadway practically any and all times of the day, and without much 

 choice as to locality. I brought home one alive with the idea of 

 rearing it. Burr says it will readily eat lettuce ; unfortunately I 

 tried lettuce-stump. My specimen ate it right enough, and with 

 apparent appetite, but in a few minutes it was on its back with legs 

 and antennre out straight and stark dead. 



Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa ; evidence of the mole cricket was forth- 

 coming in a damaged specimen found dead on the hillside opposite 

 Ancourt. 



Odonata. 



Although I saw perhaps under half a dozen different species, it 

 was evidently a good district for the dragon-fly hunter. The trout- 

 streams Eaulne and Bethune meander through the valleys north and 

 south of the forest. 



Libellula depressa and quadrimaculata were about, but not 

 numerous. 



