4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



is independent of the animal, the operation is very simple. The spot 

 was applied to the creature, when the foot was in a state of repose, 

 regardless of the organs which it touches. 



But, what is this power which is independent of the animal? What 

 are the laws which control it ? I confess my inability to answer these 

 questions. Many years ago (in 187B) I gave to the facts which fall 

 into this class the name "Hypertely," that is to say, " une depasse 

 de la necessite." I prefer the term Avhich I have employed in my 

 recent work, and I call this power " arbitrariness " of creation. 



These words give a name to the facts, without aspiring to an 

 explanation, and, I consider, with my opponents, that to-day we are 

 far from finding one, and that we must confine ourselves to proving 

 and setting forth facts, even when they fail to fall in with our philo- 

 sophic system. And these facts multiply. There is a great charm in 

 examining entomological collections with the object of seeking speci- 

 mens of arbitrary coloration, and I beg my colleagues to give their 

 attention thereto, I promise them a great number of interesting 

 discoveries. — -Vienna. December 1899. 



Three seasons among Swiss Butterflies. 



[Concluded from. Vol. xi., p. 315.) 

 By G. WHEELER. 



The season of 1899 was early and prolific. Goneiitenj.r rhaiirni 

 appeared at the beginning of March, and from the 15th till the begin- 

 ning of April there were constantly fresh species on the wing. On the 

 15th I observed Pieris rapae and Aniiinnla Icitona, on the 17th Leuco- 

 pJiasia fiinapis, Eucldo'e cardamiiws, I'objomiiiatitf> dorilis, Callojihrys rnbi, 

 BrentJiis diet, Kii'/onia jiolyeJdoros, A/jlais urticae, Euvanessa antiopa, 

 Vanessa io, Poliji/onia c-cdhnm, ; on the 18th Pijrameis atalanta (the last 

 six of course hybernated) ; after this a week of cold rain ; then on the 

 27th Coenonijmpha painphilus and Si/richthus alceolas ; on the 28th 

 Papillo machaon and Pieris napi ; on the 29th Xisoniades tages, making 

 nineteen species in March; April 3rd produced Ciipido minima (ahus), 

 and April 5th Pieris brassicae, Numiades cyllarus, Pohjommatus icariis 

 {(de.ris), Ci/aniris anjiolits and Brenthis eitp/irosi/ne. After this a break 

 in the weather put a stop to further appearances until the 24th, Avhen 

 Colias edasa, C. Jii/aleand C pcuiisctis Avere on the wing, the spring brood 

 of C. edusa this year being by no means scanty. The early days of May 

 also produced Nomiades acis, Pohjommatits dorylas, P. aijestis and Netnc- 

 obius Incina, one specimen of Chnjsojdianus phlaeas, Pyrameis cardai 

 (hybernated), P. bellanim (adonis), Pararye meyaera, Erebia medusa, in 

 the above order, and one specimen of Cupido scbriis $ , the only one I 

 have as yet seen at Veytaux. On May 19th, following the directions 

 of a very accurate observer, Mr. A. J. Fison, I found Brenthis selenc 

 fairly common at "les Grangettes," between Villeneuve and Bouveiet 

 (only to be reached, however, from the former place, by a long detour 

 through Noville) ; on revisiting the same spot on June 7th I found the 

 species very abundant. This is a very scarce species in Switzerland, 

 though abundant in two or three localities. At the end of May and 

 the beginning of June I found Melitaea artemis, M. parthenie, Erebia 

 oeme and Coenonympha arcctnia var. dariviniana, at Glion, so that a visit 

 to Caux is no longer necessary for these species, and at the latter date 



