258 THE entomologist's record. 



Taschenbergi . Dr. Sharp also figures this flea in his recent work on 

 insects! . 



The giant flea is parasitic on several insectivores and rodents, and 

 occasionally on other mammals. Mr. J. J. Walker to Avhom I am 

 indebted for some fine specimens, obtained it in the deserted nests of 

 the field mouse. I have received specimens from Talpa europaea, 

 Sorex vulgaris, Crossojms fodiens-ciliatus, Mas syhaticus, Hypcrdaeus 

 glareohift, Mustela vulgaris, and Mtistela erminea. 



Explanation of Plate X. 



A. Hystrichopsylla talpae. ? 



B. do. (? End of abdomen. 



C. do. <? Ninth segment. 



D. do. cf Ninth tergite from the inside. 



E. do, 3 Ninth sternite partly fused. 



F. do. <? Eighth sternite. 



t Die Flohc, Taf. iii., fig. 21 (1880). 



i Cambridge Nat. Hist., Insects, ii., p. 523, fig. 250 (1889). 



Lepidoptera in the Hautes=AIpes : Abries. 



By J. H. and J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 

 Melitaea phoebc was abundant, and its rapid mode of flight is more 

 like that of Argynnis latlionia than any other species we know, whilst ilf. 

 parthenie, few, but in good condition, occurred on the wastes near the 

 river. We suspect the M. varia found on the upper heights of the Crete 

 de Eeychasse must be a form of this species. The blues also were very 

 abundant. First and foremost Fulyommatus damon, then P. corydon, P. 

 astrarche, P. liylas, P. escheri, P. eros and Pleheius argus, all of which 

 swarmed at the puddles and runnels of water and rose absolutely in 

 " clouds " as we disturbed them. There must frequently have been 

 three or four hundreds in a single little congeries, and with these, 

 Thymelicus lineola, which abounds everywhere in these mountains, but 

 was going over here, although quite fresh at Larche and even at 

 Barcelonette, Pamphila comma, Syrichthus alveus, and S. sao, the last 

 in very poor condition. On the slopes Spilothyrus malvarum, and S. 

 althaeae were captured, neither in the very best condition. Occasionally 

 Polyotnmatus icarus was observed, perhaps half-a-dozen altogether. 

 Among the Satyrids, Satyrus cordula was in abundance, and in very 

 good condition, the males intensely satiny-black in colour, the females 

 brown with large well-developed ocellated spots. One is puzzled, con- 

 sidering the apparent laziness of the females, to explain how it is they 

 are frequently found, even in the earlier days of the appearance of the 

 species, in such poor condition. The wings of both sexes are, however, 

 of such a delicate texture that they split readily at the slightest provo- 

 cation, and contact with the net is sufficient to ruin them. The insect 

 occurred throughout the valley on every waste slope, and often up to 

 a very considerable elevation. HipparcJda semele was abundant only 

 by the side of the river, at Abries, but on the roadsides towards 

 Aiguilles becomes almost common ; the males appear to be unusually 

 dark, but the females much less distinctly of the aristaeus form than in 

 many subalpine localities. Kpincphele lycaon was exceedingly abundant, 

 and Coeyionympha iphis also, but the latter quite disappeared at this level 

 during our stay, whilst Parargc viacra was not uncommon by the road- 



