LEPIDOPTEEA IK THE HAUTES-ALPES : ABRIES. 259 



sides. Evchia euryalc, of an unusually small form, was in great 

 abundance, and exhibited some variation in the size of the ocellated 

 spots, the general tendency being towards the suppression of the pupil 

 and to a lessened size. E. neoridas was very common ; previously we 

 had looked upon this as a species belonging rather to low than to high 

 altitudes, but here, although in swarms throughout the lower part of 

 the valley, it went up to considerably more than 6,000 ft. elevation, 

 as it also did at Larche. E. tyndarm was, as usual, everywhere, even 

 in the village, whilst in one of the gullies, just above the hamlet, a 

 single worn E. stygne showed that this insect also occurred here and 

 was over, and we suspect that this was possibly the case with many 

 other species. It was certainly so with Clirysophanm hippothoe, a few 

 worn examples of which only were seen the first day or two of our 

 stay, and but few C. f/ordius could be picked from the many worn 

 ones that haunted the wild thyme as being fit for setting. On the 

 other hand, C. viryaureac was in abundance and in the very finest con- 

 dition, although some of the males were noticeably small ; the females 

 appear to be unusually bright and without the dull shading so notice- 

 able in the specimens of some localities. As we have said, most of these 

 species occurred in even greater abundance on the waste slopes get-at- 

 able from the road than on the wastes at the level of the road itself, 

 and on the slopes one noticed in addition Cupido minima, large and 

 mostly worn, and Nomiades semiargm, some in the very finest condition. 

 Worn specimens of what appear to be Cupido sehras were also found, 

 but their state precludes absolute certainty in naming them. The only 

 Theclid seen was Theda spini, w^hich was not uncommon on the 

 wild thyme with C. yordius and generally in good condition. 

 Occasional examples of Polyommatm orbitulns, P. donzelii, and other 

 visitors from the higher pasturages were now and then observed, usually 

 in poor condition compared with those taken at higher elevations. 

 The usual alpine moths Avere abundant about the toAvn, and we were 

 very pleased to take a few fine Triphosa siihaudiata at light, an insect 

 we had not seen since we captured it at Mendelpass in the Tyrol. 

 Thera simulata, Anticlca berberata, Gnophos ohfuscata, G. furvata, G. 

 ylancinaria, Hypsipetes sordidata, beaten from the willows, Acidalia 

 mutata, A. ftaveolaria, with black margins to the wings, Acidalia 

 decorata, very like A. urnata, Cleoyene lutea^ria, SciapMla aryentana, 

 Eubolia mcnsuraria, Cidaria populata and a species very near E. 

 bipunctata, were usually more or less abundant, whilst Ennychia 

 pimicealis, E. cinynlalis, and E. cespitalis flew about the flowers 

 everywhere with the common alpine Pyrales. The beautiful 

 Psecadia bipmicteUa came to light, as also did a very ordinary looking 

 Bryopliila perla, whilst a species of Eupithecia was not uncommon on 

 moit evenings. In the early morning LitJiosia hitarella, of almost 

 English pyymaeola form, flew freely among the Hippophaen but Hetina 

 aurita was confined to higher altitudes on the mountains. The 

 Anthroceras that occurred were interesting from the fact that 

 practically typical A. loniccrae of very normal appearance were accom- 

 panied by large examples of the var. major which, however, rarely had 

 a tendency to develop the peculiar characteristics of var. viedicayinis 

 like those of Pre St. Didier and elsewhere, but what interested one 

 most was, that specimens with a small very faint sixth spot were 

 occasionally taken wt copula with typical five -spotted examples, and that 



