LEPIDOPTEROLOGICAL NOTEB FROM ORTA IN PIEDMONT. 327 



mnemosync was in exquisite condition and very abundant just below 

 Ponte Grande on May 19th, which to me was surprisingly early. On 

 going again, June 12th, I could not find one. 



PiERiDES. — Besides the typical Pieris brassicae, P. rapae, and P. 

 napi, there was at Orta a large female form of the latter, closely akin 

 to ab. napaeae. Euchloe cardamines was everywhere, and Leucophasia 

 sinapis very common, but presenting no marked peculiarities. Gonop- 

 teryx rhamni was sometimes seen, but, alas! not G. cleopatra. An early 

 brood of Colias lujale was not uncommon at Orta, one of which I secured 

 as being of the richest colour I have ever seen, and with the black spot 

 in the centre of the forewings remarkably dark and large. Aporia 

 crataer/i, of course, was abundant, and one specimen from Orta, a male, 

 is very beautifully shaded with smoky-black all round the outer border 

 of the forewings — ab. siifnsa, Tutt. Many others approach this form, 

 but none equal this particular specimen. 



LiBYTHEiDEs. — To obtain Lihythea cdtU was an ambition which was 

 to be gratified. At Crevola, on May 26th, I took one battered specimen 

 and saw no others, and feared that I was to be indebted to friends for 

 this species, but, on June 12th, in the Val Anzasca I took, in con- 

 junction with one Carterocephalus palaemon and several good Polyom- 

 matus orion, one perfect L. celtin. The next day I went again and it 

 rained persistently, and my only capture was one Macaria alternata. 

 It was not until June 15th I could take train again for Piedimulera. 

 Starting up the valley I soon saw and missed L. celtis almost in the 

 village. Going further, and beyond the tunnels, I Avas more fortunate, 

 and took five specimens which leave little to be desired in the way of 

 appearance. This same day P. orw« was very worn. A. var. deodoxa was 

 Avell out, and I secured an aberration of C'oenonymphapamphili(fi,oi which 

 more anon. L. celtis when out seems to be a sure find in the neigh- 

 bourhood of its food-plant wherever it occurs, and never to wander far 

 from it. Though wild cherry is given as another pabulum of this 

 species it would seem to be only so by accident and where C. 

 australis is in possession, as the wild cherry is to be found generally 

 over the lower alpine area, but not L. celtis. 



Nymphalides. — Many miles I tramped through chestnut woods in 

 the surrounding hills and valleys of Orta for Neptis luciUa, but either 

 it was not there, or it knew that I was, for I saw none. Again prob- 

 ably we were too early. Of the Vanessids, Polyyonia c-album was 

 common, and Aglais nrticae bright but quite normal. Vanessa io, 

 Euvanessa antiopa, Pyrameis atalania, and P. cardni, all with wings 

 which had seen mvich service, not a specimen of " cabinet rank " among 

 the lot. Melitaea cinxia was fine, close to Orta, and M. phoebe was 

 abundant, and mostly worn by May IGth, but I brought back a small 

 series because they are so much lighter in colour and generally smaller 

 than the splendid fellows of Berisal and St. Nicholas in July, and the 

 still grander forms in the same month at Iselle, two of which latter, 

 captured last year, I should almost venture to label var. occitanica, Stgr. 

 Possibly the spring brood is less brilliant than the midsummer contin- 

 gent. At the same date ill. didyuui was well out, and of the most 

 brilliant colour. The females very handsome and inclining to the type 

 form rather than to var. alpina, but scarcely "clay cold yellow " as 

 Kane describes the type, which is a form I have not seen, or colour 

 terms represent very difi'erent ideas to different people ; but the 



