116 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



attraction to many butterflies, and most of all to Apatara iris. For once 

 it appeared to have lost its predilection for high and inaccessible 

 branches ; and it almost entirely discarded the bad meat which was 

 laid in proximity as an additional bait. My third haunt was the famous 

 road between Aigie and Sepey. It was dreadfully dusty, and subject 

 almost in its entire length to an unrestricted blaze of sunshine, which 

 latter fact has, doubtless, much to do with its abundance of insect life. 

 Not only was Papilio podalirius common on the wing here, but I was 

 successful for the first time in discovering more than a dozen of its 

 larvfe on the dust besprinkled sloe-bushes at the road-side. Issoria lathonia 

 turned up, together with Brenthis ino, B. dia and Melitaea didyina. Apatura 

 ilia is taken close by, but I failed to detect it, though search was made 

 on several occasions. Among the Satyrids, a specimen of Pararye 

 hiera was seen but missed ; P. megaera, a few ; P. achine, plentiful, 

 but worn ; Satyrus alcyone and S. cordida, common. Among the 

 Lycasnids, Plebeius aegon, P. argus and Cyaniris argiolus, Zephyrus 

 querciis, Thecla ilicis and T. spini : and among the Skippers, Spilothyrus 

 lavaterae, Pyrgus sao, Thy)iielicus acteon and Adopaea lineola, together 

 with several of the genus Hesperia, whose specific identitj^ I will not 

 venture to pronounce. Among the more prominent species of 

 Heterocera noted in this district were the following : Manduca atropos 

 (two larvffi on potato both stung by flies) ; many handsome larvae in 

 various stages of growth of Hyles euphorbiae on Euphorbia cyparissias, 

 growing by the roadside. Several imagines of Thaiwms vespertilio at 

 honeysuckle flowers, and quantities of SeMa stellataruni . Also Calli- 

 morphadoininula, a few; and many beautiful fresh and lively specimens 

 of C. hera, which were more easily disturbed than caught, as they 

 dashed out from herbage and rocks. These rocks bordering the 

 Aigle Koad were especially productive of Porthetria dispar in all 

 stages; also Gratmuodes algira: and here a specimen of Polyphaenis 

 sericata was seen, but evaded capture. Near the hotel at Les Avants, 

 more Acronycta myricae were taken, and also Cucullia lactucae, Plusia 

 modesta, and one specimen of the rare Catephia alchymista on a post. 

 Perhaps the most striking species amongst the Geometrids observed was 

 Gnophosfitrvata. My holiday closed Avith a hurried, but distinctly remune- 

 rative, expedition over the Simplon Pass. Taking train up the Ehone Valley 

 to Bi-igue, on the morning of Thursday, July 27th, I walked as far as 

 the Simplon Culm, where I spent the night at the Hotel Belle Vue ; 

 proceeded next morning over the Pass, through Simplon village to 

 Gondo and Iselle on the frontier of- Italy, returning to the Belle Vue 

 late at night, and then back first thing next morning to be in time for 

 Sunday duty. It was almost too much to have attempted in the short 

 time at one's disposal ; but, though the walk was inordinately long, hot 

 and fatiguing, the scenery was simply gorgeous, infinite in its variety, 

 wild, rugged and grand beyond description ; and, as for its wealth of 

 butterflies and general entomological interest, it quite surpasses every- 

 thing in my previous experience. In the neighbourhood of Berisal, I 

 had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of the Rev. George 

 Wheeler, who put me on to the scent of several rare and local species, 

 and was afterwards kind enough to show me his splendid collection at 

 Territet. Having occupied so much space already, I feel that I must 

 now confine myself merely to the enumeration, in the briefest manner 

 possible, of those species observed, well nigh on two dozen, not having 



