160 THE entomologist's record. 



decline and disappear. Why I should not see a single Fapilio vtacluion 

 and only two Farnasdus apollo I am unable even to guess. I find that 

 the late Mr. A. E. Gibbs, who was at St. Moritz for several weeks at 

 this date in 1913, took both species freely in exactly the same spots as 

 those over which I worked, and where I had met with them in 1907. 



On August 12th the sun was at first bright at intervals. We col- 

 lected on the Eosatch slopes, but the day gradually got more dull until 

 thunder and rain put a stop to our ramble. Argi/nnis niohe and Erebia 

 iitelanipus were still common, and the females of E. tjpidanis were now 

 at their full in numbers, among them being several of rich brown 

 underside of lower wings with strong black transverse lines. Pieris 

 rapae was just coming out in a fresh brood (2nd) and P. bra.mcae was 

 abundant. Plebeius aeyon and Polyunnnatna icarua were settled on the 

 stems and heads of various plants, the former in much greater pre- 

 dominance, the latter very few in number. Plusia gamma occasionally 

 turned up, but not in any number. Beyond these few species practi- 

 callj' nothing was to be obtained. 



On August 13th, in the morning, a new walk to us was taken, viz., 

 to Crestalta, the beautiful elevated rock overlooking the Lakes of 

 Silvaplana and Campfer, returning by the sheltered path under the 

 clifi' on the edge of the latter lake. In the afternoon we took the 

 winding path to the new settlement of Chanterelle on Alp Laret, and 

 then on to the Ober-Alpina. Blues, mainly Plebeius aegon, were 

 settling on the spots already in shade. Cidaria verberata, Larentia 

 caesiata and Lygdia popidata were obtainable in quantity when stirred 

 out. pjotys aerealis and Thamnonoma brunneata were noted. Females 

 of Coenonympha satyrion were sitting in number among the blues, some 

 examples of a very light ground on the underside at the outer margin. 

 The white band of the underside showed through very plainly on the 

 upperside as a light shade. 



August 14th. — My notes say it was "now late summer." The 

 brilliancy of the flowers seemed gone and they were few and far between, 

 with the consequent scarcity of insects. Many things seen were now 

 much worn, and the only new species in number was Erebia goante, 

 which was very local, only being met with on a new road leadmg to 

 the Alpina above the upper Campfer road, where an exposed rock face 

 was now rarely passed without finding several specimens resting on it, 

 as very conspicuous, but very shy, objects. Moths of the genus Gnophos 

 were to be disturbed from most overhanging banks. I met with an 

 odd specimen of PJeodes virgaureae which was ver}^ small. In 1913 the 

 late Mr. A. E. Gibbs took a number of this species here, all of them 

 being of a small race. My specimen has elongated spots on the under- 

 side of the forewings. What flower-heads there were were mostly 

 tenanted by one or more Noctuid moths, mostly Agrutis cuprea and A. 

 alpestris. Among them was a solitary Charaeas graminis, a species one 

 would have expected to find in abundance. Probably a search at dusk 

 would have met with numbers flying low over the grass. I met with 

 a curious occurrence to-day on the path returning from Alp Laret. In 

 front of me I noticed a moth tumbling over and over on the path in a 

 most erratic way with much vigour. On boxing it, to my astonishment, 

 I found that one of the wood-ants {Eormica rufa /) had securely fixed 

 itself to a specimen of Plusia gamma, which was making these frantic 

 efforts to free itself from its aggressor. P. gamma must have been very 



