25 



the coast several species are found, Melitoea cinxia being particularly 

 common. The road then follows the coast-line for a few miles, 

 and is a good locality for that very early and southern species, 

 Thestor balliis. 



Any one stopping at Hyeres should not fail to visit the lies d'Or. 

 PorqueroUes, about five miles long, is the largest, and I would there- 

 fore suggest it as being the best to visit from an entomological point 

 of view. I spent one day on this island, and was greatly charmed 

 with my visit, especially with the view over the Mediterranean from 

 the elevated cliffs on the south side. The arbutus is the principal 

 shrub, and I am told Charaxes jasins is common there ; but I only 

 met with ten species in all, Gonopteryx cleopatra, Pieris daplidice, and 

 Eiichloe belia being the principal butterflies. 



I have referred to the Mediterranean flora spreading up the Rhone 

 valley beyond Avignon. Not far from Avignon is Pont du Gard, 

 celebrated for the magnificent Roman aqueduct. The flora in the 

 neighbourhood is very similar to that found at Carqueyrannes, and we 

 naturally come across the same species of butterflies ; for instance, 

 Euchloe euphenoides and AIehi?iargia syllms, both of which, however, 

 strictly belong to the Mediterranean fauna. This is another ideal 

 collecting ground, and deserves more than a passing visit. 



Roughly estimated, there are about one hundred species of Rhopa- 

 locera to be found on the Riviera, yet in the Maritime Alps and the 

 Basses Alps there are probably nearly double that number, nearly 

 two thirds of the whole of the species of butterflies occurring in 

 Europe. This difference is accounted for by the various eleva- 

 tions, viz. from almost the sea level to the region of perpetual 

 snow. 



My acquaintance with the Maritime Alps is confined to one visit in 

 the month of May to St. Martin Lantosque (31 17 feet above the level 

 of the sea). This place is reached by diligence from Nice, being 

 about thirty seven miles distant by road and twenty miles in a " bee 

 line." As the diligence starts at night both in going and returning little 

 opportunity is afforded for seeing the intervening country, but there 

 appeared to be an absence of trees. 



St. Martin Lantosque is a great summer resort for the inhabitants 

 of Nice, and consequently is well supplied with hotels. The hotel in 

 which I stayed was so unique in character that I must be excused for 

 referring to it. It was constructed on the edge of a ravine. The 

 dining-room was at the top of the house, and by reversing the order 

 of things you went downstairs to bed, the inferior rooms being near 

 the bottom of the ravine. 



From a botanical point of view this district is one of the richest in 

 the Maritime Alps, and many rare plants are found here. It also has 

 the reputation of being very rich entomologically ; but the date of my 

 visit — the middle of May — was much too early. Had I arrived 

 there two months later I should probably have made many interesting 

 captures. As it was, I only observed Lyccetia baton, the " blue " so 



