258 April, 
Carduus nutans, all died in their cocoons in the larva state, except one precocious 
individual which thought proper to emerge in the autumn, a few weeks after the 
seed-heads were collected.—Cuas. G. Barrett, Norwich, 12th October, 1870. 
Notes on Butterfly-collecting in Switzerland.—Having devoted a considerable 
amount of time during the past year to collecting in Switzerland, I send you a short 
account of my captures among the butterflies, thinking it may interest some of 
your readers. Unfortunately, I cannot say much about the moths, as I took 
comparatively few species, principally owing to weak health, which prevented me 
from doing any night-work. Butterfly hunting in Switzerland is very different 
from what it is in England: the number of species to be taken is much greater, 
and the individuals of some species swarm to a degree which can hardly be imagined 
by those who have not seen it. As an instance of this, I may mention that one day 
when high up among the mountains, I came upon a damp place by the side of a 
small stream : this was absolutely covered by butterflies, so as almost to conceal the 
ground: on disturbing them, and striking with my net as they rose, I obtained at 
one sweep a living mass, which must have consisted of at least 200 individuals. 
They were all, or nearly all, “ blues” and “ skippers,” chiefly L. Argus, semiargus 
(Acis), and Alsus, and Pyrgus Alveus. Altogether, in the course of the year, I took 
more than 112 species of butterflies. I collected principally in three places :— 
Bex, in the Rhone Valley ; Sepey, in the Ormond Valley ; and Zermatt, including, 
under this name also, the Riffelberg and Gornergrat, which rise above it. This last 
was by far the most interesting locality, but I was there for barely a fortnight, and 
as we had heavy rain nearly every day, I was not so successful as I might otherwise 
have been. I also made my visit somewhat too late (the last week in July), when 
many of the species were over. 
I now proceed to give a list of the butterflies observed. The specific names | 
used are those employed in Mr. Kirby’s “ Manual of European Butterflies.” When 
I have given a date, it marks the earliest appearance of the insect, according to my 
experience. 
Papilio Podalirius (April 17th) and Machaon (May 21st). Parnassius Apollo 
(May 19th) and Delius. The former common everywhere in the mountains ; the 
latter I only saw on the Riffelberg; it seems to frequent damper situations than 
Apollo. 
Aporia” crategi (May 19th). Pieris brassice, rape, and napi. All abundant. 
I did not see brassice till June 38rd. Callidice (June 17th). This mountain species 
flies very strongly and wildly, and is difficult to catch. Daplidice (April 2nd). 
Bex. Rather common for about a fortnight. 
Anthocharis Belia (var. Ausonia). April 26th. Near Bex, but very local; 
cardamines (April 7th). Leucophasia sinapis (April 7th). Colias Phicomene (June © 
21st). Very common in the mountains. Hyale (April 15th). Hdusa (April 18th). | 
Gonepterye rhamni. In all, 17 species of Papilionide. 
Melitea Oynthia. High mountains above Bex, and on the Riffelberg. Artemis, 
Cinwia, Didyma, and Athalia. All early in May, and common. Athalia has the ‘| 
highest vertical range but becomes very small at great heights; one, which I took 
on the Riffelberg, is less than an inch in alar expense. Dictynna (May 25th). 
toe) 
Sepey. Argyniis Amathusia. Common beyond Les Plans, near Bex. Euphrosyne 
