1890.] 281 



Libythea celtis on the trees of Geltis australis, which were common in 

 the town ; E. Pasiphae was common in the gardens, and we also 

 noticed a specimen of Vanessa Egea. 



It was afterwards a matter of regret that we did not devote more 

 time to this interesting district instead of hurrying on to Digne, 

 which place we reached on June 5th, much too late for the early 

 species and too early for most of the summer ones. 



The town of Digne presented a very dreary appearance, in con- 

 sequence of the huge plane trees, which must have taken many years 

 to grow, having been lopped level with the tops of the houses. This 

 had been done, we were told, to get rid of the larvge of a moth (pro- 

 bably Liparis dispaf) which had been a source of annoyance last year 

 to the inhabitants ! 



During the summer months Digne appears to enjoy a continuance 

 of sunshine. In June the days, w^ith scarcely an exception, were ab- 

 solutely cloudless, though the temperature rarely exceeded 75°. This 

 comparatively low temperature may in a measure be accounted for by 

 the cooling influence of a breeze, which, as is the case in several 

 localities on the Mediterranean coast, invariably springs up about 

 mid-day. This breeze often proved very trying for collecting. 



Donzel, in an interesting paper published at Lyons in 1851, gives 

 a somewhat detailed account of the species of Lepidoptera occurring 

 at Digne. He also mentions that the Department of the Basses Alpes 

 comprises a little of almost all the climates of France, from the zone 

 of the olive to the region of perpetual snow^ Thus, from Digne at 

 2000 feet to Mont Pela, near ADos, at 8600 feet, you may, in 24 hours, 

 follow the whole gradation of the vegetation of France. According 

 to M. Honnorat, you can gather, without going out of the Department, 

 3500 species of plants, although, in the neighbourhood of Paris, within 

 a radius of 20 leagues, you can scarcely come across 2000. This pro- 

 fusion of vegetable wealth explains naturally enough that of insects, 

 and the blending of the Alpine plants with those of the Mediterranean 

 also explains the cause of the varied insect fauna of the neighbourhood 

 of Digne ; as an illustration I may mention, that on the same hill sides 

 we observed Erehice, Parnassius Apollo, Thais Rumina var. Medesi- 

 caste, Limenitis Camilla, and Micra rosea, &c. 



The following species were observed : — 



PapiJio PodaJirius, common, from June 4th ; tails slightly longer than in the 

 Swiss specimens. P. Alexanor, a fine series ; the first specimen was taken on June 

 13th, and the species became gradually common towards the end of the month j it 

 has a great partiality for resting on thistle blossom, when it is easily captured. Mr. 

 Nicholson discovered about fifty eggs on Seseli montantim. The larvae in England 



