4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 
is independent of the animal, the operation is very simple. The spot 
was applied to the creature, when the foot was in a state of repose, 
regardless of the organs which it touches. 
But, what is this power which is independent of the animal? What 
are the laws which control it? I confess my inability to answer these 
questions. Many years ago (in 1878) I gave to the facts which fall 
into this class the name ‘ Hypertely,” that is to say, ‘‘ une depasse 
de la nécessité.’’ I prefer the term which I have employed in my 
recent work, and I call this power “‘ arbitrariness”’ of creation. 
These words give a name to the facts, without aspiring to an 
explanation, and, I consider, with my opponents, that to-day we are 
far from finding one, and that we must confine ourselves to proving 
and setting forth facts, even when they fail to fall in with our philo- 
sophic system. And these facts multiply. There is a great charm in 
examining entomological collections with the object of seeking speci- 
mens of arbitrary coloration, and I bee my colleagues to give their 
attention thereto. I promise them a great number of interesting 
discoveries.—Vienna. December 1899. 
Three seasons among Swiss Butterflies. 
(Concluded from Vol. x1., p. 315.) 
By G. WHEELER. 
The season of 1899 was early and prolific. (Conepteryx rhamni 
appeared at the beginning of March, and from the 15th till the begin- 
ning of April there were constantly fresh species on the wing. On the 
15th I observed Pieris rapae and Aryynnis latona, on the 17th Leuco- 
phasia stnapts, Huchloé cardamines, Polyommatus dorilis, Callophrys rubt, 
Brenthis dia, Hugonia polychloros, Aylais urticae, Muvanessa antiopa, 
Vanessa io, Polonia c-album ; on the 18th Pyramets atalanta (the last 
six of course hybernated) ; after this a week of cold rain ; then on the 
27th Coenonympha pamphilus and Syrichthus alveolus; on the 28th 
Papilio machaon and Pieris napi; on the 29th N Tisomiiaclss tayes, making 
nineteen species in March; April 8rd produced Cupido minima (alsus), 
and April 5th Pieris brassicae, Nomiades cyllarus, Polyommatus icarus 
(alexis), Cyaniris aryiolus and Brenthis euphrosynes After this a break 
in the weather put a stop to further appearances until the 24th, when 
Colias edusa, U. hyaleand CO. paniscus were on the wing, the spring brood 
of C. edusa this year being by no means scanty. ‘The early days of May 
also produced Nomiades acts, Polyommatus dorylas, P. ayestis and Neme- 
obius lucina, one specimen of Chrysophanus phlacas, Pyramets cardui 
(hybernated), P. bellaryus (adonis), Pararge meyaera, Erebia medusa, in 
the above order, and one specimen of Cupido sebrus 3 , the only one I 
have as yet seen at Veytaux. On May 19th, following the directions 
of a very accurate observer, Mr. A. J. Fison, I found Brenthis selene 
fairly common at “les Grangettes,” between Villeneuve and Bouveiet 
(only to be reached, however, from the former place, by a long détour 
through Noville) ; on revisiting the same spot on June 7th I found the 
species very abundant. This is a very scarce species in Switzerland, 
though abundant in two or three localities. At the end of May and 
the beginning of June I found Melitaea artemis, M. parthenie, Evebia 
oeme and Coenonympha arcania var. darwiniana, at Glion, so that a visit 
to Caux is no longer necessary for these species, and at the latter date 
