152 [December, 



tioii is very rich, and differs in some respects from tbat of the 

 corresponding valleys north of the Alps, the large chestnut trees, 

 extending up to nearly 4000 feet, being the chief feature. 



At Ceppo Morelli, about half way up the valley, Parnassiiu 

 Apollo occurred, most of the specimens, when flying, resembling red. 

 butterflies, from the under-side of the wings being covered with 

 pollen of a red species of lily, on which the butterflies alighted. A 

 very large specimen of Saturnia pyri, ^, measuring 5| inches across 

 the wing, flew to the light in the hotel in the village, much to the 

 astonishment of the visitors. 



A little above Ceppo Morelli the somewhat local Parnassius 

 Mnemosyne was very abundant, forcibly reminding one of Aporia 

 cratcegi on the wing. 



As one ascended the valley, the Apollos disappeared, and were 

 replaced by three species of JErehia : Ceto, Medusa, and Evias (all of 

 which species I may mention I took last year in the valleys on the 

 north side of Monte Eosa) ; also Pararge Eiera and (Eneis Aello, 

 which latter was in its usual tattered condition. 



At Macugnaga, 5115 feet, so early in the year, there was naturally 

 but little to be seen beyond a few P. napi, var. bryonies. 



On returning to Stresa, on the 10th of June, several additional 

 species were to be found in the meadows, among others, beautiful 

 ■violet specimens of Polyommafus Gordius, and a few- Argynnis Adippe, 

 var. Oleodoxa. 



On arriving, on the 12th of June, at Locarno, situated at the 

 northern extremity of Lago Maggiore, another opportunity presented 

 itself for seeking new species in a fresh locality, but a day spent in 

 the woods was productive of but poor results, as I only succeeded in 

 meeting with a few^ Neptis Liicilla, Lyccena Orion, Coenonymplm 

 Arcanius, and a solitary specimen of Vanessa polychloros. 



I made Bignasco, m the Yal Maggia, my head quarters for a few 

 days. The Yal Bavona, which branches out of it, afforded good col- 

 lecting ground as far as St. Carlo, at the head of the valley. In 

 addition to many species already recorded, Polyommatus Eippothoe, 

 var. Euryhia, and Lycasna Emnedon occurred not unfrequently. The 

 beautiful Synfomis Phcegea was common up to 5000 feet. Vanessa 

 Antiopa, Aporia cratcegi, Leucophasia sinupis, G. rhamni, were common 

 all round the lake district. 



The question to be solved is, why there should be such a far 

 greater amount of " butterfly life " in the valleys than in the plains. 

 I think it is due, in a measure, to the fact that the valleys during the 



