994 Insects. 



of July, and afterwards on the high ground between there and Sierre 

 in the Vallais. 



It is to the browns — which abound on all the Alpine heights, both 

 in species and in numbers — that Switzerland owes its chief interest to 

 the lepidopterist. 



The only locality where I met with Erebia Cassiope was near the 

 hospice of the Simplon. Melampus, which first made its appear- 

 ance on the 12th of July, in the valley of Oeschinen, near Kander- 

 steg, was afterwards plentiful there, and in great numbers in the 

 meadows near the baths of Loeche on the 20th. E. (Erne and Ceto 

 were most abundant on the highest part of the pass of the Gemmi, 

 sitting upon the bare arid slopes and rocks over which the track 

 passes, although not uncommon on many of the high Alps. E. 

 Mnestra was confined to the top of the Flegere, above the vale of 

 Chamouni, which abounded in butterflies. E. Stygne and Manto I 

 saw nowhere, except in the valley of Oeschinen. Ligea was in 

 great beauty in the woodland walks about Interlachen ; its first ap- 

 pearance was on the 29th of June. E. Euryale, which may, T 

 fancy, be only an Alpine variety of Ligea, was abundant about half- 

 way up the ascent of the Simplon. E. Manto was on the highest 

 part of the Wengern Alp on the 21st of June, and still in perfection 

 in crossing the Gemmi on the 15th of July. 



I was too late to obtain fine specimens of the larger browns, which 

 form the genus Satyrus, and which are chiefly to be met with on the 

 arid rocky slopes on both sides of the Vallais. The S. Circe, when on 

 the wing in the open fields, is-^-unlike most of this slow-flying tribe 

 — very quick of flight, and<tifiicult to come near. 



Afraid lest I should extend too much, notes which are of interest 

 to but few, I have only mentioned some of the more interesting 

 species. 



As far as I can judge, from so short an experience, the best collecting 

 districts are those mountain valleys, two or three thousand feet above 

 the sea, where most of the lower-flying species abound, and from which 

 the higher Alps are easy of access : such are the valleys of Cha- 

 mouni, Kandersteg, and Loeche. I never saw so many butterflies in 

 my life as in a ride from the baths of Loeche to Leuk in the Vallais ; 

 and am anxiously anticipating another summer's enjoyment amongst 

 them. 



William C. Hewitson. 



