Notes of a Tour in Switzerland. 5223 



visitors for the most part retired to the chalet to partake of refresh- 

 ment, or amuse themselves, as best they might, by looking at the 

 trinkets and curiosities which are there exposed for sale. For my own 

 part I set to work botanising, and thought myself well repaid by find- 

 ing several plants I had not before met with. After a while the mist 

 began to clear off, and the sun to peep out a little. In a moment the 

 chalet was emptied of its inmates, all rushing forth to view the glories 

 of Mont Blanc "rising in clouded majesty," — a magnificent scene for 

 the time it lasted, and all the more so, perhaps, because the mountain 

 was only very partially revealed, the fog still obscuring the base and 

 greater portion of the entire range, and thus throwing an air of myste- 

 rious sublimity round the whole. But to return to the butterflies, 

 which I may seem to have forgotten. The very first ray of partial and 

 subdued sunshine (for such only it was) which, as I have said, caused 

 the visitors to issue out of the chalet, brought out also on the wing a 

 number of pretty little Hipparchise, not so large as H. Tithonus, with 

 a peculiar iridescent bloom resembling shot silk on the upper surface 

 of the wings. I took several specimens while the sunshine lasted. 

 In about a quarter of an hour the mist returned ; the sun was 

 obscured ; the curtain dropped upon Mont Blanc; and no more Hip- 

 parchiae were to be seen. In the hope of finding them at rest I 

 searched diligently among the short grass and herbage over which 

 they had been flying, but not a single specimen was to be met with : 

 they had made the most of the sunshine while it lasted, and having 

 had their brief enjoyment had retired to rest for the day, secreting 

 themselves beyond the ken of the entomologist. Now it may very 

 naturally be asked, " What is there extraordinary in butterflies flying 

 about when the sun shines, and, like the marigold,* going to bed 

 again when he does ?" I mention the circumstance as illustrative of 

 the promptness and alacrity with which these little mount «m-flies 

 availed themselves of the very first and (as it happened) only spurt of 

 sunshine that was to be had that day. It should seem almost as if 

 they had known y that for that day at least, it was " now or never'* 

 with them ; so they lost no time, (as how many more intelligent 

 beings often do !.) but wisely seized the first opportunity. I do not 

 recollect to have observed exactly the same species of Hipparchia in 

 any other spot. 



It may not be out of place here to notice a few of the stations 



* "The marigold, that goes to bed with the sun, 

 And with him rises, weeping." 



Winter's Tale. 



