i%3] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



33 



deals only with the south, south-east, and south-west sides, and above 

 2,500 feet. At an altitude of 5.000 feet, and on coarse pasture land, 

 we chased, but failed to capture Papilio podalirius ; on the same 

 pasture, but lower down Vanessa urtiece was very much in evidence, a 

 few V. cardui occurred, and one perfect specimen of V . Io, gladdened 

 our eyes, but refused to enter the net. Between 4,700 and 4,000 feet 

 Polyommatus hippothooc flitted about the meadows and sunny banks, 

 Plusia gamma was common, and we took one specimen of P. bractea. 

 On more barren ground, and in marshy hollows Cmnonympha pamphilus, 

 C. darwiniana, and C. satyrion were more or less plentiful, as 

 also were hyccena alsus and icarus ; Parnassius apollo and Aporia 

 cratcegi, frequenting railway banks or grassy slopes. Of the 

 last named insect, my friend had five specimens in his net at one 

 time. 



In conversation with me, on Switzerland and its lepidopteia, Mr. 

 Melville mentioned an interesting fact he had observed during one of 

 his visits to this country, viz. the cannibalistic proclivities of 

 A. cratcegi. One of these insects had been trodden upon, and scores 

 of its kind were settled on, or circled round the savoury or unsavoury 

 morsel. The few that had sucked the juices appeared to be stupified 

 thereby, and when disturbed only flew a yard or two away. Even 

 next day numbers still gathered round the spot. Locally on the 

 south-west side of the mountain Erebia ligea, E. stygne, E. aithiops (or 

 medea), Leucophasia sinapis, and Argynnis euphrosyne, flitted or floated 

 about a grassy slope, flanked by trees. This locality lives in my 

 memory owing to the mauvais quart d-hturt I had amongst the very 

 persistent and insistent flies, which by stings and irritations made 

 life there unbearable, and compelled me to retreat. Descending in a 

 more southerly direction I came to some ground which was a glory of 

 Fritillaries and Blues, A. aglaja and A. amathusia floated around me in 

 scores ; A. euphrosyne was present, though not plentifully, and A. ino, 

 one specimen ; hundreds of Lyccena corydon flew about in all directions, 

 L. medon, L. alsus, L. damon, L. icarus, L. bellargus, sported amongst 

 the flowers, ferns, and shrubs of this wood-flanked sunny hillside. 



Most of the bntterflies of the south-east slope, I have previously 

 mentioned in the account of our descent to Arth Goldau, but I have 

 to add Argynnis niobe, A. eris, and Melitcea dictynna ; and of moths 

 Macroglossa stellatarum, Zygoma lonicerce, Z. achillce, Z. filipendula*, 

 Melanippe hastata, and other Geometers, A . menthastri, D . russu la, and 

 E. glyphica. Of Coleoptera we secured Hoplia farinosa and hort'icola, 

 Chrysomela cevealis, Anthophylax quadriniaculatus, and several species 

 of Oriena and Telepliorus. 



I have not thought it desirable to encumber my paper with the 

 names of all insects taken, but have preferred to append a full list. 1 



