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31 



The Melitceas ( A thdlia and Dictynna J were also abundant, but the 

 pursuit of all insects was difficult, almost dangerous, owing to the 

 steepness of the ascent ; and although aided by a good alpenstock I 

 had many falls before reaching the summit. My friend and I did not 

 see each other again for over two hours. 



As the crest of the mountain was gained, what a strange change 

 of scene w r as revealed. Behind was summer with its glory of light 

 and colour of life — a scene filled with the joy of living ; while before 

 me was stern savage winter, ice and snow, a bleak Alpine lake, known 

 as the Lake of Death, and cold, grey, granite, snow-creviced boulders, 

 with here and there a few blades of coarse grass struggling for life. 



At the top of the ridge, which the bright sunshine lights up and 

 warms, brilliant satiny-black little moths (S. revayana), sun themselves 

 upon the snow. To look at those little creatures dead, and set out in 

 a case, gives one no conception cf their brilliancy and beauty under 

 direct and reflected light of sun and snow, as they dart briskly hither 

 and thither, or settle for a moment on the gleaming white. Does a 

 bright surface receive more heat than a dull one ? for we find that 

 Psodos tvepidaria, as well as S. rev ay ana, has a bright satiny surface, 

 and these insects are often found in the same kind of locality — a 

 locality in which it would seem to be an advantage to the insect to be 

 able to absorb as much heat as possible. On this same sunny snow- 

 clad ridge, a specimen of Colias hyale dared to wing its flight. It was 

 a male, and in both colour and markings, varies from the type. 



Under stones by the edge of the lake, my friend found specimens 

 of the genus Oriena, the specific name of which we have been unable 

 to determine, although we have had access to Mr. Melvill's fine 

 Coleopterous collection. 



But on the northern slope there is no sign of life. The change is 

 startling, and probably unsurpassed elsewhere in its suddenness. A 

 strange feeling of loneliness comes over one, and it is a relief to reach 

 the hospice, and greet one's kind once more. 



For the next few miles I had the companionship of a middle-aged 

 German — a genial well-informed man, home from the Cape for a few 

 months holiday. The good-natured contempt with which he looked 

 upon the pursuit of insects was amusing, and a grunt of satisfaction 

 was evolved when pursuit ended in failure. 



Soon after leaving the hospice my attention was attracted by a 

 flight I was not acquainted with, and the specimen proved to be 

 JEncis aello, and is distinctly one of the most memorable of our Swiss 

 captures. The Mneis family connects the Erebias with the Satyrs. 

 It consists of five species only, none of which are found in Europe, 

 outside of Scandinavia and the extreme north of Russia and Lapland, 



