i6 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [Januarv 



In the quaintly irregular little village. 4,500 feet above sea level, we 

 passed the night. 



We make an early start next day for the Furka pass. On the 

 nettles by the road side are batches of V. Urticee larvae in various 

 stages of growth ; and amongst the stones, and in the crevices are 

 many ferns, including Oak, Beech, Parsley, Shield and the Maiden- 

 hair Spleenwort. 



The ascent soon becomes continuous, and, as the day advances, 

 insects sport about in all directions. On a patch of marshy ground we 

 found L. Semiargus (Acts J settled, and by careful searching among the 

 reedy grasses, we were able to obtain a very nice series. A chase up 

 a grassy slope, where the beautiful Star Gentian abounded, resulted 

 in the capture of E. Pharte — the only specimen of this insect taken. 

 Presently we were excited by the sight of several specimens of the 

 Parnassius family, which proved to be P. Delius. This insect closely 

 resembles P. A polio, but is usually smaller, and always more cream- 

 coloured and opaque. It is much rarer and more local than Apollo, 

 frequenting rough rocky uplands where it floats up and down the 

 small Alpine streams. 



The Colias family has a predilection for flowery banks or short 

 turfy pastures- Hyale favouring the former, whilst Palceno and 

 Phicomone prefer the latter. Phicomone was so plentiful and as widely 

 distributed, though local, as Hyale. We secured a very fine series of 

 this beautiful and variable insect. C. Palceno was exceedingly local, 

 and the female much scarcer than the male. Of the former I took 

 two specimens, one of which is particularly interesting as a probable 

 post-glacial form, analagous to Helice, the well-known variation of C. 

 Ediisa.* This dimorphism in the female would appear to be character- 

 istic of the Coliadce. 



On the same short pastures that C. Palceno frequented, Lyccena 

 Orbitulus, and L. Optilete, two of the smaller blues, were taken. A. 

 Plantaginis (which shows considerable range of variation even in the 

 few specimens we took) was taken with C. Hyale. 



As we approached the snow-line insects became more and more 

 scarce ; the last species of butterfly to be taken being Melitcea 

 Aurinia (Artemis), at an altitude of 8,000 feet and at six o'clock in the 

 evening. It w 7 as exceedingly local, on short flowerless pasture, close 

 to a stream. The flight of these insects, and indeed of all the 

 Melittzas, is difficult to follow with the eye, as they keep very near to 

 the ground. Aurinia is more puzzling than any other member of the 

 family, its peculiar colour aiding in the deception. 



* The pale form of the ? is considered to be the type ; the yellow form is the 

 var. Wernandi. H.S.— Ed. B.N. 



