I893-] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



13 



Irish Vanessa urticj, Mr. Gregs m a remarkably fine specimen of Prodelia testaceoides 

 Ga bred from a larva taken in a market at Barnsley, and bred by George Rose. 

 Mr. Stott (on behalf of Mr. H, S. Clarke) Sphinx convolvuli from the Isle of Man, and 

 some fine varieties of Smerinthus Mice, Mr. Pierce a specimen of Ceratocampa regalis. 

 Mr. J. H. Stott Sirex gigas from a North Staffordshire Coal Mine. — J. N. Pierce, 

 Hon. Sjc 



143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool, 13th December, 1892. 



No other Reports of Societies have been received. 



SWITZERLAND— A NATURALIST'S PARADISE. 



BY W. R. SCOWCROFT. * 



Early in the month of July, accompanied by my friend Mr. Charles 

 Stott, I left London for Lucerne. As it was our first visit to Switzer- 

 land, we naturally washed to see something of the country, and 

 therefore did not devote ourselves entirely to entomology ; but the 

 results of our tour are, I think, of sufficient interest to justify me in 

 bringing them before this Society. 



The^incidents of our journey via Harwich to Antwerp, and thence 

 through Brussels and Bale, I will pass over, as scarcely falling within 

 the scope of this paper. 



As we approached our journey's end the scenery became grander 

 and more varied, and we had charming views of lake and mountain, 

 of pine clad slopes, and undulating hill sides dotted here and there 

 with picturesque little chalets. 



It was a superb morning, and the vision of the Bernese Oberland 

 in the far distance, with the mystery of the dawn still cimging around 

 it, w T as lovely and impressive beyond description. 



This grand range of mountains, varying in height from 10,000 to 

 14,000 feet, its peaks covered with perennial snows, was perfectly 

 free from cloud. Distance and the dawn mystery gave these Alps an 

 aerial deiicacy and softness of outline. Uplifted in their transcendent 

 parity to the heavens, they seemed like glorified spirits of mountains, 

 and were lovely with a pure spiritual beauty. 



We reached Lucerne about 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, and 

 between this and evening saw much of this beautifully-situated, quaint 

 and interesting oid town. 



Whether crossing over the swift-flowing Reuss by the curious and 

 artistic old bridge, or walking along the fine Schweigerhof Quay ; or 

 strolling under the avenue of chestnuts ; or lingeringly gazing upon 

 ist clear beautiful lake, the imagination cannot but J be vividly 

 impressed with the poetic loveliness of the surroundings of Lucerne. 



* A Paper read before the Lancashire and , Cheshire Entomological Society, 

 14th November, 1892. 



