September, 1880 .] 
73 
NOTES ON THE ENTOMOLOGY OF PORTUGAL. 
I. INTRODUCTORY. 
BY THE REV. A. E. EATON, M.A. 
A small collection of Portuguese land -Articulata lately brought 
to England, illustrates, though imperfectly, the entomological condition 
of portions of that kingdom and of Algarve during the period inter- 
vening between the end of April and the end of June. The interest 
attaching to even fragmentary information, concerning a fauna still 
imperfectly explored, may be held to justify the publication of a series 
of Notes relating to them. An account of the character of the 
districts in which the captures were made, seasoned with occasional 
incidents of travel, will serve as an introduction to the series. 
In visiting a country of whose language one is completely igno- 
rant, relying entirely upon phrase-book and dictionary in communi- 
cating with the inhabitants, some amount of inconvenience is apt to 
be experienced at first. If a dog take a sudden fancy to your legs, 
you cannot go fumbling about in the books to find out what ought to 
be said to it in the absence of stones ; besides, it might mistake a 
mispronounced ejaculation for a challenge to come on. Then, again, 
there are Custom House officers and boatmen to be replied to. An 
hotel, where it is possible to be understood, seems the natural place 
to turn to for a respite from perplexity. Making it head quarters, 
sallies can be made at leisure upon the shops with the object of ac- 
quiring skill in gesticulation, when the point of quotations, rendered 
with conjectural pronunciation from the dictionary, fails to be appre- 
ciated. In the intervals of these feats of oratory, the neighbourhood 
can be explored, until at length, hardened by practice or emboldened 
by slight success, the desperate resolve is taken to change the base of 
operations and plunge into the country. 
In the present instance, Lisbon and Cintra were the harbours of 
refuge (April 23 — 30). North of the Tagus, within a few miles of 
the city, things were already wearing, in some particulars, the aspect 
that in England would be attained by them in early June: JRobinia 
pseudacacia in gardens ; and, in cultivated lands, Adonis, Fapaver , 
Fu/maria , Anthemis, Chrysanthemum , Convolvulus, Gladiolus, besides a 
host of other plants, were in full flower. Aculeate Hymenoptera were 
well represented by Andrenidae and many species of Formicidce ; An- 
thophora occurred occasionally along the roads ; JBombus was noticed 
only on the Cintra hills, and was scarce. Near Olivaes some Micro - 
Lepidoptera were obtained, by beating, in a hollow lane and beside the 
railway, which is used as a footpath to Sacavem. 
