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234. 

5th July 1939.  

Entirely spoiled by rain, so far as collecting insects went.  After a wet morning the early afternoon cleared & with a gale of wind behind me (from S-SW) I went up the path N. of Kinlochewe leading to Ben Eigh & Meal an Ghuithais (pronounced "Meäl-an-Usa" by Mr. McDonald! = "Mt. of the Pines") where Daisy & George had found Arcostaphylos alpina on the previous day.  On saddle between these two mountains this plant was abundant growing on  rocky screes & moraines amongst the common A. uva-ursi, Juniperus, Calluna &c.  

I then went up S. slope of "Meal-an-Usa", crossing a wet patch where Dotterel were breeding & soon came on other plants, Armeria "alpina", Vaccinium ulignosus & quite an abundance of Loiseleuria procumbens, with Lycopodium alpinum & Rubus chamaemorus.  Heavy rain coming on I had to turn back when a few hundred yards from the edge of the cliffs facing E., as I had not my boots on.

Many bumbles seen after rain & when wind dropped & nearly all these were B. jonellus ♀♀, only 1☿ & 


235.

5.7.39 cont.  "Meäl-an-Usa", Kinlochewe, cont.

a few ♀♀ of lucorum.

No insects collected all day, except a [[male symbol]] Spathius exarator taken in house at lunch.


6th July 1939.

A very wet morning: heavy rain & no wind from early till we left Kinlochewe at 10.45 for Achnasheen, whence train to Kyle of Lochalsh, where arrived at 1.40 & found rain just over.  Afternoon mainly fine, with S.W.-wind.  

Walked along coast towards Balmacara & collected in a small bay by sweeping bracken, &c., by stream from small loch in hills:  here took about [[strikethrough]] 2 dozen [[/strikethrough]] 40 insects.  On way round path saw many Bombus lucorum ♀♀ & ☿☿, one or two B. muscorum ♀♀ (& I think 2♀♀ B. hortorum at foxgloves, but too far away to be able to swear to them!).  At one spot where path backed by rock took 1♂ & 1♀ Odynerus pictus, var. with almost white bands.