70 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March 



to the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 and briefly presented in ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS (x, 21), recalls some 

 observations made upou the same species in the autumn of 1894. 

 These observations demonstrated in a remarkable way the exist- 

 ence of a phase of insect migration hitherto seldom recognized the 

 tendency of the migrants, when their number is not excessive, to 

 proceed in Indian file over long- distances. 



The migration in question passed through the village of Guilford, 

 Conn., near the shore of Long Island Sound, in the course of three 

 days, September 22, 23 and 24. It was carefully studied by Mr. II. 

 C. Dudley, Mr. E. G. Dudley and myself, with the valuable co- 

 operation of several friends living in the town. Throughout the 

 period the wind blew from the south, and the butterflies journeyed 

 southwest, with swift and steady flight, for the most part in one dis- 

 tinct, unwavering line. During one day only (September 23) a 

 second line of flight was detected, parallel to the first and half a 

 mile farther inland- 



The main path of the migration passed through gardens and 

 farms, over marshes and streams; obstacles were avoided by rising 

 into the air, with scarcely any lateral deviation, while in open coun- 

 try an elevation of some five feet was maintained On the first and 

 second days the flight began at about 9 a- m and lasted until about 

 5 p. m. ; on the third it began at 11 a. m . and ceased altogether in the 

 middle of the afternoon. During the first day individual migrants 

 passed the point of observation at intervals ranging from five to ten 

 minutes; thereafter the average interval tended to increase 



Few of the migrants were captured, it being considered of pri- 

 mary importance to watch their flight. The males appeared to be 

 about twice as numerous as the females, and all were somewhat 

 worn, though not to such an extent as might have been expected. 

 When struck with the frame of the net, but not secured (three cases), 

 the insects darted to one side, and sought temporary retreats in 

 clusters of leaves, or fruits whose color harmonized with their own. 

 Their quick perception of occasional yellow patches amid the pre- 

 vailing green of the vegetation was significant. 



Before, during and after the migration many lazy stragglers of the 

 same species were found among the flower beds of the village They 

 showed no tendeucv to follow their more active brethren, but lin- 

 gered behind until too weak and battered for lengthy flight. One 

 elderly lady was able to capture seven of them in her fingers. 



Whence the migration proceeded is an unsolved question ; doubt- 

 less in some favored locality to the northeast these persistent in- 

 vaders from the South had maintained themselves for a short time, 

 only to be forced to retreat, like many a generation of their ancestor-. 

 before the early frosts. The recent abundance of fresh specimens of 

 eubule at Nouquitt, on the Massachusetts coast (Psyche, vol. 8. p. 299), 

 is an exampleof the way in which this species has repeatedly sought 



