02 FNTOMOT.nr.irAL NEWS. [Feb., 'oq 



all their transformations in that field as it would have been impossible 

 for them to have flown north and all be so fresh and perfect. 



The field was always alive with C. philodice, but a eurytheme could 

 be easily picked out at a distance of 50 yards or more. 



The only satisfactory conclusion the writer could arrive at, was that 

 some female had flown north, probably in some southeast gale, in the 

 latter part of the previous summer, and had oviposited in the field, 

 the late appearance of the butterflies being due to the backward 

 season. 



Some of the other captures of note on the island were Junonia 

 coenia, Erebus odora, and Fcntonia marthesia. 



Before closing this article, I would like to state that the past season 

 has been very unusual in Rhode Island for the number of Junonia 

 coenia which have been taken and seen; the writer has taken six speci- 

 mens and has authentic records of three more besides a number of 

 others which were seen. 



I should be glad to correspond with anyone who has taken C. citry- 

 themc, or any other southern butterfly in the North. WILLIAM PLACE, 

 JR., Providence, R. I. 



A NOTE ON ANTS. During the latter part of August of this year my 

 attention was attracted by a line of ants {Formica subscricca) passing 

 along the edge of a bank in the lawn, each one carrying a wriggling, 

 squirming fly larva. The procession was traced and found to end at 

 a nest in the corner of the lot into which the ants disappeared with 

 their booty. The other end was found at a swill-bucket about thirty 

 Teet away. This bucket was literally alive with a mass of Sarcophagus 

 and Tachnia larva. There was an almost unbroken line of ants from 

 the nest to the bucket and return but nothing like a phalanx formation. 



The raid on the larvae continued uninterruptedly for three days when 

 the bucket was cleaned by the city workmen. During this time the 

 ants must have carried hundreds of fly larvae in all stages of develop- 

 ment into their nest. 



Mr. Arthur C. Burrill and myself then excavated the nest over an 

 area two feet square and to a depth of about two and one-half feet, 

 and, although many large chambers were opened the fly larvae were 

 not found, they evidently having been carried to a greater depth. The 

 summer had been unusually dry and ants' nests were carried down very 

 deep to reach moisture. 



Unfortunately, pressure of other work prevented my keeping as close 

 a watch on the nest as I desired so I can give no further history of the 

 fate of the larvae. Undoubtedly, many were consumed as food, but 

 a few must have burrowed into the ground surrounding the chambers 

 of the nest and there pupated, later to issue as adult flies. In the ground 

 about the bucket many puparii were found. 



The nest was visited daily, and although there seemed to be a greater 



