THE CA.NADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Ill 



My attention was first called to this fact some fifteen years ago, while 

 collecting in the neighborhood of Boston. I caught one day an example 

 of Papilio turnus. After taking the insect from my net, and while holding 

 it in my fingers, preparatory to placing in my collecting box, another 

 butterfly of the same kind darted down at the one I held and fluttered 

 above it for a moment,' as if to entice it away. I was so surprised that no 

 attempt was made to capture the visitor until he had risen beyond reach. 

 Expanding and placing on a bush close by, the almost lifeless butterfly 

 which I had held in my fingers, and partially concealing myself, I awaited 

 the insect's return ; nor was I disappointed or obliged to wait long. I 

 could catch an occasional glimpse through the bushes of my intended 

 victim : nearer it came, till hovering for a moment above my decoy, was 

 easily secured. This plan was followed during the rest of that day, and 

 more or less since that time, with gratifying results ; having caught as 

 many as thirty-seven Papilio turnus in a day, and that, too, in a place 

 like Eastern Massachusetts, where they are, so far as my experience 

 goes, not very common. 



While in Nevada, in the summer of 1887, this method was followed 

 with good success in the capture of Papilio rutulus, eury^nedon^ and 

 daumis ; Argynnis leto, nevadensis, and corouis ; Limenitis lorquini, 

 and others. I found a piece of bright yellow paper, cut out to resemble 

 P. rutulus, proved almost as attractive as a butterfly of that species, and 

 even a yellow leaf, which I picked up and placed in a conspicuous spot, 

 answered the purpose very well once, to enable me to secure a decoy. 



I find the best place to expose a decoy is in some sunny nook, where 

 an occasional specimen of the species of which you are in search is seen, 

 allowing the full rays of the sun (provided your decoy is a butterfly) to 

 strike on the expanded wings. It is usually my custom to cut down the 

 green bushes, except, perhaps, one in the centre of the opening, and 

 stripping the leaves from the tallest sprig or branch, place my decoy on 

 the point. The decoy may be a badly damaged specimen — one not fit to 

 preserve. 



This method applies best to the larger and stronger flying species of 

 butterflies, and these are the ones the hunter has the greatest difficulty 

 in procuring, especially if the country is rough and broken, so he is 

 restricted in his movements by deep gullies, cHffs, or large, loose rocks. 

 Occasionally the hunter will have an enemy in the shape of a large dragon 



