112 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



fly, which will pounce on the coming prize just as you are about to " scoop " 

 it in ; then away the two will go. The butterfly soaring and flapping 

 often till almost out of sight, in the vain endeavour to rid itself of the 

 enemy which has taken such a death-like grip upon it, but this shark of 

 the air is in the end generally victorious. 



In some countries, such as Australia and New Guinea — and I speak 

 of these because of personal knowledge — there are large and showy butter- 

 flies of very powerful flight, which are almost impossible to catch on the 

 wing, not only being shy, but high-fliers ; and I know of no way in which 

 they can be taken so readily as by the method above described. I refer 

 particularly just now to that large and magnificent blue butterfly {Fapilio 

 Joesa) which in Northern Queensland may be seen alighting . on or 

 floating above the tops of the forest trees, occasionally flashing in the 

 sunlight like a star of unusual brilliancy. It is a magnificent sight to a 

 butterfly hunter, and one that will fill him with enthusiasm, but one likely 

 to be of great disappointment should he wait for it to come within reach 

 or settle near the ground, where it could be taken with his net ; for nine 

 times out of ten, when it takes flight, it will sail around and away over 

 the tops of the trees till lost from view, unless you have something to 

 catch its eye and cause it to descend from its elevated position. Now, 

 procure one of the same species and place it in a conspicuous place in the 

 sunlight ; conceal yourself near by, but be ready to strike at a moment's 

 notice, and await the result. Your decoy will most likely soon be seen (for 

 it is wonderful how quickly a butterfly will discern one of its own kind), 

 and down will come the longed-for prize, to your delight and satisfaction ; 

 but you must sweep with your net at just the right time, or the oppor- 

 tunity is lost. But perhaps you ask how is the first specimen or decoy to 

 be obtained? This is often a matter of considerable difficulty. I was 

 accustomed when rambling in the forests of that country to carry a gun, 

 and although when obtained by shooting they were generally in a rather 

 dilapidated condition, yet they served the purpose of a decoy very well. 



One thing which has always surprised me, is the remarkable sight and, 

 perhaps, sense of smell which some insects seem to possess. Often while 

 having a decoy exposed, I have been startled by the sudden appearance 

 of a butterfly when none were apparently in the neighborhood. The 

 causes which lead to the attractiveness of decoys no doubt are various. 

 Possibly the passing butterfly on seeing the decoy, supposes the latter 



