222 THE CANADIAN ENT( l.Mc >LO<; 1ST. 



north a tamarack swamp, the trees of which are mainly small and stunted. 

 At one point close to the little stream, covering an area of less than two 

 acres, the cinquefoil grows very plentifully. A large portion of it is only a 

 foot or two high, but a few clumps reach a height of three or four feet. 

 This particular area is not a pure one, for besides the bog plants present 

 it contains others without northern affinities. Scattered about with the 

 cinquefoil is a good deal of the Ohio golden-rod (Solidago Ohioensis) and 

 the white mint ( Koellia Virginiana). The elevation above sea-level 

 at Bloomfield is 834 feet, the hills in the neighbourhood some thirty odd 

 feet higher. 



During the summer of 1908 I determined to find out all I could 

 about dorcas, especially to discover the food-plant, and if possible to rear 

 the butleifly through all its stages. Up to this time I had not made any 

 special effort to study it, partly because it was to be found only at some 

 distance from the city. The late Dr. James Fletcher, who had learned of 

 its cccuirence near Detroit, and had been "specially interested in this 

 species for several years,'' corresponded with me regarding it. I shall 

 quote from his letters as his remarks bear upon the subject. 



Jan. 13, 1908, he wrote : 



" It would be a grand thing if you could secure eggs of dorcas during 

 the coming summer, so that we might try to breed the species. Dr. 

 Brodie, of Toronto, assures me that this species feeds on Hypericum 

 perforatum, but I cannot help thinking that he is mistaken. With 

 us epixanthe flies only in peat bogs. I notice that your speci- 

 mens of dorcas are labelled Bloomfield Hills. Will you please 

 let me know the nature of the locality where you find them. Is it really 

 on the sides of hills or is it in peat bogs near hills ? It would be a great 

 triumph if we could secure eggs and breed the species. It is not known 

 what epixanthe feeds upon, but I have an idea that every species of Chrys- 

 ophanus will eat Dock." 



Again in his letter of July it, 1908, he wrote : 



" With regard to getting eggs of dorcas, I would suggest your 

 catching some females after they have passed their prime, and then tying 

 some of these in gauze bags, both over Hypericum perforatum, which is 

 alleged to be one of the food-plants, and also over the little Doorweed, 

 Polygonum aviculare, upon which C. helloides feeds." 



On July 9 I found dorcas out for the first time of the year at the 

 Bloomfield bog. On the first and the fifth I had visited two other localities 

 without finding any of the butterflies. I think that they were somewhat 



