BUTTEEFLIES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 59 



Early in spring the flowers of blueberries {Vaccinium) and of 

 blackberries {Bubus) and later of the Japanese honeysuckle {Loni- 

 cera japonica) are visited by many species, the last especially by 

 the woodland swallowtails, and the other two by skippers. At the 

 beginning of the season the zebra swallowtails {Papilio marcellus) ^ 

 in the absence of other flowers, will feed on blueberry blossoms so 

 very near the ground that their tails almost or quite touch the earth. 



Late in summer large patches of thistles form by far the best 

 collecting grounds, and if these are in the vicinity of woods they are 

 sure to be visited by numbers of the woodland swallowtails. 



In addition to these plants very many others, especially among the 

 clovers and the taller and more scattered composites, are very attrac- 

 tive to most kinds of butterflies. 



When engaged in feeding most butterflies are easily approached, 

 no matter how shy they may be under other circumstances. Some 

 flowers produce in them an effect quite similar to intoxication, 

 whereby their capture is facilitated. For instance, the Indianpipe 

 {Monotropa uniftora), which is a favorite of the larger wood-fre- 

 quenting skippers {Epargyreus and Thoryhes)^ causes them to ex- 

 hibit curious irregularities of movement and a greater or lesser degree 

 of stupefaction. 



Though plants with attractive flowers in general afford the best 

 collecting grounds, particularly for the larger and more conspicuous 

 species, many different kinds of butterflies seldom or never visit 

 flowers, while others are captured most readily elsewhere than on 

 flowers. 



In the drier portions of the summer patches of wet mud near 

 woods, or in open fields or country roads, are excellent collecting 

 grounds. All the species having the peculiar habit of gathering in 

 groups or companies on mud, such as the yellow swallowtail {Papilio 

 glaucios), the eubule {Phoebis eubule), the yellow clover {C olios 

 philodice)^ and the lisa {EuTema lisa)^ are very easily decoyed by 

 imitation butterflies cut from colored paper or by dead butterflies of 

 their own kind. 



Most of our woodland butterflies are readily secured by baiting 

 with carrion. Dead snakes suspended about 5 feet above the ground 

 in an open glade or clearing make, perhaps, the most effective bait. 

 The hackberry butterfly {Chlorippe celtis) and the tawny emperor 

 {G. clyton)^ which ordinarily remain high in the trees and are ex- 

 ceedingly active and difficult to catch, are easily obtained by the use 

 of carrion, on which they often feed to the point of partial stupe- 

 faction. 



Other woodland butterflies which are active and difficult to catch 

 are extremely fond of alcoholic liquids. Piles of decaying fruit, par- 



