200 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



flow of odoriferous atoms in a direction contrary to that 

 of the aerial torrent seems to me inadmissible. 



For two hours, under a radiant sun, the visitors came 

 and went before the outer wall of the study. Most of 

 them sought for a long time, exploring the wall, flying 

 on a level with the ground. To see them thus hesitating 

 you would say that they were puzzled to find the exact 

 position of the lure which called them. Although they 

 had come from such a distance without a mistake, 

 they seemed imperfectly informed once they were on the 

 spot. Nevertheless, sooner or later they entered the room 

 and saluted the captive, without showing any great 

 ardour. At two o'clock all was over. Ten butterflies 

 had arrived. 



During the whole week, and always about noon, at 

 the hour of the brightest sunlight, the butterflies arrived, 

 but in decreasing numbers. The total approached forty. 

 I thought it useless to repeat experiments which would 

 add nothing to what I had already learned. I will 

 confine myself to stating two facts. In the first place, 

 the Lesser Peacock is diurnal ; that is to say, it celebrates 

 its mating under the dazzling brilliance of noon. It 

 needs the full force of the sunlight. The Great Peacock, 

 on the contrary, which it so closely resembles both in its 

 adult form and the work of its caterpillar, requires the 

 darkness of the first hours of the night. Who can explain 

 this strange contrast in habits ? 



In the second place, a powerful current of air, sweeping 

 away in a contrary direction all particles that might 

 inform the sense of smell, does not prevent the butterflies 

 from arriving from a direction opposite to that taken 

 by the eflluvial stream, as we understand such matters. 



