1901 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETF. 55 



fond of worrying the large locusts— Dmosiem/ Carolina and the clicking Circotettix verrucu- 

 latus— when these are Hying by or are hovering in the air over their mates. These dumsy 

 riyers, surprised and indignant at the unexpected onslaught, make a few spasmodic efforts to 

 I'vade their nimble persecutors, but soon settle down with rustling wings to the ground. 



The Painted Lady seems particularly to enjoy flying round and round the tops of mountain?. 

 < 'ollecting on the bare black summits of mountains, where there is little cover, is always a 

 matter of some difficulty, but this is much increased by these frolicsome, restless, fickle, 

 " ladies." After carefully stalking, perhaps creeping on all fours, over hot rough rocks, towards 

 a much desired Argyniiis, or Chionobas, which, although very much on the alert, has at last 

 settled for a few momtnts, how often are the collector's hopes dashed to the ground by seeing 

 one of these restless sentinels rush in and stir up his (quarry, driving it off over the edge of the 

 mountain, not to return again for a long time. This, however, is far from being the case with 

 the unwelcome tormentor, which is back again within a few moments, sunning its wings within a 

 few feet of him, but just beyond the reach of vengeance, and ready for the next effi rt. Van< ssa 

 Caiifornica, a cousin of the Pamted Lady, was not uncommin during the past summer in the 

 Rocky Mountains . and was also, found to have the same, in the eyes of the collector, moat 

 objectionable habit. 



In Dr. Scudder's splendid work, the " Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Can- 

 ada," a most interesting account is given of the Paint >d Lady and its habits. Quoting from 

 Meyer-Dur, he says, "Its wildly timorous behaviour is quite striking; it is uncommonly 

 audacious ; swift and savage it dashes irregidarly about, scarcely observing the pursuer ; heedless 

 of the net it returns directly to the place it has left, and sits with horizontally opened wings on 

 the dry earth or spots of sand. It is a nimble, lively, youthful, untamed, petulant insect 

 which shows in its behaviour no resemblance to its proud but circumspect neighbour Atalanta. 



Dr. Scudder says himself of this butterfly : " It frequently alights on stone walls heated by 

 the sun, and is greatly attracted by flowers, particularly by thistles and the other plants upon 

 which the caterpillar feeds ; here it may readily be taken ; not so in other spots, for although 

 very fearless, and even impudent, it is exceedingly wary, dashing off headlong at the slightest 

 alarm." 



In 1884 a remarkable occurrence of the Painted Lady Butterfly was noted, and the fact was 

 recorded by Dr. Saunders in his presidential address to the Society (Can. Ent., xvi., p. 211) 

 that it was so numerous in Manitoba as to have been the cause of some alarm to farmers, 

 who feared that the caterpillars might attack some of the growing crops. A similar invasion 

 occurred last summer (1901) in Nor h America and caused at first much anxiety to farmers in 

 the West. The species was noted at Ottawii, and the insect was extremely abundant at Nepigon 

 and from that point westward to the Pacific. Newly emerged specimens were taken at Nepigon 

 on the 1st July. Manitoba seems to have been the centre of greatest abundance in Cansida. 

 Mr. A. J. Dennis, of Beulah, Manitoba, writes on the 10th June : '■' Pyrameis Cardui is js a 

 rule an uncommon species here. I have never taken more than one or two specimens in a 

 season, but this year they are in countless numbers. They simply cover the prairies and have 

 been flying in all directions foi t!ie last six weeks." A few letters were received from farmers 

 anxiously enquiring whether the caterpillars which were abundant on summer-fallows, were 

 likely to attack crops after they had finished the weeds. They were informed that this was not 

 in the least liko'y. Mr. Donald Macfarl-^" ^ of Oak Lake, Manitoba, writing on the 25th June, 

 says : " These caterpillars first appeared in this district during a spell of dry weather about two 

 weeks ago. They were first seen on thistles and other weeds which they rapidly devoured, and 

 are now spreading over many other plants ; even the roadways are strewn with myriads of these 

 insects, all seeming to be in sympathy with the Government's immigration policy and movino; 

 westward." In travelling through Manitoba early in July I saw large numbers of the caterpillars 

 feeding upon the Canada Thistle, but particularly upon the Borraginaceous weed. Blue Bur 



