1901 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 81 



so as to destroy the orange groves, and a few years ago a frost in the South nearly exterminated 

 the blue birds, and for years after scarcely one was to be seen in Ontario, and only now are 

 they becoming common, and it may be years yet before they are as plentiful as formerly. 



Now, Archipjms is not likely to survive a frost that killed blue birds ; yet no one in the 

 north observed an unusual absence of Archippus in the following season, as was the case with 

 the blue birds ; and yet the probability is, that a wide belt alonp; the South Atlantic States was 

 swept clear of this particular butterfly during that winter. So we see that such a widely 

 extended migratory movement is necessary to maintain the regular northern supply for propa- 

 gating purposes in that region. 



In regard to the number of broods in a season produced by the species in its tropical home, 

 we are as yet without information. But, from what we know of its nature and habits, it seems 

 AS if it would require several to enable it to complete its annual functions. That it has no well 

 defined broods in the north is certain, and the long continued straggling nature of its oviposi - 

 tion supplies us with the reason for it. (Scudder's " Butterflies of Eastern U. S. and Canada," 

 Vol. I. page 742). And as it will follow the same course in the South, it will make it verj- 

 ■difficult to determine the number of its broods there. That Mr. Edwards has seen them pair- 

 iiig in W. Va. is indicated by his remarks when dealing with the subject ( "Psyche," Vol. II., 

 page 169), which may be regarded as illustrating its habits in that locality, but that there would 

 be as many broods in nature as he obtained in confinement does not seem probable ; or that the 

 butterflies bred there in nature would remain there to breed again is not at all likely, as it is 

 not in aocordance with its nature and luiljits to do so. I saw Arcliippus pairing on one occasion 

 'at Hamilton, in numbers, about the middle of June (Can. Ent., Vol. XX., p. 137), But singu- 

 larly enough, it was the only instance of the kind that I ever witnessed ; and that sino-le in- 

 stance cannot be regarded as exhibiting the regular habit of the species in that locality, but 

 rather as an unusual and exceptional occurrence, for which there would be some special reason 

 if we only could trace it. I do not now consider that those pairing individuals that I saw would 

 be the first arrivals of the season for that year, but rather that they belonged to a brood pro- 

 duced io some less distant locality, but yet had travelled far before they were ready to mate, 

 and would proceed yet further north in conformity with the established habits of the species. 



The desire to travel, which is sc strongly developed in Anosia Archippus, and which is so 

 strikingly disclosed in its regular migrations on this continent, which constrains it as it were to 

 turn its head northward in^the spring, and southward in the autumn, and holds it as rigidly to 

 these points of the compass until it reaches the furthest limits of favorable breeding condi- 

 tions, is a faculty of direction which we do not yet comprehend. The migrations of birds w 1 

 not assist us to unravel the mystery, as the old birds are supposed to guide the young ones on 

 their first trip. The finding of their homes at long distances by cats, dogs and carrier pigeons 

 does not apply, as in these instances it is with them a return journey ; none of our butterflies 

 were ever over that road before. Sight avails them not. Scent, as we know it, cannot assist 

 them ; and yet there may be an influence in the air aflFecting them thit suggests both the time 

 to start and the direction in which to go. We know that in some of the lower animals a parti- 

 cular sense can be found that is far more highly developed than the same one is in man. And we 

 also know as a fact, although we cannot explain its operation, that there is in some of the low- 

 est forms of life, where there is no nervous organization to receive an impression, a phenome- 

 non termed " Heliotropisra," signifying a turning towards the sun, which is as constant and 

 certain in its operation as any other law of nature. Now, may there not be in these but- 

 terflies a sense perception of direction, of which we know nothing, but of whose presence they 

 are perfectly conscious, and to whose promptings from without, they respond as readily as to 

 their food, and which guides them as unerringly as in the choice of a food plant for their pro- 

 geny ? An influence in the atmosphere or from the sun, a kind of Heliotropism ; or one that 

 EN. 



