AND AT SEA 193 



" encountered several light squalls of wind and rain, 

 during one of which two butterflies were driven past. 

 The weather continued squally all night and for part of 

 the next day, the wind coming from the westward. 

 The following morning it was found that quite a num- 

 ber of Lepidoj)tera had been blown on board, and 

 ensconced themselves in various places sheltered from 

 the wind. They were mostly, if not wholly, nocturnal 

 species of small size, although one large hawk-moth was 

 among them. About twelve or fifteen specimens, repre- 

 senting nearly as many species, were captured, and 

 others seen ; so that not less than twenty or thirty indi- 

 viduals must have reached our ship." 



This number of specimens at so great a distance 

 is certainly very remarkable and shows that the 

 occurrence of butterflies at sea must not be looked 

 upon as excessively rare, and explains without 

 doubt one means by which the natural distribution 

 of butterflies from one region to another may take 

 place. 



