118 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
part of some cool, open window for the night, to save them 
from the ants; and yet, notwithstanding this precaution, 
the birds will be found in the morning covered with ants, 
while others continue to descend the long and slender 
passage of communication. Is not this property of disco- 
vering food to be ascribed to the power of scent?” 
A species of Myrmicide we found under a stone, in 
the grounds at Hermitage, in company with another small 
red ant. 
LEPIDOPTERA (Burrerriies AnD Morus). 
Of the few species of diurnal lepidoptera frequenting the 
Islands, the Archippus Butterfly (Danas archippus), 
ranks first for size and beauty. 
This fine species, which is so frequently seen in the 
southern states of America, 1s also common in the Bermudas, 
and generally to be found where a patch of ipecacuanha is 
in bloom. Mr. Hurdis’ note book has the following :— 
“Dec. 18. The beautiful caterpillar of D. archippus is still 
common. It is two inches in length, and elegantly encir- 
cled from one extremity to the other with bands of black, 
white, and yellow. The chrysalis is of a delicate pale green 
colour, semicircled with a line of black and gold, and 
dotted in various parts with bright golden spots. It makes 
no cocoon, but suspends itself by a black hgament from the 
tail end, to stone walls and railings, and continues in the 
pupa state exactly twenty days. The favourite food of the 
caterpillar of this species is the curascoa swallow-wort, or 
bastard ipecacuanha (Asclepias Curassavica), which grows 
wild in pastures, gardens, and roadsides, and blossoms 
during every month of the year. The perfect insect is 
abundant throughout the year.” 
