ASSOCIATIONS AND MIGRATIONS. 97 



are hatched together, and remain in compact, for the 

 purpose of rearing, by their united labour, a comfort- 

 able dwelling. 



There have been instances of butterflies associating 

 in large bodies ; but for what purpose, no one has as 

 yet been able to ascertain. We are informed by Mr 

 Knapp, that on a calm summer day, he observed a 

 prodigious number of the Papilio brassicce, or Large 

 Cabbage Butterfly, flying from northeast to south- 

 east ; and so immense were their numbers, that their 

 flight was continuous for upwards of two hours.* And 

 Kalm relates in his Travels,-^ that he noticed this 

 remarkable flight nearly half across the British 

 Channel. It is recorded by Lindley, in the Royal 

 Military Chronicle, that in the beginning of March, 

 1 823, in Brazil, there were prodigious flights of white 

 and yellow butterflies, which lasted for many days 

 Successively. They were not observed to settle any 

 where, but proceeded on their course from northeast 

 to southeast. So direct was their line of travel, that 

 nothing stopped them ; and their progress was 

 towards the sea, which was not far off, where they* 

 in all probability, would perish. It is curious, that, at 

 the time this flight was observed, no other species 

 could be seen ; and this is the more remarkable, as 

 the country abounds in a variety of these insects. 



" An extraordinary flight," says Captain Adams, 

 " of small butterflies, with spotted wings, took place 



* ROSEL'S Amusements of Insects, ii. 135. 

 f KALM'S Travels, p. 13. 



