1768 The Zoologist— July, 18G9. 



him, but could not seize him, for we saw the bird leave him and he still ascending. 

 My native servant remarked, im seeing this — ' See! he has irone so high that the bird 

 cannot get up there, but has had t« come down again.' The ease with which he rose 

 to this great height and the rapidity of the ascent were aslouiidin?. In reading the 

 above, it should be borne in mind that this moth measures 4^ inches across its ex- 

 panded wings, has a very stout body, and is of great strength, so that neither swift nor 

 swallow could take it in its gape. I remarked that it was attacked three limes by 

 a Coelyoxis apicata whilst silting in the verandah, but for what reason I cannot say.'' 



Now, as to speed and endurance of flight of butterflies and other insects. 

 *' Pera steamer. Oct. 12, I860. — About twelve miles east of Cape Bon, Africa, when 

 sitting in the after part of the vessel, I observed a 'painted lady' butterfly. It ap- 

 peared to come from seaward, and readily overtook the steamer, which was then making 

 10^ knots an hour. I observed the insect for about twenty-five minutes, during which 

 time it made three distinct flights from the ship, and each time appeared to alight on 

 the waves ; the wind was nearly ahead, and the log was heaved at the time, whereby 

 the rate of speed was settled. The insect often soared high, and did not seem at all 

 fatigued. 



" Oct. 29tb.— Six hundred miles from Aden a butterfly flew on board, probably 

 from Socotova. 



"Oct. .30th. — A dragon-fly came to hand, 800 miles from the nearest land : two 

 swifts and a swallow also came on hoard. 



" Nov. 4. — A small finch ; also a drapon-fly darting about, and keeping with ease 

 with the vessel; a dark brown butterfly, like a leaf-butterfly, easily keeping up; 

 a pigeon and two hawks also came. This last butterfly kept up bravely, although the 

 wind was against us — say, at least three or four knots an honr, whilst we were steam- 

 ing at from nine to ten knots." 



I have often noted butterflies keeping up with an Indian railway train, going at 

 the rate of about twenty-eight miles an hour, with the greatest ease, for a considerable 

 time; as also moths. In the case of the former they were at some distance from the 

 train, but the latter were generally close, so that they (the moths) may have been in- 

 fluenced by the current of air, and so carried onward. I am well aware that some 

 butterflies travel fifty or sixty miles an hour for short distances, and I trust that these 

 few notes may elicit others from some of your correspondents, many of whom, I doubt 

 not, are reading with interest the curious experiments occasionally recorded in 

 ' Scientific Opinion,' which are now being made to ascertain the rapidity with 

 which the vibrations of the wings of insects occur. — C. Home; Upper Norwood, 

 June 4, 1869. 



Bare Bats at Torquay. — Two uncommon bats were killed near Torquay in May, 

 viz., the great bat {Noctulinia allivolans) and the barbastelle (Barbaslellus communix). 

 The former measured in expanse of wing 13^ inches : both these bats were females. 

 Last year (I forget the month), in the same neighbourhood, a number of the great 

 horse-shoe bat (Bhinolophus Ferrum-equinum) were found in a cellar which was 

 tolerably often resorted to. — A. de Hugel ; Florian, Torquay, June 6, 18p9, 



