BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENT. SOC. II. 1879. 73 



gain may not be technical, but it will be genuine and real. With- 

 out this, technicalities are valueless — this lies at the basis of all 

 that is valuable in science. 



Flight of Lepidoptera in Mid-Ocean. 



Reports of the flight of immense numbers of Butterflies have 

 at times apj^eared in various Entomological papers, — and among 

 these notably Vanessa Cardui, Terias lisa and among our own, 

 Danais plexippus. 



A much more interesting fact of the flight of Lepidoptera was 

 related to me by my friend Carl Thalenhorst, first officer of the 

 German steamship) " Graf Bismark." 



On Thursday, Dec. 4th, on our route fromBahia to Bio Janeiro 

 when we were about 30 miles from the Abrolhos (large rocks in 

 the Atlantic Ocean, 30 miles from the mainland,) and conse- 

 quently 60 miles from the Brazilian coast, hundreds of Butterflies 

 and moths suddenly appeared and lit on our decks. There was a 

 light but continuous rain during the day on which they came to us. 



Such appearances of insects indicate to the seamen the approach 

 of the Pampero, a south-west wind often very violent. 



The course of the vessel was directed northward, but multitudes 

 of Lepidoptera continued to appear until night. 



A few specimens — all of them of the Heterocera were brought 

 to me by Mr. Thalenhorst, and present a wonderful variety of 

 species; there were 20 specimens representing 15 species ; of these 

 7 were Sphingidae, 8 Noctuidae ; of the former were Amphonyx 

 Antaeus, Erynnis Ello, E. Scyron, Philampelus vitis and Choero- 

 campa tersa. Of the latter were Erebus odora and E. Zenobia. 

 The rest my Lepidopterological friends have not been able to 

 indentify. 



Mr. Thalenhorst also informs me, off the coast of Buenos Ay res 

 the ships are often visited by immense numbers of Libellulae, 

 which are so tired that they may easily be taken with the fingers. 



Their arrival is always an indication of the approach of the 

 Pampero. 



F. G-. Schadpp. 



