FIELD AND FOREST. 



91 



observed, or, if observed, has been considered to be inconsequential. 

 The observation may be worth nothing, but in these days of minute 

 science, when every infinitesimal variation is noticed and invested with 

 importance, there may be a significance in the fact which escapes me, 

 but which, with others, may have its value. So far as I know, the 

 occurrence is invariable; being so, the inference is that odour, and 

 not colour, is the attraction. I have called the attention of others to 

 the occurrence, who have, watching the results, always come to the 

 same conclusion as myself. — S. B. in Nature. 



MISCELLANY. 



FIELD RECORD. 



Flights of Spiders. — During the calm 

 warm days of the past week I have ob- 

 served many little spiders on the tops of 

 posts, fences, trees, weeds etc., doing 

 their best to fly away after the manner so 

 well described by Einerton in Vol. 5 of 

 the American Naturalist. There were 

 species of at least two genera engaged in 

 this curious work. A large number of 

 small ones certainly belonged to Lycosa : 

 they were not more than one quarter o! 

 an inch in length. A smaller number of 

 larger ones were observed also, and these 

 nearly half an inch in length ; the genus 

 I did not make out. Both kinds acted 

 in exactly the same way; they erectel the 

 abdomen into an almost vertical position, 

 I could easily see the threads of silk 

 caught in the current of the air, and car- 

 ried away. 



The spider appeared to feel the strength 

 with which the web was pulled away, and 

 when the pulling was strong enough let 

 go, and was caried away, generally in an 



obliquely direction. Upon two occasions, 

 when I eave particular attention to this 

 point, the wind was blowing greatly 

 toward the south, and it is my impression 

 that it has generally or at least usually 

 been the case. 



Are these flights migrations, or are 

 they connected with the pairing of the 

 sexes? — C. E. Bessey. — Ames, Iowa. 



Flight of Danais Archippus. — Large 



numbers of this butterfly commenced their 

 flight over Denton Co., Texas, about the 

 15th of October, and continued up to 

 November 5th, the last week, however, 

 in much smaller numbers than previously. 

 They seemed to be moving in a southerly 

 direction and were accompanied by about 

 a dozen other species of smaller butter- 

 flies. 



Large numbers of the Archippus butter- 

 fly were also reported in Butler Co., Iowa, 

 earlier in the season. 



Moths Injuring Pianos. — The latest 

 freak of insect destruction, is the gnaw- 

 ing, riddling with holes, and otherwise 



