34 



recorded the capture, at that place, of Papilio Cresphontes and Euptoieta Claudia (see 

 Can. Ent. v. xiv., p. 219). Mr. Fletcher has found Thecla Niphon in abundance in the 

 neighbourhood of Ottawa. His interesting account of the insect has appeared in the 

 Society's publications. 



Of our common butterflies, Colias Philodice is one of the most plentiful. It is seen 

 with wings erect on moist spots in the country lanes, in sedate assemblies that have often 

 b^en suggestive of beds of crocuses. Vanessa Antiopa is another insect that is every- 

 where abundant with us ; and it is as beautiful as it is common. In England, where it 

 is extremely rare, it is called the " Camberwell Beauty," its capture at Camberwell having 

 been recorded. I once saw the insect in Lord Scarborough's wood, in Langton Carr, Lin- 

 colnshire. It was in October, when insects were few. I was standing motionless when a 

 stately insect came gliding over the trees and settled on a young oak, on which the sun- 

 light was playing three yards in front of me. It just spread its wings, and fairly dis- 

 played its beauties, and then sailed away and I saw it no more. Besides V. Antiojia, the 

 butterflies common to both countries are Pyrantels Atalanta (the Bed Admiral), P. Cardui 

 (the Painted Lady), and Pieris liapce (the small cabbage butterfly). A single specimen of 

 Argynnis Aplirodite (the Venus Fritillary) was taken in 1833, in Upton Wood, near Lea- 

 mington, Warwickshire, by James VValhouse, Esq., of that place. One specimen also of 

 Pyramcis Huntera (the scarce Painted Lady), was captured by Capt. Blomer, at Withy- 

 bush, near Haverfordwest, S. Wales, in 1828 (Morris' Butterflies, pp. 76 and 113). P. 

 Huntera is generally scarce on this side of the Atlantic, but in 1879-80 numbers of the 

 species could be seen. P. Cardui in England, it is said, appears abundantly about every 

 seventh year. 



The most beautiful of our Quebec butterflies is, I think, the Banded Purple (Limenitis 

 Arthemis). It has a velvety richness that is very attractive. It is met with abundantly 

 in the mountain roads of Brome and Shefford, in June and July. On such roads, too, at 

 times Grapta J. Album is plentiful. This insect is one that is most difficult to catch. It 

 rests with closed wings, and the dull hues of the exposed under sides closely resemble 

 those of the iencing on which the insect usually settles. As an intruder upon its haunts 

 approaches it, it dashes away with a Speed that sets pursuit at defiance. The specimens 

 of this insect that I possess were found hybernating in an unused room in the upper story 

 of the Missisquoi Bigh School. Melitcea Phaeton (the Baltimore Fritillary) seems to 

 delight in swampy hollows among the hills, and Neonympha Boisduvallu (Boisduval's 

 butterfly) in mountain meadows. 



In autumn, when the roads are lined- with Golden Rod (Solidago Canadensis) in full 

 blossom, flocks of Fritillaries of the species Arthemis, Myrina and Bellona, rise as the 

 wayfarer approaches. Here and there an insect may be seen fixed helpless on the plant. 

 Examination discloses that it is in the clutches of a lurking foe, of a curiously shaped 

 bug IPhymata erosa), that is sucking its life away. This bug lies hid amongst the blos- 

 soms which it closely resembles in colour, and when a butterfly alights above it, seizes the 

 unwary insect with its powerful front legs formed for grasping, drives its beak into the 

 body of its victim, and holds it till its appetite is sated. 



Insects may be lost to us through improvements. The Great Copper butterfly (Chry- 

 sophanus dispar) was lost to England through the draining of Whittlesca Mere. The 

 cleaning out and draining of a bottom land in Bromo banished Melitcea Phaeton from that 

 particular spot. On the other hand, improvements may fit the country for the abode of 

 new species from the South. The introduction of the cut-leaved ash has brought Papilio 

 Cresphontes to Quebec Province. C. Hyllus, as we have seen, has but lately found its 

 way hither. To the Niagara district southern forms, such as Papilio Marcellus, P. Ajax, 

 /'. Philenor, etc., etc., etc., wafted northward by the warm airs from the Mississippi 

 valley, have found their way. 



Happily we are not much troubled with the small boy entomologist — with the " Young 

 Barnes ' of the old country, with juveniles, having the greed of acquisition, but not the 

 lo\ e of science, who catch for catching's sake. Many a species in England is fast disap- 

 pearing before the nets of such spoilers. Long may it be before Canada gives birth to 

 such a race. For, of all living things the Rhopolocera are the least hurtful and the most 

 widely attractive. They are beautiful ; they are diurnal. For the most part they feed 



