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•making one or more holes down through the nest and then pouring in a teaspoonful of 

 bisulphide of carbon, carefully stamping down the ground afterwards to close the holes. 

 The fumes of this substance will penetrate the nest in all directions and destroy the 

 entire community." 



Dr. Riley, in the October, 1889, number of Insect Life, gives an interesting account 

 of a successful effort to get rid of the large black or brownish ant which is often so great 

 a nuisance in dwelling houses. " A case was brought to my notice, he says, two years 

 ago in Washington, where a fine old homestead was on the point of being sold on account 

 of the annoyance caused by these ants. An investigation showed one enormous nest 

 several feet in diameter in the back yard, and several colonies here and there in other 

 parts of the premises. The large colony was completely destroyed by the use of bisul- 

 phide of carbon. A teaspoonful was poured down each of a number of openings, and a 

 damp blanket was thrown over them for a few minutes. Then, the blanket being removed, 

 the bisulphide was exploded at the mouth of each hole by means of a light at the end of 

 a pole. The slight explosions drove the poisonous fumes down through the underground 

 tunnels, killing off the ants in enormous numbers. The main source of the trouble being 

 thus destroyed, the nuisance was greatly lessened, and all talk of selling the old place 

 has ceased." 



A FLOCK OF BUTTERFLIES. 



BY S. W. DENTON, WELLESLEY, MASS. 



While in the interior of New G-uinea, in August, 1883, I observed what might pro- 

 perly be called a "flock of butterflies." They were apparently of one species, (of a dark- 

 brown color, with a blue reflection on the fore-wings in a certain light,) and in such great 

 numbers as to actually blacken the green bushes on which they lit. I first came across 

 them one day, while out after birds, in a thick and shaded part of the tall forest in low 

 land adjoining the Laloki River. Being so numerous I supposed it would be an easy mat- 

 ter to catch all I desired without the aid of a net, but after several unsuccessful attempts, 

 in which case they would rise in a cloud and settle again in a few moments on the bushes 

 close at hand, I was obliged to give it up. They did not seem to be very much disturbed 

 at my approach, but would not, however, allow me to get very near without taking flight, 

 as soon as I remained still they would immediately settle on bushes and foliage close by, 

 but always out of reach. The flock was perhaps two acres in extent, but the butterflies 

 were not equally numerous over this entire area, in some places every bush, branch, twig 

 and leaf seemed to be covered with them, while in others there were comparatively few. 

 What their object was, or how long they remained in that locality, I am unable to say, 

 except that on visiting the place several days afterwards they were still there in appar- 

 ently undiminished numbers. I might add none were seen feeding, and so far as I 

 observed there were no flowers in bloom anywhere in the vicinity. 



CATCHING BUTTERFLIES BY MEANS OF DECOYS. 



BY SHELLEY W. DENTON, WELLESLEY, MASS. 



It has long been a matter of fact to me, and one which has served a good purpose 

 and doubtless to other readers of the Can. Ent., that many butterflies, especially the 

 larger kinds, are attracted by decoys resembling themselves in size and colour. 



So many incidents of this nature have crowded themselves upon my notice that I 

 trust it will not be considered presuming on my part to enumerate a few of them, and at 

 the same time state the benefits to the butterfly hunter which may arise from this source 



My attention was first called to this fact some fifteen years ago while collecting in 

 the neighborhood of Boston. I caught one day an example of Papilio Turnus, after 

 taking the insect from my net, and while holding it in my fingers preparatory to placing 



