(13830)) 
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON BUTTERFLIES AND 
HORNETS (MADE IN FRANCE). 
By Epmunp SEtovs. 
July 9th, 1908.—For the last few days I have watched hornets 
and butterflies feeding on some of the copious exudations of sap 
from the bark of a small, lopped, stunted oak-tree, of no very 
healthy appearance. The outflow, after fermenting, to appear- 
ance, and bubbling, forms, here and there, a white substance, 
in much the same way, apparently, as foam is formed along the 
seashore. It is more substantial than this, but of a very flimsy 
solidity, if solid at all, properly speaking. It is this that the 
hornets (as huge ones as I have ever seen) principally come down 
to feed on, and they are evidently very fond of it. One will not 
suffer another to feed at the same place with her. Sometimes 
one, coming, is driven away by one already there, or the latter 
may be displaced by the new arrival. Two often oppose each 
other, in the air, flying round and sometimes against each 
other with a deep, portentous hum, not pleasant to hear. But 
I have not seen them actually close and use their stings, so 
may doubt if they would ever go so far. But apparently they 
cannot eat amicably, side by side, or even a small space apart, 
as wasps will do. Butterflies—especially now Red Admirals, 
but also the Great Tortoiseshell and others—also very much 
affect these exudations, and, strange to say, the hornets are a 
good deal worried and molested by them, though not in equal 
degree, by all. They dash at and fly round about them, in a 
bold buccaneering manner, as they approach or quit the tree, 
but not when they are quite near it and about to settle, or after 
they have settled. But time after time, to-day, I have seen 
them thus attacked, as I may almost call it, when properly on 
the wing, and almost always by one of the Red Admirals, though 
once a Great Tortoiseshell did so, but not so effectively. The 
butterfly dashes right at the hornet, very swifty and impetuously, 
and then all round about her, with rapid retreats and fresh darts 
