Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-22
Wanderings Of a Butterfly.
London Times.

British entOmologists are in futter of
excitement at present. They have caught
an insect in the very act of geographic
cally distributing itself. The insect is a
butterfly, and we need hardly say
that the enterprising creature and its an
cestors have been reared in America, their
origin being lost in the mists of prehis-
tOric antiquity. In its native home it
seems to be of modest and retiring dis
position, so much so, indeed, that we be-
lieve that it has not succeeded in obtain
ing from Americans any distinctive popu-
lar name. 1t Is only a butterfly, or more
probably a bug for by that ugly term
are all insects indescriminately designa-
ted in the States. EntomOgists, however,
have atbOned for this, for they have dig
nitied it with a designation even more
imposing than that by which science
knows the king of beasts himself-AnOSiu
pLeGjppus. The original home of Anosia,
as we have said is the American continent
where it has a wide range, extending from
the Hudson's bay territory to the Amazon
region and Bolivia.
1t is apparently only about thirty or
forty years since AnOsia began its wan
behring's. UnObseryed by the early vOy-
ayers, it is now abundant and firmly es-
tablished in the Sandwich islands. In the
MarqUases islands, where it is now the
cOmmOnest butterfly, the first specimens
were observed by Roman Catholic mis-
siOHary about 1860. In the Society islands
and the Cook and Havery groups, Mr..
James J. Walker, r. n, saw within the
last few years both the butterfly and its
food plant, AScIepias curGSSaUica in plenty.
The insect has even reached the remote
Il - Il.
southwark. Through the SamOn, Friend
ly, and Fiji islands it has been found, and
is especially abundant in the latter group.
It appears also to have reached the north
islands of New Zealand, as we'll as Nor
folk island. In New Caledonia, where it
has been long established, it be-
came very abundant some years
ago, but is now comparatively scarce,
owing it would seem to the destruction of
nearly all the food plant by the larvae.
We first hear of its occurrence in Austria
liza, in Queensland, in 1870; it now seems
to have spread to all the warmer parts of
this great island, and even to Hobart (Tas-
mania), i'll latitude AZ degrees south. In
New Hebrides, Solomon islands, New
Guinea, and other islands in that part of
the Pacific 1T appears to be now firmly es-
tablished and not rare. 1t has even been
found in Celebes aud Java. Starting from
the east side of the American continent
again, AnOsia has found its way to the
West Indies, where it is found in company
with some of the local forms of genus,
aud it has long been established in the
Bermudas, $50 miles from the United
States. Two examples in the fine collec-
tiou of Messrs. Salvin and Goodwin were
taken in the Azores in 1864, but Mr.
Walker can not ascertain that any have
since been found there. 1t does not seem
to have reached Madeira. though the plant
it feeds on has POUNDS its way to that is
land.
The first occurrence of Anosia in Britain
was i'll 1879, specimen having been taken
at Meath, South Wales, GU Sept. of that
year; this brave pioneer has found fitting
uiche in the insects Valhalla at South
Keusington. In September, 1877, a speci-
men was captured at La Vendee, the only
record Mr. Walker can find of its occur
renee on the European continent. Another
specimen was captured in Kent in 1881.
Meantime however it must have multiplied
rapidly, for at least dozen were bagged
last year in our southern counties Corn
wall contributing quite half the number.
It Is certainly an interesting and well
authenticated Instance of process which
plays so important a part in natural
science the geographical distribution
of animals. In this process man and his
inventions have been a powerful factor
since he begau to spread himself over the
face of the earth. But the case of Anosia
seems to indicate that even in the pre-
human periods dispersion must in some
cases at least at least have been much
more rapid than some seem prepared to
admit.
Dakota mau who was running for the
maglstracy announced that if elected he
would charge only 81 for marrying any
couple. and would wait until there was
christening for his payment. He left
the rival candidates in the shade.