The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-12-23
manitomof pilot.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER %, 1886.
BUTTERFLIES.
Some Curious Scientific Faeh-Minisry /
Nature.


Some Curious Scientific Yaeh-Minisry h.
Rev. w. j.. Holland, pastor Of the
Bellefeld Presbyterian church, and one
of the most noted etymologists of the
country, has just returned from an ex-
tended trip. During the last month he
has received some very rare and valu-
able accessions TO his already large col
lection of butterflies. The new speci-
mems come from China, Japan, Africa,
Switzerland, and parts of this country.
One or the most interesting il that sent
by Rev. B. c. Henry. author of the
Gross and Dragon" formerly of
Sharpsburg, but now missionary in tho
island of Hainau, China Rev Henry
was the first white man to collect insects
in that island for scientific purposes.
He has sent Rev. Mr.. Holland some $50
specimens of butterflies, representing
about 100 different species. The speci-
mems belong to what is known as the
Siam fauna and contain six species
hitherto unknown to science.
In showing the new specimens to 3
Commercial Gazette reporter recently,
MIR. Holland said: These butterflies
e1emplify in a striking manner what j:
explain. Here is male butterfly" he
said, pointing to one of the finest look
ing specimens, land by its side is the
female This female differs greatly in
appearance from the male of her own
species, but is almost the counterpart of
the male of another species Now that
male, to which the female is so similar
in appearance, belongs to species that.
on account of peculiar excretions from
the body, enjoys immunity from the
ravages of birds. For some reason IN
known to science, there are certain
species that are thus free from the attack
OF birds. As the propagation of the
butterfly depends principally on the
female, nature has provided that in
those species not favored with immunity
from bird attacks the females should
resemble the form which enjoy this in-
munlty.
Il have just received collection of
fifteen hundred specimens from the
west coast of tropical Africa, where Du
Challlu started cut TO hunt gorilIas The
African butterflies present a great
variety If form and color. In the
Madagascar butterflies the male is con
slant in the same species, but the
female shows as high as seven varieties
Of form. This variety OF form is no
doubt due TO the principle of mimIcrv
by which the female butterfly is pro
tected.
"On this theory, then, the Arctic but
tertlles ought 10 be white" suggested
the reporter
The Arctic butterflies are often
white" continued Mr.. Holland. bu, not
because that is the color Of the snow.
In Greenland the butterflies are the in
sects OF the summer as well as here.
Some of our butterflies are almost the
color of the vegetables on which they
perch and hence can scarcely be dstip-
guished from their surroundings.
1t is a curious fact about the Green
land butterfly that the same species
which here natures in forty DAYS re-
qulres in that climate over two years
There is one species of butterfly that is =
great cOsmOpolite. 1t is found in China
and in Pennsylvania. l refer TO the
thistle butterfly. 1t has followed the
thistle-down all over the world. The
intelligence of butterflies is shown in
their wonderful memory. They will fl
about for hours and then return to the
identical leaf from which they started
and 90 to bed. The largest butterflies,
the orthoptera, measure as high as
eleven inches across the wings from tip
to tip"
How large a collection have you
now - WAS asked
Il never keep any account of the
number Of specimens, as that alone does
not make collection valuable. think
| have the most complete collection OF
this country. OF the $50 specimens In
America north Of the Rio Grande |
have an abundant representation. But
my collection is not complete. nor will
it be until | have about 10000 spec
mems. That will be IN the days of my
great great grandson perhaps Pitts
burg COMMERCIAL Gazette.