The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-30


summer visitors on wings have been stead
ily increasing probably because Of the eN-
tension of the parks in the crowded parts
Of the city, and the consequent increase an
foliage. The cultivation Of flowers and
green vines by people in all parts Of the
city has also served 10 attract insects,
and what many think impossible, swarms
Of butterflies
1t is rarely that one sees a lost butterfly
iuttering in the streets Of New York, but
# he takes II into ms head to visit the
roofs OF the houses some fine day he may
discover a new world of insects In the
early morning, before many New Workers
are up, the upper air is frequently alive
with sWarms of small white aud yellow
butterflies and mOth-millers If one rises
early enough he Will find these delicate
creatures fiutteing around in the streets,
but as soon as the rumble of the daily
traffic begins the butterflies disappear.
They simply rise in the air, and float
about among the roofs and chimneys Of
the houses.
An expert entomologist who has hunted
butterflies In all parts of the world and in
this city with great success attributes
their appearance to the co.ors and odors
OF various compounds that float up from
a city. Butterflies are very curious crea-
lures he explained. They are attracted
by a noise well as frightened by il, and
nearly always by bright cOlOrs Possibly
they take a red or blue flannel shirt or
flag for some new species of flower, and
The chimney tops for some kind OF tree.
At any rate, in he woods a colored piece
Of cloth hung up on the trees viii invari-
ably attract many butterflies. They seem
impelled by curios " to Investigate, and
they Will hutter up to il and even alight
on IT, Entomllogists often use colored
cloth to trap butterflies. When they swarm
around il a sweep of the butterfly net
viii imprisOn many of them.
The combined odors of the city may
also attract butterflies and other insects.
Along the city wharves where miscenane-
Gus cargoes or VegetaD Dies and fruit come
in, butterflies congregate in numbers 1
have found more varieties there early In
the morning or evening. than in the woods.
They probably drift across the river from
Jersey or Long Island, and finding such
good feeding grounds conclude to stay.
In the middle of the day the butter
flies are not SO numerous. They retire 20
the trees ana shrubs or the parks, or hide
themselves in crevices of the houses or
stores. As night approaches they crawl
forth and fiutter about the roofs of the
houses, descending slowly as the night
advances, and the noise of the traffic
ceases. To new corners from the coun-
try. the rumble Of the city must seem ter
rifying, but we have undoubtedly town
butterflies and insects which have become
accustomed to the clatter and rumble of
the city. These creatures are as harden
ed TO the sights and sounds of the city
as any old New Yorker Even the c,ang
and buzz of a cable car do not disturb
them. The other day 4 found a pretty
yellow and black butterfly persistenuy fol-
lowing a Lexington avenue cable car up
town. 1t paid no attention to the noises
but tluttered In and out of the open car
much to the admiration Of the passen-
gers.
In dry, warm summers the butterflies
and other insects swarm into the cities
more than at any other time. The lack of
water drives them to new hunting places
! have known wild beasts driven to town
by lack of water and food Once in Brit
ish America, at White Water City, | wit
messed a strange sight of wild beasts lit
orally taking possession of the town
Bears panthers, foxes, and other wild
creatures, driven by thirst and hunger
prowled around the streets in such num-
bers that business was brought to a stand
SUI, and parties of hunters had to or
ganize and kill them. rabbits. squirrels.
mice and rats have invaded towns in the
West and South when the summers have
been unusually dry and hot.
1t - not strange then to think Of bugs
and insects com ng to the city to find wa
ter and food. The extremely dry weather
of early June drove the dragon flies from
their usual baunts near wet swamps Every
low, wet swamp harbors insects and bugs
that are not unknown TO entomolog,sts, but
which would look very strange and I'M
canny to the average city resilient. It
needs only some slight cause to drive them
from their natural haunts Sometimes il is
not The weather which causes them 10
come forth from their h.ding-p,aoe but the
sudden appearance of a horde of other in
sects which Gust them from their natural
aT1lop
Is constant warfare going on among the
insects, and slight disturbance in the IN
sect kingdom may cause a migration Of
millions. 4 dry or wet season of one. two.
or three years aso may have decimma ted
The ranks of one species of insect and null
tiphed abnormaly these Of another. The
result Of his unbalancing of the two spe-
cies in the woods or swamps might not be
noticeable until this summer. when the
stronger army would drive out the weak
er. In their migration to new hel Is, it
would not be strange If some of the in
sects should drift into our cities Thus the
problem of defining the cause or reason OF
the sudden appear ance Of new bugs. or
unusual swarms Of common insects is a
complicated one.
The lights of great city act as a great
magnet 70 the insects which swarm in ad-
jacent swamps and meadows. with the
substitution of electric light for gas We
must expect 10 see more insects drawn TO
the metropolis. Places lighted exclusively
by electricity invariably have a richer and
wider insect life than those dependent up
on gas. The extra power of the Electric
hight attracts from a wider area and at
the same time the white light seems to pos
scss more fascination for bugs and insects.
| do not mean to say that the inhabitants
OF city Will be disturbed more by insects
wnen the place is lighted with electricity.
but simply that there will be more bugs
and winged creatures in the city limits. l
am not sure but the electric light reduces
the amount of discomfort caused by the
insects for the great arc lights are the
scenes of wild insect life. Thousands of
them are attracted there and offer up
their lives as a sacrifice to the god OF
light. Fascinated and completely demoral-
lied, they futler about the glare until
their wings or bodies are burned. In this
way the street electric lights destroy in
sects by millions every summer
The street electric lights are favorite
hunting grounds for ontomoogists We
can secure more varieties Of bugs for study
for rl1Onptiper n ghfs nav il, .,, r....,