THE RED MONARCH

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3554, 6 December 1934, Page 6

THE RED MONARCH

Tne great distances flown by our tiniest birds on their annual migrations are amazing enough, but it is even more surprising that a butterfly can fly 1500 miles without a favouring Avind. This king of butterflies, Monarch by name as Avell as nature, is a South American, and loves the forests of Brazil. He is bigger and stronger than our Purple Emperor and travels these long distances in regular migratory flights over the American continent. But during last year at least thirty of these gorgeous Monarchs Avere found in England. Odd ones have been seen in former years, and it Avas thought that they came on a ship like many another foreigner. All the experts are agreed, however, that this larger invasion is more likely to be due to direct flight over the ocean. The South-Eastern Society of Entomologists has a big section of the interested public Avatching for them, Avhile Avatchers on lighthouses and lightships give valuable information about the butterflies as Avell as the birds lured to them by the brilliant lights. It seems likely, therefore, that Ave shall soon have more exact knoAvledge of these flights of tin Brazilian Monarch.