Many of you remember Marvin the Bushtit. I was shocked yesterday to see a
BUTTERFLY chase Marvin around my yard for a few seconds. The butterfly, a
Lorquin's admiral, is a well-known territorial species that vigorously
pursues individuals of its own and other butterfly species, but this bird
bullying was a bit much for my sensibilities.

However, I conquered my aversion quickly and began to watch the admiral, a
fine little butterfly with a white band across the wings and a red-orange
tip to the forewings. It's an amazing bug, and those of you lucky enough
to have one in your yard should watch its behavior. Butterflies provide
good watching on hot summer days when the birds are panting in the
shrubbery.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416