[Fwd: Butterflies "under the influence"?]

[Patricia & Jeff Harding]

Patricia & Jeff Harding wrote:

> Last year we had a red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta, that was territorial around a
> particular spot in the pasture.  If you went there in the late afternoon, and
> stood facing west, it would always come and land on your shirt.  It did not seem
> to matter what color shirt you wore.
> Cheers, Jeff
>
> Charles Henry wrote:
>
> > Dear all,
> >
> > In my garden on the sunny Isle of Wight are several golden gage (plum)
> > trees.  Last year there was rather a severe wind which caused some of the
> > fruit to fall just before being fully ripe.  When I cut the grass, much of
> > this fruit was squashed and left on the grass.   A day or so later, whilst
> > standing  watching  the red admirals and peacock butterflies landing and
> > feeding on the, what must have been, fermenting "yuk",  I was amazed that
> > many of them landed on my white shirt and even when I moved, did not fly off
> > immediately.
> >
> > I suppose this is an example of  what we call, "Dutch courage",  but I'll
> > never forget the experience.
> >
> > Chas.