Elmer Brown Mason

[1][2] Mason became an entomologist for the now-defunct Bureau of Entomology (USDA) in 1910.

In 1915, his fantastic stories of scientists hunting rare species in the remote corners of the world started appearing.

Of note were the five stories featuring swamp-guide, Wandering Smith, in The Popular Magazine, especially "The Golden Anaconda";[3] and the variety of tales in All-Story Weekly, highlighted by the horror-filled lost-race novelette "Black Butterflies," set in Borneo, and its sequel, "Red Tree-Frogs."

Mason was gassed in France during World War I, suffering permanent disabilities, which sidetracked his writing career.

"Black Butterflies," was included in the anthology Rainbow Fantasia: 35 Spectrumatic Tales of Wonder ed.