Your Daily Dish

Feeding Outrageous to you Daily

Hide Advertisement
  • Animals
    • Farm
    • Pets
    • Zoo
    • Wildlife
  • Family
    • Grandparents
    • Kids
    • Parents
  • Health
    • Exercise
    • Food
    • Medical
  • Humor
  • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Science & Tech
    • Travel
  • Videos
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Boy Scouts Creator Was British Spy Who Hid Military Maps in Insect Drawings

By Jason Owen 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Source: Gutenberg.org/Wikipedia
Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain
Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain

If you look at the above image of a butterfly, you’d likely think it’s just a simple detailed picture. But what if we told you it was a map showing the specific locations of an army’s weapons on a fortress?

We know this because the drawing was created by Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant-general in the British Army, a writer, and the founder of the Scout Movement and first Chief Scout of The Boy Scouts Association, according to Wikipedia.

Advertisement

Baden-Powell detailed his military secrets in My Adventures as a Spy, a book he wrote after retiring from the military and starting the Boy Scouts.

From My Adventures:

“This sketch of a butterfly contains the outline of a fortress, and marks both the position and power of the guns. The marks on the wings between the lines mean nothing, but those on the lines show the nature and size of the guns, according to the keys below.”

Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain
Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain
Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain
Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain

In Baden-Powell’s drawings, he hides the location’s weaponry and the structure of whatever military fortress he was observing. In another image of a moth, we can see he reveals the details of a fort atop a knoll with two field guns and a machine gun.

Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain
Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain

Baden-Powell writes that he disguised himself as an entomologist to reduce suspicion if he was ever stopped while he was conducting espionage.

“Carrying this book and a color-box and a butterfly net in my hand, I was above all suspicion to anyone who met me on the lonely mountain side, even in the neighborhood of the forts,” wrote Baden-Powell.

If you’d like to learn more, you can download a copy of the book at Gutenberg.org.

Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain
Source: Gutenberg.org/Public Domain
(h/t Atlas Obscura)
Advertisement - Continue reading below

sdfdsf

British #OlympicNan Takes Twitter by Storm
Apple
Brian Delpozo 2 min read

British #OlympicNan Takes Twitter by Storm

Dog’s Tantrum Over Dinner Without Gravy Is Hilarious
Humor
Jenni D'Alton 1 min read

Dog’s Tantrum Over Dinner Without Gravy Is Hilarious

Man Performs Random Acts of Kindness After Learning Childhood Friend Died in Las Vegas Shooting
News
Brad Kallet 1 min read

Man Performs Random Acts of Kindness After Learning Childhood Friend Died in Las Vegas Shooting

Channing Tatum Insulted A Kitten On ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ For Two Minutes And It Was Hilarious
Entertainment
Jason Owen 1 min read

Channing Tatum Insulted A Kitten On ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ For Two Minutes And It Was Hilarious

Empire State Building Bows to Islam
News
Ryan Miller 2 min read

Empire State Building Bows to Islam

Bulldog Barks and Growls at Scary Movies When Characters Are in Danger
Trending
Jason Owen 1 min read

Bulldog Barks and Growls at Scary Movies When Characters Are in Danger

President Obama to Visit Cuba in March
News
Felissa Allard 2 min read

President Obama to Visit Cuba in March

Tom Hank Goes on Quest to Save the World in New ‘Inferno’ Trailer
Entertainment
Margo Gothelf 1 min read

Tom Hank Goes on Quest to Save the World in New ‘Inferno’ Trailer

How To Make Your New Year’s Resolutions
Entertainment
Jason Owen 2 min read

How To Make Your New Year’s Resolutions

‘Sports Illustrated’ Model Ashley Graham Unveils Body-Positive Barbie Doll in Her Likeness
Apple
Jason Owen 2 min read

‘Sports Illustrated’ Model Ashley Graham Unveils Body-Positive Barbie Doll in Her Likeness

Hillary Clinton Draws Criticism for Wearing $12,000 Armani Jacket During Inequality Speech
Apple
Jason Owen 2 min read

Hillary Clinton Draws Criticism for Wearing $12,000 Armani Jacket During Inequality Speech

Police Department Pretends to Pull Couple Over to Help Pull Off Ultimate Marriage Proposal
Lifestyle
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

Police Department Pretends to Pull Couple Over to Help Pull Off Ultimate Marriage Proposal

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers