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OTHER  WORKS   ON    BUTTERFLIES 
BY   THE    AUTHOR. 


THE  BUTTERFLIES  OF  THE  EASTERN  UNITED  STATES 
AND  CANADA,  with  special  reference  to  New  England.  3  vols., 
imp.  8vo.  1889.  44  +  1958  pp.;  96  plates  and  maps,  plain  and  colored. 
Half-levant,  gilt  top,  $75.00. 

Published  by  Houghton^  Mifflin  <5^  Co.^  Boston,  Mass. 

BUTTERFLIES:  Their  Structure,  Changes,  and  Life-Histories,  with 
special  reference  to  American  Forms.  With  an  Appendix  of  Practical 
Instructions.     i2mo.     1881.     10  +  322  pp.  ;   201  figures.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

Published  by  Henry  Holt  b'  Co.,  New  Vori,  N.  V. 

FOSSIL    BUTTERFLIES.     4to.     1875.    100  pp.  ;  3  plates.     Paper,  $2.00, 

Published  by  the  American  Association  /or  the  Advancetnent 
of  Science,  Salem,  Mass. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  GENERIC  NAMES  PRO- 
POSED FOR  BUTTERFLIES  :  A  Contribution  to  Systematic 
Nomenclature.     8vo.     1875.     203  pp.     Paper,  $1.00. 

Sold  by  the  Cambridge  Entomological  Club,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

THE  LIFE  OF  A  BUTTERFLY  :  A  Chapter  in  Natural  History  for 
the  General  Reader.     i6mo.     1893.     186  pp.  ;  4  plates.     Cloth. 

Published  by  Henry  Holt  &'  Co.,  New  York,  N  V. 

IN   PREPARATION: 

A  STUDENT'S  MANUAL  OF  THE  BUTTERFLIES  OF  NORTH 
AMERICA,   NORTH   OF  MEXICO. 


S¥3X 

'^BRIEF    GUIDE    TO    THE    COMMONER 
BUTTERFLIES  OF  THE  NORTHERN 


UNITED  STATES  AND  CANADA 


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JBciiig  an  flntro&uctlon  to  a  1knowlc5gc  ot  tbcit 

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SAMUEL   HUBBARD   SCUDDER 


NEW  YORK 
HENRY   HOLT   AND   COMPANY 

1893 


Copyright,  1893, 

BY 

HENRY   HOLT  &  CO. 


ROBERT  DRUMMOND,   ELECTROTYPEB  AND   PRINTER,  NEW  YORK 


PREFACE. 


DuRi^^G  the  preparation  of  a  long-projected  and  still 
unpublished  Manual  of  the  Butterflies  of  North  America,  it 
occurred  to  me  that  when  that  was  ready  there  would  still 
be  needed  something  less  technical;  something  which 
shoukl  introduce  to  the  young  student  the  names  and 
somewhat  of  the  relationships  and  lives  of  our  commoner 
butterflies;  and  that  if  such  a  guide  Avere  restricted  to  the 
commoner  butterflies  of  the  region  where  it  would  be  most 
used,  viz.,  our  Northern  States  east  of  the  Great  Plains — 
much  the  same  territory  as  was  originally  and  wisely 
covered  by  Gray's  Manual  of  Botany — the  actual  extent  of 
the  work  would  be  so  limited  as  to  l)ring  it  within  the 
reach  of  all,  not  alarm  the  beginner  by  its  magnitude,  and, 
because  they  are  better  known,  permit  a  fuller  account  of 
their  interesting  life-histories. 

I  have  accordingly  selected  the  butterflies — less  than  a 
hundred  of  them — which  would  almost  surely  be  met  with 
by  any  industrious  collector  in  the  course  of  a  year's  or  two 
years'  work  in  the  more  populous  Northern  States  and  in 
Canada,  and  have  here  treated  them  as  if  they  were  the 
only  ones  found  there.  I  have  omitted  many  species  which 
are  common  enough  in  certain  restricted  localities  (such,  for 
instance,  as  our  White  Mountain  butterfly)  and  included 
only  those  which  are  common  over  wide  areas.  As  the 
earlier  stages  of  these  insects  are  just  as  varied,  as  interest- 

iii 


IV  PREFACE. 

iiig,  and  as  important  as  the  perfect  stage,  descriptions  are 
given  of  these  under  the  guidance  of  the  same  princi^Dle, 
only  such  stages  as  would  be  more  commonly  met  with 
being  fully  described,  and  the  e.gg  and  earliest  forms  of 
caterpillar  omitted  as  rarities  and  as  also  too  difficult  for  the 
beginner's  study.  If,  then,  a  young  student  can  find  noth- 
ing in  this  work  to  correspond  with  his  particular  capture, 
then  he  may  rest  assured  that  it  is  not  one  of  the  more 
common  kinds,  and  he  will  have  to  go  to  the  larger  and 
more  technical  works  to  discover  what  it  is.  At  any  rate, 
he  is  likely  to  be  pleased:  either  he  has  found  out  what  it 
is  and  can  thereby  learn  something  of  what  is  already 
known  about  it  ;  or  he  has  found  a  rarity,  a  discovery  not 
always  distressing  to  the  amateur. 

To  aid  in  these  determinations,  separate  keys  are 
aj^pended  for  each  of  the  three  stuges,  caterpillar,  chry- 
salis, and  butterfly,  by  which  any  insect  included  in  the 
work  may  be  tracked. 

There  is  another  advantage  in  this  restriction  of  the 
work  to  the  commoner  butterflies,  for  these  are  better 
known  in  the  various  stages  of  their  lives,  and  interest  in 
them  is  thereby  greatly  enhanced.  I  should  be  loath 
indeed  to  treat  of  butterflies  as  if  they  were  so  many  mere 
postage-stamps  to  be  classified  and  arranged  in  a  cabinet ; 
and  if,  by  adding  to  the  mere  descrij)tions  of  the  different 
species  in  their  various  most  obvious  stages  some  of  the 
curious  facts  concerning  their  periodicity,  their  habits  of 
life,  and  their  relations  to  the  world  around  them,  I  may 
spread  before  the  eyes  of  the  young  some  of  the  attractions 
which  lie  at  the  open  door  of  Nature  and  induce  some  to 
Avander  into  the  by-ways  for  more  eager  personal  search,  I 
shall  have  gained  my  end. 

Those  wishing  still  further  accounts  of  the  different 
species  here  described,  and  particularly  descriptions  and 
figures  of  the  q^^  and  earlier  stages  of  the  caterpillar  of 


PREFACE.  V 

any  one  of  them,  are  referred  to  my  "  Butterflies  of  the 
Eastern  United  States  and  Canada/'  and  to  Edwards's 
"  Butterflies  of  North  America,"  in  one  or  the  other  of 
which  ample  accounts  will  often  be  found. 

Species  which  are  found  in  the  region  embraced  in  this 
work,  but  not  regarded  as  sufficiently  common  therein  to 
merit  a  place  in  it,  are  mentioned  by  name  in  their 
appropriate  places  in  smaller  type;  they  number  just 
about  as  many  as  those  of  which  descriptions  are  given, 
and  full  accounts  of  most  of  them  will  also  be  found  in 
the  works  above  mentioned. 

A  short  Introduction  to  the  study  of  Butterflies  in  gen- 
eral, with  special  application  to  our  own,  is  prefixed  to  the 
body  of  the  w^ork,  and  is  followed  by  a  brief  section  show- 
ing where  the  principal  literature  upon  the  subject  is  to  be 
found.  An  explanation  of  some  of  the  terms  used  is 
appended,  and  a  figure  added  on  p.  60  explanatory  of  the 
nomenclature  of  the  wing. 

Cambridge,  April  13,  1893. 


CONTENTS. 


PAG  3 

Preface ,     .  iii 

lutroductiou 1 

What  are  Butterflies? 1 

The  Structure  of  the  Perfect  Insect  or  Imago      .     .     .     .     ,  2 

The  Appearance  of  the  Egg .  5 

What  the  Caterpillar  is  like 6 

The  Character  of  the  Chrysalis 7 

A  Few  Words  about  the  Eggs 8 

The  Lives  aud  Habits  of  Caterpillars 9 

How  the  Chrysalis  Hangs 12 

The  General  History  of  Butterflies 14 

Variation  in  the  Butterfly 15 

Some  Remarkable  Differences  between  the  Sexes    ....  20 

The  Senses  of  Butterflies 22 

Mimicry  and  Protective  Resemblance 23 

The  Classincation  of  Butterflies .     <     .     .  25 

Some  Works  on  American  Butterflies .  27 

Keys  to  the  various  Groups 3;} 

Key  to  the  Groups,  based  on  the  Perfect  Butterfly  .     .  ■  .     .  34 

Key  to  the  Groups,  based  on  the  Caterpillar 45 

Key  to  the  Groups,  based  on  the  Chrysalis 53 

Nomenclature  of  the  Parts  of  the  Wing 60 

The  Commoner  Butterflies  of  the  Northern  United  States  and 

Canada 63 

Family  Brush-footed  Butterflies 63 

Subfamily  Danaids 63 

Genus  Anosia 63 

Anosia  piexippus 63 

Subfamily  Nymphs 66 

Tribe  Crescent- Spots 66 

Genus  Euphydryas 66 

vu 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


Euphydryas  phaeton 
Genus  Ciuclidia 

Cinclidia  hanisii 
Genus  Cbaridryas 

Charidryas  uyctei 
Genus  Phyciodes 

Phyciodes  Iharos 
Tribe  Fritillaries    . 
Genus  Brenthis  . 

Brentliis  belloua 

Brenthis  myriua 
Genus  Argynnis 

Argynuis  atlantis 

Argynnis  aphrodite 

Argynnis  alcestis 

Argynnis  cybele 
Genus  Speyeria  .     . 

Speyeria  idalia     . 
Genus  Euptoiela 

Euptoieta  claudia 

Tribe  Angle-Wings    . 

Genus  Junonia  .     . 

Junonia  coenia    . 
Genus  Vanessa  .     . 

Vanessa  cardui    . 

Vanessa  huntera 

Vanessa  atalanta 
Gcnns  Aglais      .     . 

Aglais  milberti    . 
Genus  Euvanessa    . 

Euvanessa  antiopa 
Genus  Eugonia  .     . 

Eugonia  j-album 
Genus  Polygonia    . 

Polygonia  progne 

Polygonia  faunus 

Polygonia  comma 

Polygonia  interrogationis 
Tribe  Sovereigns   .     .     . 
Genus  Basilarchia  .     . 

Basilarchia  artheniis 


CONTENTS.  IX 

PAGE 

Basilarchia  astyanax 101 

Basilarcbia  arcbippus 102 

Tribe  Emperors 104 

Genus  Anaea 104 

Anaea  audria 104 

Geuus  Cblorippe 105 

Chlorippe  clyton 105 

Cblorippe  celtis 106 

Subfamily  Meadow  Browus  or  Satyrs 107 

Genus  Cissia 107 

Cissia  eurytus 107 

Genus  Satyrodes 108 

Satyrodes  eurydice 108 

Genus  Enodia 109 

Euodia  portlaudia 109 

Genus  Cercyonis 110 

Cercyonis  alope 110 

Cercyonis  nepbele Ill 

Family  Gossamer-winged  Butterflies 113 

Tribe  Hair-Streaks 113 

Genus  Strymon 113 

Strymou  titus 113 

Genus  Incisalia 114 

lucisalia  uipbon 114 

Incisalia  irus 115 

Incisalia  augustus 116 

Genus  Uranotes 117 

Uranotes  melinus 117 

Genus  Mitura 118 

Mitura  damon 118 

Genus  Tbecla 119 

Tbecla  liparops 119 

Tbecla  calanus 120 

Tbecla  edwardsii 121 

Tbecla  acadica 122 

Tribe  Blues 123 

Genus  Everes 123 

Everes  comyntas 123 

Genus  Cyaniris 125 

*Cyaniris  pseudargiolus •     .  125 


:  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Tribe  Coppers 127 

Geuus  Chrysopliauus 127 

Chrysopbanus  tboe 127 

Genus  Epidemia 128 

Epidemia  epixantbe 128 

Genus  Heodes 128 

Heodes  bypopblaeas 128 

Genus  Feuiseca 130 

Feniseca  tarquinius 130 

Family  Typical  Butterflies 132 

Subfamily  Pierids 132 

Tribe  Red-Horns 132 

Geuus  Callidryas 132 

Callidryas  eubule 132 

Genus  Zerene 133 

Zerene  caesooia .  133 

Genus  Eurymus 134 

Eurymus  pliilodice 134 

Eurymus  euiytheme 135 

Genus  Xantbidia 187 

Xautbidia  nicippe 137 

Genus  Eurema         138 

Eurema  lisa 138 

Genus  Natbalis 139 

Natbalis  iole  ....     o     ... 139 

Tribe  Orauge-Tips 140 

Genus  Antbocbaris 140 

Autbocbaris  geuutia 140 

Tribe  Wbites 141 

Geuus  Pontia 141 

Poutia  protodice 141 

Genus  Pieris 143 

Pieris  oleracea 143 

Pieris  rapae 144 

Subfamily  Swallow-Tails 145 

Genus  Laertias 145 

Laertias  pbilenor 145 

Geuus  Ipbiclides 1-^6 

Ipbiclides  ajax 14(5 

Genus  Jasouiades 148 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAGE 

Jasoniades  glaucus ,     .     .  148 

Geuus  Euphoeades      .    *. 150 

Euphoeades  troilus 150 

Genus  Heraclides 151 

Heraclides  crespboutes      .     , 151 

Genus  Papilio 153 

Papilio  polyxenes 153 

Family  Skippers 155 

Tribe  Larger  Skippers 155 

Genus  Epargyreus 155 

Epargyreus  tityrus 155 

Genus  Tliorybes , 156 

Thorybes  pylades 156 

Genus  Tlianaos ....  158 

Tbauaos  lucilius 158 

Thanaos  persius 159 

Tlianaos  juvenalis 161 

Thanaos  brizo 163 

Thanaos  icelus 163 

Genus  Pholisora 164 

Pholisora  catullus 164 

Genus  Hespcria 165 

Hesperia  montivaga 165 

Tribe  Smaller  Skippers 166 

Geuus  Ancyloxipha 166 

Ancyloxipha  uumitor 166 

Genus  Atrytone 167 

Atrytone  zabulon 167 

Geuus  Erynnis , 169 

Erynuis  sassacus 169 

Genus  Anthomaster , 170 

Anlhomaster  leonardus 170 

Geuus  Polites 170 

Polites  peckius 170 

Genus  Thymelicus 171 

Thymelicus  mystic 171 

Genus  Limochores       173 

Limochores  taumas 173 

Explanation  of  some  Terms 175 

Appendix:  Instructions  for  Collecting,  etc 179 


INTRODUCTION. 


1.  What  are  Butterflies  ? 

One  of   the   great  groups  or  "orders"  into  which  in- 
sects are  divided  is  called  Lepidoptera  (derived  from  two 
Greek  words   meaning   scaly-wings).     This  group   differs 
from  all  other  insects  by  having  in  the  perfect  stage  a  long, 
hollow,  thread-like  tongue,  through  which  fluids  may  be 
sucked  or  rather  pumped  i\]),  and  which,  when  not  in  use, 
is  coiled  up  like  a  watch-spring;  and  by  having  four  rather 
broad   wiugs   covered  with   colored  scales   overlying   one 
another   in  rows  like  shingles,  slates,  or   tiles  on  a  roof. 
These  insects  undergo  striking  changes  in  the  course  of 
their  lives;  for  they  are  hatched  from  the  egg  as  crawling 
worms  having  a  globular  head  with  biting  jaws,  and  a  body 
supported  not  only  by  the  three  pairs  of  short  horny  legs 
found  in  the  young  of  most  insects,  but  by  several,  gener- 
ally five,  pairs  of  stumpy,  fleshy  legs  behind  them ;  while  the 
two  joints  of  the  body  next  following  those  with  horny 
legs  and   some  other  joints   near  the   hinder   end   never 
have  any;  from  this  they  change  into  a  pupa  or  chrysalis, 
a   mummy-like   object  with   the   legs,    wings,   and    other 
members  swathed  upon   the  breast  and  with  no  possible 
motion  excci^t  i  i  (1:0  wri'-o-lino-  of  the  joints  of  the  abdomen 


2  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

or  liinoer  end  of  the  body;  from  this  temporary  prison 
escapes  in  due  time  the  winged  creature  of  beauty  which 
adds  such  a  charm  to  the  summer  hind  scape. 

Butterflies  differ  from  otlier  Lepidoptera  by  having 
chibbed  or  knobbed  antennae  in  their  perfect  stage,  and 
generally  in  their  transformations,  for  most  of  them  are 
hung  up  by  silken  cords  attached  to  hooks  on  the  tail,  and 
sometimes  also  by  a  girth  around  the  waist;  they  are  rarely 
enclosed  in  cocoons,  or,  if  so,  the  chrysalis  is  in  most  cases 
also  supported  within ;  while  moths  (i.e.,  all  other  Lepi- 
doptera) usually  construct  silken  cocoons,  often  of  very 
close  texture,  or  make  cells  in  the  ground,  in  either  of 
which  cases  the  chrysalis  lies  loosely  within  or  attached  by 
the  tail  only.  Butterflies  usually  fly  by  day,  moths  usually 
by  night.  Butterflies  usually  rest  with  their  wings  erect; 
moths  usually  with  wings  flatly  expanded  or  sloping  down- 
ward on  either  side  like  a  tent. 


2.  The  Structure  of  the  Perfect  Insect  or  Imago. 

The  body  of  a  butterfly  is  distinctly  separated  into  three 
divisions:  the  head,  to  which  the  antennae  and  the  coiled 
tongue  are  attached;  the  chest,  trunk,  or  thorax,  which 
supports  the  four  wings  and  three  pairs  of  legs;  and  the 
abdomen. 

The  head  is  the  smallest  part,  but  contains  a  wonderful 
lot  of  interesting  organs.  The  sides  are  almost  entirely  oc- 
cupied by  large  faceted  eyes;  from  the  summit  spring  a 
pair  of  slender  thread-like  but  apically  clubbed  antennae; 
while  beneath,  between  the  scaly  and  hairy  upcurved 
three-jointed  a23pendages,  called-  labial  palpi,  the  spiral 
tongue  (maxilla)  is  coiled. 

The  most  interesting  of  these  organs  is  this  tongue.  It 
coils  up  just  like  a  watch-spring,  but  may  be  extended  at 
full  length,  as  when  plunged  into  the  depths  of  a  flower 


INTRODUCTION.  3 

in  search  of  honey.  It  appears  as  if  single  and  solid,  bnt 
is  really  composed  of  two  exactly  similar  lateral  halves 
grooved  along  their  iniier  surface,  so  that  when  placed 
together  the  opposing  grooves  form  a  fine  tube;  and  to 
secure  them  in  place,  so  that  the  tube  shall  not  leak,  the 
edges  of  the  grooves  are  delicately  notched  so  as  to  dove- 
tail into  corresponding  teeth  on  the  edge  of  the  opposing 
groove,  by  which  they  become  closely  interlocked. 

To  enable  the  butterfly  to  pump  into  its  body  through 
this  tube  the  honey-ed  sweets  of  flowers,  the  throat  at  the 
base  of  the  tube  expands  into  a  sac  with  muscles  radiating 
toward  the  walls  of  the  head  and  others  encircling  it; 
when  the  first  set  of  muscles  contracts,  the  interior  space 
of  the  sac  is  enlarged ;  when  the  encircling  muscles  con- 
tract, it  is  diminished.  By  the  alternating  action  of  these 
sets,  a  pumping  process  goes  on  aided  by  a  little  flap  at  the 
base  of  the  tube  which  lets  the  fluids  pass  in  but  not  out; 
so  tha^,  the  squeezing  of  the  full  sac  presses  the  fluids  into 
the  stomach;  its  enlargement  creates  a  vacuum  which 
causes  the  honey  in  the  flower  to  ascend  the  tube  past  the 
valve  into  the  sac. 

The  antennaB  may  be  divided  into  a  base  consisting  of 
two  joints  stouter  than  those  beyond;  a  thread-like  stalk, 
slender  and  equal,  consisting  of  many  joints;  and  the  club, 
which  is  composed  of  the  swollen  tij),  sometimes  arising 
almost  insensibly  from  the  stalk,  sometimes  abruptly;  and 
in  the  Skippers  having  usually  a  recurved  hook  at  the  tip; 
the  club  is  usually  at  least  twice  as  thick  as  the  middle  of 
the  stalk,  generally  naked  beneath  and  often  flattened. 

The  eyes  are  usually  very  convex,  but  vary  in  different 
groups  in  this  respect  as  well  as  in  the  amount  of  space 
they  cover;  they  are  ordinarily  naked,  but  sometimes  deli- 
cately hairy,  and  in  the  Skippers  are  overhung  by  a  curv- 
ing tuft  of  bristles.  The  number  of  facets  in  the  eye  is 
very  great,  numbering  thousands  to  each  eye. 


4  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

The  thorax  is  divisible  into  three  parts,  called  from  in 
front  backward  prothorax  or  fore-trunk,  niesothorax  or 
mid-trunk,  and  metathorax  or  after-trunk.  The  protho- 
rax, however,  is  scarcely  more  than  a  flattened  plate  in 
front,  and  is  easily  overlooked;  the  division  between  the 
other  two  masses  is  readily  seen  behind  when  the  scales 
are  rubbed  off,  and  the  mesothorax  is  seen  to  be  much  the 
largest  part  of  the  thorax. 

The  fore  wings  are  attached  to  the  mesothorax,  the  hind 
pair  to  the  metathorax,  and  both  are  composed  of  two 
films  supported  by  a  system  of  branching  hollow  rods  and 
the  surface  covered  with  scales. 

Of  these  rods  there  are  ordinarily  four  or  five  to  each 
wing,  but  when  all  are  jiresent  there  are  six.  The  two 
middle  ones  of  the  six  are  the  only  ones  that  branch,  and 
are  called  respectively  the  subcostal  (the  upper  one)  and 
the  median;  generally  they  meet  or  nearly  meet  near  the 
middle  of  the  wing  and  enclose  what  is  called  the  discoi- 
dal  cell,  and  the  subordinate  rods  or  nervules  appear  to 
diverge  from  its  margin. 

The  scales  are  hollow  flattened  sacs,  covered  with  longi- 
tudinal striae  on  the  upper  surface  and  generally  toothed 
or  serrate  at  the  tip,  with  a  short  bulbed  stem  by  which 
they  are  fixed  in  the  wing  membrane;  upon  which  they  lie 
like  shingles  on  a  roof,  and  by  their  pigment  and  the  re- 
fraction of  light  by  their  surface  stride  give  to  the  wing  mII 
its  color  and  delicate  markings. 

Certain  scales,  however,  are  peculiar  to  the  male  sex  and 
are  curiously  distributed  in  special  patches  or  concealed 
positions  so  as  scarcely  to  be  visible  even  under  the  micro- 
scope until  they  have  been  uncovered.  These  are  often 
frinp-ed  with  tassels  at  the  end,  each  thread  of  the  tassel  a 
(»anal  leading  through  the  body  of  the  scale  to  a  gland  at 
the  base  and  so  serving  as  scent-organs — the  odors  being 
sometimes  appreciable  to  human  senses  and  then  in  all 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

known  cases  agreeable  perfumes  like  flowers,  sandal-wood, 
and  mnsk. 

The  legs  are  six  in  number,  one  pair  to  each  division  of 
the  thorax;  they  are  always  very  slender  and  stick-like. 
The  front  pair,  however,  as  we  pass  from  the  lower  to  the 
higher  butterflies  becomes  more  and  more  atrophied  and 
useless,  first  in  the  males,  then  in  the  females,  until  in  the 
highest  family  they  are  utterly  useless,  often  not  easy  to 
detect,  and  render  this  group  practically  four-legged  in- 
stead of  six-legged. 

Their  principal  divisions  are  the  femur  (plural,  femora) 
or  thigh,  the  tibia  or  shank— these  two  parts  generally  of 
about  equal  length  and  indivisible;  and  the  tarsus,  the  last 
composed  of  five  always  unequal  joints,  armed  beneath 
with  short  spines  and  at  tip  with  claws,  a  pad,  and  often 
with  paronychia  or  whitlows,  a  sort  of  membranous  imita- 
tive accompaniment  of  the  claws,  perhaps  best  seen  in  the 
f  ierids. 

The  abdomen  is  formed  of  nine  essentially  simple  seg- 
ments. The  males  may  be  distinguished  from  the  females 
by  the  structure  of  the  last  segment,  the  females  being  pro- 
vided with  a  pair  of  minute  flaps,  one  on  each  side,  which 
protect  and  form  part  of  the  ovipositor,  while  the  males 
have  side  clasps  and  an  upper  median  hook  for  clasping 
the  body  of  the  female.  The  abdomen  of  the  female  when 
filled  with  eggs  is  very  much  larger  and  fuller  than  that  of 
the  male,  and  the  sex  can  thus  often  be  told  at  a  glance. 

3.  The  Appearaxce  of  the  Egg. 

The  eggs  of  butterflies  are  very  various  in  sculj^ture,  and 
though  often  very  simple,  are  at  other  times  exquisitely 
ornamented.  Tliey  are  usually  broad  and  flat  at  the  base, 
and  more  or  less  rounded  above.  One  class  may  be  called, 
in  general,  barrel-shaped;  but  this  would  include  minor 


6  THE  COMMONER  BUTTEHFLIES. 

divisions,  such  as  thimble-,  sugar-loaf-,  flask-,  or  acorn- 
shaped,  or  even  fusiform;  others  are  globular,  or  hemi- 
spherical, or  tiarate.  The  surface  may  be  more  or  less 
deeply  pitted,  or  delicately  reticulate,  or  broken  up  by  ver- 
tical ribs  connected  by  raised  cross  lines,  or  may  be  per- 
fectly smooth  and  uniform;  but  all  have  a  collection  of 
microscopic  cells  at  the  centre  of  the  summit  perforated 
by  little  pores,  formiug  the  micropyle,  through  which  the 
Qgg  is  fertilized;  and  these  microscopic  parts  are  often  of 
exceeding  beauty. 

4.  What  the  Oatekpillak  is  like. 

Caterpillars  of  butterflies  do  not  differ  from  those  of 
moths  by  any  single  characteristic.  Each  family  of  Lepi- 
doptera  has  certain  peculiarities,  and  one  has  to  become 
more  or  less  familiar  with  them  to  determine  whether  or 
not  a  given  kind  falls  in  this  or  that  family. 

They  are  worm-like  creatures,  but  with  a  distinct  horny 
head,  separable  from  the  body. 

The  head  is  very  different  from  that  of  the  future  but- 
terfly, having  biting  jaws,  no  compound  eyes,  but  in  their 
place  a  semicirclet  of  simple  ocelli,  and  antennae  hardly 
visible  without  a  glass;  these  last,  indeed,  are  very  like  the 
palpi,  a  series  of  two  to  four  rapidly-dimiuishing  rounded 
joints  ending  in  a  bristle. 

The  body  is  composed  of  thirteen  (apparently  twelve) 
segments  of  which  the  first  three,  corresponding  to  the 
joints  of  the  future  thorax,  have  each  a  pair  of  horny  five- 
jointed  legs  ending  with  a  single  claw;  while  the  third  to 
sixth  and  last  abdominal  segments  bear  each  a  pair  of  two- 
jointed  fleshy  "prolegs,"  armed  at  tip  with  a  single  or 
double  series  of  minute  booklets.  Breathing  pores  or 
spiracles  are  found  on  the  sides  of  the  first  thoracic  and 
the  first  eight  abdominal  segments.    Besides  this,  the  whole 


INTRODUCTION. 


body  is  clothed,  when  adult,  with  short  hairs  or  longer 
spines  set  on  little  pimples,  or  with  fleshy  filaments  or 
tubercles  of  some  sort,  all  arranged  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  (excepting  generally  the  short  hairs)  in  longitudinal 
series,  but  these  are  often  not  precisely  aligned  on  the  tho- 


racic and  abdominal  segments. 


In  their  earliest  stage,  however,  before  their  first  moult 
and  sometimes  for  a  stage  or  two  after  it,  the  clothing  of 
the  caterpillar  is  very  different  from  what  it  is  at  maturity, 
tlie  appendages  usually  consisting  at  first  of  longer  or 
shorter  bristles,  often  tubular  and  conveying  fluids  to  the 
enlarged  summit,  and  arranged  in  longitudinal  series  differ- 
ent from  those  of  the  spines  or  filaments  of  the  mature 
caterpillar.  This  earliest  stage,  therefore,  needs  special 
attention  in  the  study  of  butterflies,  although  the  creature 
is  then  exceedingly  minute,  and,  therefore,  not  considered 
in  the  present  work. 

Certain  caterpillars  (and  this  peculiarity  usually  runs 
through  whole  groups  of  allied  forms),  havfe  certain  glands 
opening  externally  which  may  secrete  fluids  or  odors  of 
various  kinds;  some  of  these  are  eversible  like  the  Y-shaped 
appendages  on  the  top  of  the  segment  behind  the  head  of 
the  Swallow-Tails  and  here  termed  "osmateria";  or  the 
lateral  polypiform  extrusions  called  "  caruncles "  on  both 
sides  of  one  of  the  hinder  segments  of  some  of  the  Blues, 
both  kinds  of  organs  being  thrown  out  only  under  provo- 
cation. 


5.  The   Character  of  the   Chrysalis, 

In  this  state  the  creature  is  a  sort  of  mummy,  all  the 
appendages,  both  of  head  and  thorax,  folded  over  upon  the 
breast,  packed  closely  and  tightly  glued,  extending  usually 
to  the  fourth  abdominal  segment.  In  a  few  of  the  lower 
butterflies,  the  tongue  extends  still  further  and  is  then 


8  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

more  or  less  free.  All  of  the  appendages,  however,  ai'e  not 
seen,  for  the  paljii  and  hind  legs  are  entirely  concealed 
beneath  the  other  members,  and  the  organs  that  appear  are 
ranged  in  the  following  order  from  the  middle  line  ont- 
ward :  tongue,  fore  legs,  middle  legs,  antennae,  fore  wings, 
hind  wings,  of  the  latter  of  which  very  little  is  seen,  they 
being  mostly  covered  by  the  fore  pair. 

The  body  is  compact,  but  there  are  usually  some  marked 
prominences  upon  the  surface,  notably  in  certain  places, 
such  as  the  front  of  the  head,  which  usually  has  a  pair  of 
projections,  sometimes  only  one;  the  middle  of  the  back  of 
the  mesothorax,  often  ridged  or  with  a  pointed  projection; 
the  extreme  base  of  each  of  the  wings,  which  are  usually 
tuberculate  or  humped ;  and  the  middle  line  of  the  back  of 
the  abdomen  or  the  sides  of  the  same,  which  are  often 
ridged.  In  the  highest  family,  where  the  caterpillars  are 
spined,  there  are.  often  rows  of  conical  tubercles  on  the 
chrysalis  corresponding  generally  to  the  position  of  the 
larger  spines  of  the  caterpillar. 

This  is  all  that  need  be  said  regarding  the  actual  struc- 
ture of  butterllies  in  their  different  stages  to  one  beginning 
their  study,  for  it  is  better  to  dwell  rather  upon  their  livco 
and  protean  changes,  their  histories  and  habits,  if  we  wisli 
to  gain  a  true  and  favorable  insight  into  their  character- 
istics. 

G.  A  Few  Words  about  the  Eggs. 

The  eggs  of  butterflies  are  always  laid  in  full  view,  ex- 
cepting that  in  a  few  instances  they  are  partially  concealed 
by  being  thrust  into  crevices.  Ordinarily  they  are  laid 
on  one  or  the  other  surface  of  the  leaves  of  the  food-23lant 
of  the  caterpillar  or  on  the  stem  of  the  same,  and  usually 
on  or  in  contiguity  to  the  tenderer  growing  leaves.     As  a 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

general  rule,  the  eggs  are  laid  singly,  in  some  instances  on 
the  extreme  tip  of  a  pointed  leaf;  but  in  not  a  few  cases 
they  are  laid  in  clusters  of  from  two  or  three  to  several 
hundreds.  KSometimes  these  are  rude  bunches  jailed  loosely 
or  in  layers  one  upon  another;  sometimes  they  are  laid  in 
more  or  less  regular  single  or  double  rows;  sometimes  in  a 
single  column  of  three  or  four  or  even  as  many  as  ten  eggs, 
one  atop  another;  or  they  may  girdle  a  twig  like  a  fairy 
ring.  The  duration  of  the  Qgg  state  is  commonly  from 
one  to  two  weeks,  but  it  varies  in  different  species  in  the 
summer-time  from  five  or  even  less  days  to  about  a  month ; 
there  are,  however,  some  butterflies  which  pass  the  winter 
in  the  Qgg  state.  In  all  such  cases  the  eggs  are  laid  u2)on 
the  stem,  never  upon  the  leaf,  and  some  spot  is  chosen,  like 
the  neighborhood  of  a  leaf-scar,  which  affords  a  certain 
amount  of  protection  during  the  winter. 

7.  The  Lives  akd  Habits  of  Catekpillars. 

When  eggs  of  butterflies  are  laid  in  clusters,  the  cater- 
pillars are  almost  invariably  social  to  a  greater  or  less  de- 
gree, at  least  in  early  life,  sometimes  to  maturity  ;  if  they 
are  laid  singly  and  it  is  only  by  accident  that  several  are 
laid  near  together,  the  caterpillars  are  solitary.  In  the 
majority  of  cases  where  the  Qgg  is  laid  singly,  the  first  act 
of  the  escaping  caterpillar  is  to  devour  it  entirely  or  in 
greater  part. 

Solitary  caterpillars  may  live  exposed  on  the  upper  or 
the  under  sides  of  leaves,  or  they  may  retire  to  the  stem  of 
the  food-plant  for  greater  security,  or  they  may  construct, 
each  for  itself,  some  kind  of  concealment,  or  live  within 
fruits.  When  fully  exposed,  they  usually  remain  quite 
motionless,  stretched  at  full  length  when  not  feeding,  and 
may  select  for  their  resting-place  peculiar  spots.  The  most 
curious  is  one  adopted  by  some  Brush-footed  Butterflies  (and 


10  THE  COMMONER  UUTrERFLlES. 

the  Qgg  is  then  commonly  laid  at  or  near  the  extreme  tip  of 
the  leaf)  which  devour  the  apical  portion  of  the  leaf,  leav- 
ing the  midrib  untouched,  and  percli  themselves  upon  this 
midrib  after  having  attached  to  it  by  a  few  threads  a  small 
packet  of  bits  of  leaf  and  frass  which  is  moved  by  every 
breath  of  wind, — probaljly  to  distract  the  attention  of  its 
enemies  from  itself. 

Others  construct  shelters  more  or  less  complicated. 
Some  merely  spin  transverse  threads  across  the  floor  of  a 
leaf,  causing  its  sides  to  curl,  and  then  recline,  half  hidden, 
in  the  shallow  trough;  others  make  it  so  complete  that 
the  edges  meet  and  the  leaf  forms  a  cylinder;  still  others 
fasten  the  opposite  edges  by  silk  and  by  biting  weaken  the 
resistant  ribs  and  also  the  main  rib  so  that  the  leaf  droops; 
others  bite  channels  into  the  leaf  at  two  distant  points  and 
turn  the  flap  thus  formed  over  upon  the  leaf,  securing  it 
in  place  by  silken  strands;  while  for  winter  use  the  partly 
grown  caterpillar  of  the  later  brood  of  Basilarchia  and 
some  allied  genera  not  only  coils  a  leaf  into  a  cylinder  but 
lines  it  within  and  without  with  silk,  leaves  a  ledge  to  crawl 
out  upon,  and  secures  the  leaf  to  the  twig  by  strong  silken 
fastenings.  In  nearly  all  these  cases  the  caterpillar  seems 
to  rest  upon  the  upper  surface  of  a  leaf  and  curl  the  sides 
upward,  very  rarely  the  reverse. 

But  there  are  others  which  fasten  several  leaves  together, 
generally  very  slightly,  to  form  a  leafy  bower,  or  in  the 
case  of  grasses  a  tubular  burrow;  and  in  a  few  instances, 
as  in  Vanessa  himtera,  bits  of  the  inflorescence  of  the  plant 
are  caught  in  the  slight  meshes  of  the  net  to  make  a  more 
perfect  concealment.  Among  our  Larger  Skippers  many 
which  live  half  their  life  in  a  nest  formed  of  a  single  leaf 
finish  it  in  a  bower  made  of  many. 

Social  caterpillars  often  construct  nests  in  company, 
which  then  often  embrace  in  an  irregular  web  the  whole 
or  nearly  the  whole  of  a  branch  of  the  food-plant.    Usually 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

the  wbb  is  thin  and  hardly  conceals  the  surface,  but  some- 
times it  is  almost  like  parchment,  as  in  the  J^Iexican 
Euclieira  social  is.  Winter  is  sometimes  passed  in  one  of 
these  webs,  and  when  constructed,  as  it  sometimes  is,  on  an 
annual,  the  shrinkage  after  the  death  of  the  stalk  makes  a 
compact  mass  of  leaves,  frass,  web,  and  caterpillars,  from 
which  it  would  seem  as  if  no  caterpillar  could  escape  in 
the  spring.  When  social  caterpillars  construct  no  shelter, 
they  usually  feed  side  by  side  in  rows,  and  move  from  place 
to  place  in  files. 

A  very  large  number  of  our  caterpillars  live  through  the 
winter,  and  this  is  often  the  only  means  by  which  a 
species  survives  the  inclement  season;  most  of  them  hiber- 
nate when  about  half  grown;  others,  strange  to  say,  jusc 
from  the  egg,  without  having  eaten  anything  but  the  shell 
from  which  they  came;  still  others  hibernate  full  grown 
and  full  fed,  changing  to  chrysalis  just  when  vegetation 
starts  in  the  spring.  Some  of  these  caterpillars,  especially 
those  partly  or  fully  grown,  construct  nests  for  hiberna- 
tion; others  use  the  same  nest  which  has  served  their 
larval  life,  strengthening  it  against  the  greater  needs  of 
winter;  others  seek  crannies  of  any  kind. 

In  some  cases  where  the  caterpillars  of  a  second  brood 
hibernate  when  half-grown,  the  caterpillars  of  the  first 
brood  at  the  hibernating  age,  but  in  midsummer,  will  fall 
into  letharg}^  from  Avhich  some  will  arouse  after  say  a  fort- 
night's quiescence,  while  others  AviH  prolong  their  pre- 
mature into  actual  hibernation,  and  in  the  following  spring 
caterpillars  of  the  same  stage  but  of  two  successive  broods 
will  mingle  together. 

It  is  apparent,  then,  that  there  is  considerable  variety 
in  the  duration  of  life  of  caterpillars.  Instances  are  on 
record  where  the  time  from  birth  to  chrysalis  was  only 
about  ten  days;  ordinarily  it  is  at  least  a  month;  with 
those  that  hibernate  it  may  be  in  some  cases  nearly  a  year; 


12  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

while  there  are  several  instances  known  where  caterpillars 
have  lived  over  two  winters  and  might  therefore  take  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  or  more  months  for  their  larval  ex- 
istence alone. 


8.  How  THE  Chrysalis  Hangs. 

In  making  its  preparation  for  its  final  moult,  when  the 
change  to  chrysalis  is  to  take  place,  the  caterpillar  proceeds 
in  exactly  the  same  manner  as  in  preceding  moults,  except 
that  it  spins  more  silk  and,  in  addition  to  the  carpet  on 
which  it  stands,  adds  other  strands  of  a  special  nature, 
according  to  the  method  in  which  the  chrysalis  is  to  swing. 
The  chrysalis  is  provided  with  special  hooks  at  its  posterior 
end  with  which  to  engage  the  silken  pad  jDrepared  for  it, 
excepting  in  the  case  of  a  few  which  change  on  the  surface 
of  the  ground. 

One  mode  of  suspension  is  to  hang  j^endent  by  the  tail 
alone  from  a  pad  of  silk.  Generally  free  to  swing  with 
every  jar  or  breeze,  the  more  so  as  the  pad  is  usually  more 
or  less  loosely  woven,  there  are  some  in  which  the  hooks 
are  distributed  over  a  more  or  less  elongated  area,  and,  the 
caterpillars  having  constructed  a  more  compact  pad,  the 
attachments  are  firmer  and  more  extended,  so  that  tlie 
chrysalis  may  be  more  or  less  rigid  and  even  hang  in  a 
position  by  no  means  vertical  but  inclined  strongly  toward 
the  horizontal. 

The  movements  of  chrysalids  of  the  pendent  type  are 
not  confined  to  the  looseness  of  attachment  of  the  hooks 
or  the  nature  of  the  web  to  which  they  cling,  but  in  all 
there  is  more  or  less  capability  of  motion  by  the  sliding  of 
the  abdominal  joints  ..pon  one  another,  and  the  chrysalis 
may  thus  effect  voluntary  motion,  sometimes,  when  dis- 
turbed, of  an  extraordinarily  active  kind.  Some  chrysalids, 
moreover^  make  slow  periodic  diurnal  movements,   helio- 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

tropic  or  phaotropic,  i.e.  toward  or  away  from  the  sun  or 
light,  sometimes  lateral,  sometimes  forward  and  backward. 

Other  chrysalids  are  attached  not  only  by  the  tail  but 
also  by  a  girth,  whether  tight  or  loose,  slung  around  the 
middle  of  the  body  in  the  dorsal  depression  or  saddle  which 
always  exists  between  the  thoracic  and  abdominal  regions. 
If  the  girth  be  tight,  the  ventral  surface  of  the  chr3'salis, 
which  touches  the  surface  of  rest,  is  nearly  or  quite  straight ; 
if  loose,  it  is  often  bent  to  a  greater  or  a  less  degree  023po- 
site  the  girth,  or  describes  a  curve  with  the  same  point  as 
the  middle  of  the  arc. 

A  modification  of  this  mode  of  suspension  is  seen  in  some 
Skippers,  which  make  cocoons  in  which  both  the  median 
girth  and  sometimes  to  a  less  extent  the  tail  attachments 
form  Y-shaped  strands,  which  are  attached  at  their  ex- 
tremities to  the  walls  of  the  cocoon  ;  into  the  centre  of  one 
set  the  hooks  of  tlie  tail  are  plunged,  while  the  middle  of 
the  body  is  slung  between  the  longer  arms  of  the  other  and 
larger  set  of  strands. 

There  is  but  one  family  of  butterflies  in  which  all  the 
members  construct  cocoons — the  Skippers.  Their  cocoons 
are  usually  of  a  rather  fragile  nature  and  consist  (usually) 
of  leaves,  blades  of  grass,  or  other  vegetable  material,  gen- 
erally living,  shaped  into  a  more  or  less  oval  or  cylindrical 
cell  by  silken  attachments  ;  sometimes  the  interior  is  more 
or  less  perfectly  lined  with  a  thin  membrane  of  silk;  within 
this,  as  just  stated,  the  chrysalis  hangs  by  means  of  Y- 
shaped  shrouds,  the  form  of  the  smaller  one  sometimes 
difficult  to  determine  from  the  mingling  of  its  threads  with 
those  forming  the  extremity  of  the  cocoon. 

Chrvsalids  which  o:ive  birth  to  butterflies  the  same  sea- 
son  vary  in  their  duration  from  about  three  days  to  a  month, 
but  usually  from  ten  days  to  a  fortnight.  But  a  consider- 
able number  pass  the  winter  in  this  shape,  and  may  then 
endure  from  five  to  eleven  months,  and  sometimes  this  lat- 


14  THE  COMMONER  BUTTEUFLIES. 

ter  variation  may  occur  in  a  single  species  having  several 
broods,  in  which  an  increasing  proportion  of  each  succes- 
sive brood  of  chrysalids  of  one  season  pass  over  the  ensuing 
winter.  Instances  are  on  record  in  wliich  chrysalids,  nor- 
mally hibernating,  have  been  known  to  pass  over  a  second 
winter  and  then  give  birth  to  the  butterfly. 

9.  The  Geneeal  Histoey  of  Butteeflies. 

Beginning  life  as  an  Qgg  which  usually  hatches  within 
a  few  days  after  being  laid,  the  young  caterpillar  finds 
its  sole  duty  to  be  to  eat  and  escape  being  eaten.  It 
feeds  voraciously,  and  outgrows  its  skin  so  often  that  it 
is  obliged  to  moult  four  or  five  times  before  it  is  full 
grown.  On  each  of  these  occasions  it  stops  feeding  for  a 
while,  spins  a  carpet  of  silk,  and  fastens  its  claws  therein; 
when  the  time  for  change  comes,  the  old  skin  splits  along 
the  middle  of  the  back  of  the  thoracic  segments  by  violent 
muscular  effort,  the  old  head-case  (from  which  the  new 
head  was  first  withdrawn)  is  shaken  off  and  the  creature 
crawls  out  of  its  old  skin,  which  in  many  instances  it  there- 
upon devours.  In  the  last  change,  to  chrysalis,  the  head 
is  not  removed  from  the  old  skin,  but  itself  splits  in  the 
middle  and  down  one  or  both  sides  of  the  frontal  triangle, 
and  the  chrysalis  emerges.  After  hanging  awhile,  the 
chrysalis  skin  splits  at  much  the  same  points  and  the  but- 
terfly emerges  to  begin  the  cycle  again  with  the  laying  of 
eggs. 

The  cycle  of  changes  through  which  a  butterfly  moves  is 
in  temperate  climates  commonly  passed  once  each  year, — 
or  rather  once  each  season,  for  it  is  winter  that  usually  in- 
terferes with  the  activities  by  robbing  the  creature  of  its 
means  of  sustenance  and  paralyzing  its  action.  Inasmuch 
as  the  pupal  stage  is  in  the  higher  insects  the  period  of 
longest   inactivity,   one  would   presume   beforehand  that 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

this  period  would  coincide  with  winter  ;  and  so  it  does  in 
a  large  number  of  cases.  Yet  among  butterflies  the  ex- 
ceptions to  such  a  rule  are  not  only  exceedingly  common, 
but,  as  miglit  be  expected  were  there  any  departure,  they 
are  very  varied  and  winter  is  j^assed,  by  one  species  or  an- 
other, in  every  conceivable  stage  of  existence,  including 
every  part  of  caterpillar  life.  Indeed,  cases  are  not  un- 
known, especially  in  high  latitudes  and  altitudes,  where  more 
than  one  season  is  required  to  bring  a  butterfly  to  maturity. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  large  number  of  our  butterflies,  and 
this  is  especially  true  southward,  complete  the  cycle  of  their 
changes  twice  or  oftener  in  a  season,  and  there  are  not  a 
few  having  an  extended  latitudinal  range  which  vary  in  this 
respect,  having  one  or  more  broods  in  the  northern  part  of 
their  range,  and  an  added  brood  or  more  in  the  southern. 
The  end  of  the  season  generally  surprising  multiple-brooded 
butterflies  in  all  stages  of  existence,  an  opportunity  has 
easily  arisen  for  every  possible  form  of  hibernation  or 
lethargic  life,  which  accounts  for  the  variation  discoverable 
in  the  lives  of  our  butterflies,  each  form  settling  at  last 
upon  that  series  of  changes  which  is  best  fitted  for  it. 

10.  Variation  in  the  Butterfly. 

Like  most  creatures,  butterflies,  when  they  are  found 
over  a  wide  territory,  show  great  difference  between  indi- 
viduals found  in  the  extremes  of  the  range,  so  that  it  is 
sometimes  difficult  to  tell,  at  least  until  collections  are 
made  over  the  intervening  country,  whether  specimens 
from  distant  places  should  be  regarded  as  distinct  species 
or  as  geographical  varieties.  The  most  skilled  may  make 
mistakes  for  lack  of  proper  material. 

But  quite  apart  from  this,  butterflies  appear  to  be  ex- 
ceptionally sensitive  to  the  environment  and  to  offer  an 
Tinusual  amount  of  variation  of  a  different  sort ;  for  di- 


16  THE  COMMONElt  BUTTERFLIES. 

morphism  or  ])olymorpliism  of  various  kinds,  that  is,  the 
existence  of  a  given  species  under  recognizably  distinct 
forms  (two  or  more,  even  sometimes  to  five  or  six)  is  by  no 
means  nncommon. 

This  distinction  is  often  sexual;  indeed  there  are  relative- 
ly fcAV  species  in  which  the  ontward  aspect  of  the  two  sexes 
does  not  differ,  in  some  cases  to  a  remarkable  degree.  It  is 
universal  in  the  numerous  species  of  Eurymus,  for  example, 
where  in  general  the  inner  margin  of  the  dark  outer  bor- 
dering of  the  wings  is  sharp  and  ])reci8e  in  the  male,  con- 
fused and  irregular  in  the  female.  In  very  many  cases, 
however,  it  is  accompanied  by  a  simple  dimorphism,  some- 
times affecting  one  sex  only  (and  then  usually  the  female), 
as  in  many  species  of  Eurymus,  where  one  form  of  female 
has  the  bright  ground  color  of  the  male,  the  other  a  pallid 
ground  color  ;  at  other  times  affecting  both  sexes,  as  in 
some  species  of  Polygonia  :  in  P.  interrogatlonis,  for  ex- 
ample, there  are  four  sets  of  individuals  differing  in  the 
general  coloring  of  both  surfaces  of  the  wings  and  even  in 
the  form  of  the  wings — differences  all  of  which  may  occur 
in  the  progeny  of  a  single  individual  and  fed  on  the  same 
plant. 

But  these  differences  are  very  often  correlated  with, 
generally  confined  to,  differences  of  brood.  One  of  the 
most  striking  and  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  simplest 
examples  is  in  the  double-brooded  European  species 
Arasclinia  pro?'^a,  where  the  first  brood  is  composed  of 
individuals  of  one  type  with  highly  variegated  markings 
(levana),  the  second  of  a  very  distinct  type  with  more 
sharjdy-contrasted  coloring  (prorsa),  which,  until  they 
were  bred  from  each  other,  were  universally,  and  reason- 
ably, regarded  as  distinct  species.  This  is  called  seasonal 
dimorphism. 

Numerous  striking  examples  occur  in  this  country,  not 
a  few  of  which  are  excellently  shown  in  Edwards's  Butter- 


INTROD  UCTION.  17 

flies  of  Xortli  America,  such  as  many  species  of  Polygonia 
(in  F.  iiiterrogationis  tliey  are  largely  seasonal,  the  latest 
brood  being  all  of  one  type),  Phyciodes  tharos^the  species  of 
Pieris,  and  especially  Jplildides  ajax.  The  latter  instance 
is  the  more  remarkable,  because  the  three  forms  (marcel- 
lus,  telamonides,  and  ajax),  though  sequent  in  the  order 
named,  do  not  strictly  represent  distinct  broods,  since  the 
earlier  emerging  individuals  of  the  first  brood  are  marcel- 
lus,  the  later-appearing  individuals  of  the  scDue  brood  are 
telamonides,  while  the  subsequent  broods,  of  which  there 
arc  several,  are  ajax. 

Distinct  climatal  differences,  whether  temperature  or 
moisture  (or  both),  are  unquestionably  the  prime  cause  of 
seasonal  dimorphism,  the  former  in  temperate,  the  latter  in 
tropical,  regions.  The  first  has  been  practically  proved  by 
experiment,  the  latter  by  the  correspondence  of  the  ^^he- 
nomena  to  that  of  temperate  climates  and  their  synchro- 
nism with  the  dry  and  w^et  seasons. 

Many  cases  of  dimorphism  are  compound.  Instances  of 
this  have  already  been  given;  indeed,  most  cases  of  dimor- 
phism involve  some  distinct  element,  such  as  season  or  lati- 
tude, or  temperature  in  some  form.  Thus,  Jasoniades 
glaucuSy  which  exhibits  dimorphism  in  the  female,  does  so 
only  in  the  south,  for  the  dark  form  of  the  female  (in 
which  the  conspicuous  normal  stripes  of  the  male  are  ob- 
scured) occurs  but  rarely  north  of  Pennsylvania,  although 
there  is  a  distinct  tendency  in  botli  sexes  to  a  broadening 
of  the  darker  markings  and  the  partial  suppression  of  the 
yellow  in  high  northern  latitudes  or  their  equivalent,  as 
among  the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire.  A  sim- 
ilar  instance  occurs  in  Everes  comyntas  with  the  boundary 
limits  of  the  dark  female  at  about  the  same  place. 

Nearly  all  the  above  instances  of  dimorphism  where  it  is 
not  of  the  simplest  kind  (whether  seasonal  or  not)  may  be 
termed  polymorphic,  since  more  than  two  types  of  individ- 


18  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

uals  appear  in  a  single  species;  especially  is  this  the  case 
where  a  sort  of  double  dimorphism  occurs,  like  that  of 
Iphidides  ajax  or  oi  PoUjgoiiia  inter royationis  mentioned 
above.  Instances  have  also  been  cited  where  the  geo- 
graphical element  entered;  but  polymorphism  is  most  con- 
spicuous and  comj^lioated  whei-e  all  the  above  elements  are 
combined, — where  dimorphism  between  the  sexes,  dimor- 
phism also  between  the  members  of  one  sex  confined  to 
distinct  portions  of  the  range  of  the  species,  and  seasonal 
dimorphism  more  or  less  limited  in  its  geographical  range 
and  in  its  correlation  with  the  broods  (as  the  species  may 
be  multiple-brooded  or  not),  may  be  further  complicated 
by  geographical  variations  independent  of  and  running 
through  all  the  others.  Two  cases  may  be  cited  as  remark- 
able instances  of  complicated  polymorphism  if  the  facts 
shall  prove  well  grounded. 

In  the  extreme  north,  Cijaniris  i^seudaryioliis  is  single- 
brooded  and  appears  in  two  forms,  an  earlier  with  heavier 
markings  (lucia)  and  a  later  (violacea) ;  tlie  males  of  both 
are  blue  above;  the  females  paler  blue  with  broad  dark 
margins  to  the  fore  wings.  In  New  England  it  is  double- 
brooded,  the  sexes  differing  as  before;  the  first  brood  is 
trimorphic  and  serial,  the  earliest  individuals  having  heavy 
markings  (lucia),  the  next  intermediate  markings  (vio- 
lacea), the  last  light  markings  (neglecta),  while  the  second 
brood  is  comj^osed  entirely  of  neglecta;  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  belt  in  which  the  first  brood  is  trimorphic,  the 
form  neglecta  is  comparatively  rare,  and  lucia  the  most 
abundant,  while  the  reverse  is  the  case  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  same  belt  (and  lucia  itself  is  so  variable  that 
one  type  of  it  has  been  separated  as  marginata).  Farther 
south  lucia  disap23ears  altogether  and  the  first  brood  is  di- 
morphic,— violacea  and  neglecta  in  theorder  of  their  appear- 
ance; but  now  a  new  element  is  introduced,  for  the  males 


INTRO  D  UCTION.  1 9 

of  violticea,  become  diiiiorphicj  one  form  resembling  the 
males  of  the  same  found  farther  north,  the  other  being 
uniformly  dark  above  (violacea-nigra).  In  the  southern 
part  of  its  range,  the  latest  individuals  (neglecta)  of  the 
first  brood  are  usually  much  larger  than  the  members  of 
the  second  brood,  all  of  which  are  otherwise  of  the  same 
type.  This  butterfly  flies  not  only  from  Hudson  Bay  to 
Georgia,  but  also  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  in 
California  we  have  a  new  form  (piasus),  hardly  distinguish- 
able from  neglecta,  which  appears  to  be  double-brooded  in 
the  south  but  to  show  no  difference  between  the  broods. 
Farther  north,  however,  near  tlie  British  boundary,  the 
conditions  of  New  England  are  at  least  in  part  repeated, 
wliile  in  Arizona  an  ashen  variety  (cinerea)  occurs. 

The  different  forms  assumed  by  Eurymus  eurytlteme 
have  caused  their  description  as  distinct  species  on  four  or 
five  occasions.  It,  too,  has  an  immense  range.  In  Texas 
the  cycle  begins  in  November  (the  summer  and  not  the 
winter  interfering  with  its  activities)  with  a  yellow  type 
(ariadne)  succeeded  by  a  yellow-orange  tyi:>e  (keewaydin) 
and  finally  by  an  orange  type  (amphidusa),  each  a  distinct 
brood,  the  last-named  indeed  double-brooded;  with  the  in- 
crease of  temperature,  the  size  and  the  dej^th  and  brilliancy 
of  color  increase;  the  form  keewaydin  has  a  sexually  di- 
morphic female,  one  resembling  the  male  in  ground  color, 
the  other  pallid  (keewaydin-pallida),  and  the  form  amphi- 
dusa is  similarly  favored  (amj^hidusa-alba).  In  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  range  of  the  species,  the  earliest  (May)  form, 
a  yellow  one,  differs  so  much  from  the  earliest  (November) 
type  of  the  south  as  to  be  given  a  distinct  name  (eriphyle), 
and  when  keewaydin  and  amphidusa  have  had  their  turn, 
it  again  appears  in  the  latter  part  of  the  season,  and 
though  the  autumn  form  has  not  received  a  distinct  name, 
it  can  be  distinguished  from  the  spring  form,  at  least  in 


20  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

the  male  sex,  the  spring  individuals  being  uniform  chrome 
yellow  above,  while  the  October  males  are  of  a  whitish  yel- 
low and  the  hind  wings  are  dusted  with  gray. 

11.  Some  Remarkable  Differences  between  the 

Sexes. 

Many  male  butterflies  may  be  readily  distinguished  by 
characteristic  tufts,  rows,  or  wisps  of  hairs  or  patches  of 
special  scales  or  membranous  folds  generally  rendered  in 
some  way  conspicuous,  and  which  do  not  occur  in  the 
female.  Of  the  first  we  have  a  good  example  in  our 
species  of  Argynnis,  which  show  a  row  of  long  semi-recum- 
bent hairs  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  hind  wings  between 
the  costal  and  subcostal  nervures;  of  the  second  in  the 
mealy-looking  margins  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  wings 
of  Callidryas,  tlie  discal  patch  on  the  fore  wings  of  many 
Hair-streaks,  the  apparently  blackened  and  thickened  veins 
of  the  fore  wings  of  Argynnis,  or  the  discal  streak  accom- 
panied by  large  tilted  scales  so  common  in  the  Smaller 
Skippers;  of  the  last  in  the  blackened  pocket  of  the  hind 
wings  of  Anosia,  the  plaited  fold  of  the  hind  wings  of 
Laertias,  or  the  deftly  inconspicuous  costal  fold  of  the 
Larger  Skippers. 

These  very  patches  or  folds  usually  conceal  scales  differ- 
ing to  a  greater  or  less  extent  from  the  surrounding  scales 
and  peculiar  to  the  males,  called  scent-scales  or  androconia, 
i.e.,  male-scales.  They  do  not,  however,  always  occur  in 
these  patches  (where  they  are  usually  concealed  from  vicAV 
to  some  degree),  but  may  be  simply  scattered  among  the 
other  scales  and  then,  being  almost  invariably  much 
smaller,  almost  completely  concealed  from  view. 

While  the  ordinary  scales  of  butterflies,  common  to  both 
sexes,  show  very  little  variety  in  their  structure,  being 
striate,  more  or  less  fan-shaped  or  shingle-shaped  lamina? 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

with  finely-toothed  apical  margin,  the  androconia  show  an 
extraordinary  variety  of  structure,  but  are  rarely  toothed  at 
the  tip.  They  may  be  shaped  like  an  Indian  club,  a 
shepherd's  crook,  a  long  needle  ending  with  a  whip-lash,  a 
twisted  ribbon,  a  battledore,  an  elongated  fan,  a  row  of 
beads,  a  spatula,  a  tapering  ribbon  with  fringed  tip,  or  may 
assume  many  other  forms  which  could  only  be  described  at 
length ;  they  are  generally  very  slender  and  minute.  Where 
they  are  fringed,  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  separate 
threads  of  the  frino-e  are  so  manv  canals  conductinof  to 
glands  at  the  base  of  the  scale,  for  in  many  instances  odors 
plainly  perceptible  have  been  traced  to  this  source. 

These  odors  are  in  all  cases  of  an  ao:reeable  nature  and 
have  generally  been  compared  either  to  the  fragrance  of 
certain  flowers  or  to  the  musky  odors  of  quadrupeds;  the 
last  is  a  very  common  scent  among  insects  and  is  known  in 
such  difi:erent  creatures  as  the  imago  of  the  beetles  Prionus 
and  Osmoderma,  the  imago  of  the  butterfly  Argynnis,  and 
the  half -grown  caterpillar  of  the  moth  Arctia  parthenos. 

These  androconia  are  very  capricious  in  their  occurrence 
both  as  to  exact  location  and  as  to  their  presence  or  absence 
in  allied  forms.  They  appear  to  be  almost  invariably  pres- 
ent in  all  the  species  of  any  given  genus  or  else  absent  from 
all,  but  allied  genera  in  a  single  tribe  often  vary  in  this 
particular.  They  occur  in  all  families  and  in  most,  per- 
haps all,  tribes  of  butterflies. 

They  are  usually  found  upon  the  ujoper  surface  of  the 
fore  wings,  very  rarely,  if  ever,  upon  the  under  surface  of 
any;  they  may  be  scattered  indiscriininately  over  the  wing, 
be  collected  into  definite  but  vague  areas  traversing  the  in- 
terspaces, assemble  along  the  principal  nervures  or  at  the 
extremity  of  the  discal  cell,  or  in  a  narrow  discal  streak  or 
costal  fold,  or  be  confined  to  a  little  pocket  on  the  broad 
face  of  the  hind  wings,  or  lie  in  a  closed  j^lait  next  the  anal 
margin,  or  in  various  other  positions. 


22  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 


12.    The  Sekses  of  Butterflies. 

The  power  and  range  of  vision  in  butterflies  (and  in 
insects  in  general)  have  without  doubt  been  popularly 
overestimated.  Both  direct  experiments  and  study  of  the 
structure  of  the  compound  eye  lead  to  the  same  conclusion: 
that  while  insects  have  a  quick  perception  of  moving  objects 
or  of  objects  among  which  they  are  moving,  they  have  no 
power  of  distinguishing  precise  form  or  delicate  distinc- 
tions of  color  or  patterns,  their  visual  perception  being 
confused  or  vague. 

The  delicacy  of  the  sense  of  smell  in  insects,  and  espe- 
cially in  Lejudoptera,  makes  full  amend  for  defective  vision. 
The  quick  advent  of  males  among  many  tribes  to  secluded 
and  concealed  females,  the  possession  of  many  odoriferous 
organs,  the  evidence  that  many  others  exist  where  the  odors 
are  imperceptible  to  human  sense,  all  point  to  a  delicate 
and  keen  perceptive  power  in  this  direction.  It  is  alto- 
gether probable — and  no  other  exjolanation  has  so  great 
probability — that  it  is  by  the  exercise  of  this  sense  that 
the  j)arent  butterfly  discovers  the  proper  food-plant  for  the 
deposition  of  her  eggs.  The  organs  for  this  sense  are 
probably  resident  in  the  antennae. 

The  fondness  of  butterflies  for  the  honeyed  sweets  of 
flowers  at  once  suggests  a  high  development  of  the  sense 
of  taste;  for  that  it  is  not  jmrely  a  matter  of  hunger  or  the 
need  of  nourishment  maybe  seen  in  the  cases  so  often 
noted  where  butterflies  fill  their  bodies  until  they  can 
scarcely  fly,  which  is  far  beyond  any  need  of  nourishment; 
or  in  the  groups  which  continue  for  hours  around  a  moist 
spot  in  a  road  imbibing  the  innutritive  fluids.  The  organs 
for  this  sense  are  probably  resident  in  the  tongue-2:)apilla?. 

There  seem  to  be  no  reasons  for  believing  that  any  high 
degree  of  power  in  hearing  is  to  be  found  among  butter- 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

flies,  as  there  are  no  organs  known  to  serve  as  receptive 
elements,  and  the  sounds  made  by  butterflies  arc  apparently 
due  simply  to  the  rustling  of  the  wings.  All  motions  that 
look  as  if  j)ossibly  meant  to  convey  sound  (where  none  can 
be  detected  by  the  human  ear),  such  as  the  quivering  of 
the  wings  in  sexual  approximation,  may  be  solely  to  waft 
emitted  odors  the  more  effectivel3\ 

Little  can  be  said  or  ]oresumed  regarding  touch  of 
animals  whose  external  parts  are  all  crustaceous;  but  it  is 
plain  that  warmth  and  cold,  which  deal  with  the  same 
nervous  elements,  have  decided  influences  in  every  stage 
beyond  the  Qgg.  The  ordinary  inactivity  of  caterpillars  in 
the  nio-ht  can  not  be  laid  to  the  absence  of  lifrht,  for  their 
behavior  in  darkened  apartments  is  much  the  same  as  out 
of  doors;  the  movements  of  chrysalids  tell  the  same  story; 
and  we  know  that  a  measurable  amount  of  movement  of 
the  antennae  occurs  with  changing  temperature  in  hiber- 
nating, practically  dormant,  butterflies. 

13.   Mimicry  axd  Protective  Resemblance. 

Most  butterflies  when  at  complete  rest  close  their  hind 
wings  back  to  back  and  sink  the  fore  wings  as  far  as  pos- 
sible into  concealment  behind  them.  The  area  of  these 
wings  then  exposed  to  view  is  in  a  very  large  proportion  of 
butterflies  so  colored  and  mottled  or  marbled  as  to  render 
the  butterfly  immensely  less  conspicuous  in  its  resting- 
place  than  if  settled  with  wings  expanded  or  the  front  pair 
not  mostly  concealed;  in  very  many  cases  so  little  con- 
spicuous as  to  be  difficult  to  detect.  Earely  are  any  other 
parts  similarly  colored.  That  this  resemblance  is  protective 
there  can  be  no  doubt,  especially  in  view  of  its  common 
occurrence. 

There  are,  however,  innumerable  instances  of  special  and 
striking  provisions  in  this  direction,  of  which  one  of  the 


24  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

most  generally  known  is  that  of  the  oriental  genus  Kallima, 
the  species  of  which  are  highly  colored  on  the  upper  sur- 
face and  conspicuous  objects  when  in  flight,  but  which  are 
so  colored  and  marked  upon  the  under  side  that  when 
alighted  upon  a  twig,  as  they  do  with  the  fore  wings  thrown 
well  forward  and  all  wings  closed,  the  pattern  and  color 
of  the  under  surface  are  such  as  to  make  a  perfect  resem- 
blance to  a  leaf  whose  midrib,  a  colored  stripe  crossing 
both  wings  and  terminating  at  the  apex  of  the  fore  pair, 
takes  its  rise  from  a  tail-like  extension  of  the  hind  wings 
which  just  reaches  the  twig  from  which  the  mock  leaf 
thus  springs,  the  tail  of  the  wing  corresponding  to  the 
pedicel  of  the  leaf  ! 

These  phenomena,  however,  reach  their  culmination  in 
the  examples  of  mimicry  of  one  butterfly  by  another,  of 
which  there  are  numerous  examples  of  an  extraordinary 
kind  such  as  perhaps  no  other  group  of  animals  can  pro- 
duce. A  large  proportion  of  the  objects  of  mimicry  belong 
to  the  subfamily  Euploeinae,  known  to  be  a  group  protected 
to  a  large  extent  against  foes  by  the  possession  of  nauseous 
qualities,  and  it  is  therefore  presumed  that  all  other  objects 
of  mimicry  have  from  some  cause  or  other  some  immunity 
from  early  death  above  their  fellows.  Such  a  supposition 
is  the  only  one,  and  a  sufficient  one,  to  account  for  the 
extraordinary  resemblance  of  otherwise  unj^rotected  butter- 
flies, especially  in  the  female  sex  (for  not  always  do  the 
males  become  mimickers),  to  such  nauseous  or  protected 
butterflies,  a  resemblance  not  only  striking  for  its  exceed- 
ingly impressive  quality,  but  for  the  departure  required 
from  the  normal  type  of  coloring  or  j)attern  of  the  grou]:*, 
or  even  from  that  of  the  other  sex  alone;  for  its  extension 
to  structural  features,  such  as  length  of  antennae  and  form 
of  wing,  and  to  mode  of  flight ;  and  also  for  the  fact  that 
the  mimicker  seems  to  fly  only  in  the  territory  occupied  by 
the  mimicked,  while  in  neighboring  territory  occupied  by 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

another  of  the  protected  group  another  mimicker  more 
nearly  resembling  it  will  represent  it.  We  have  one 
remarkable  example  of  this  mimicry  in  our  own  country 
in  the  resemblance  of  Basilarchia  arcliippus  to  Anosia 
plexippus. 


14.  The  Classification^  of  Butterflies. 

The  number  of  family  groups  into  which  butterflies 
should  be  primarily  divided  has  been  variously  given  by 
naturalists  as  from  two  to  sixteen.  Writers  who  have  in- 
sisted on  any  large  number  have,  hoAvever,  relied  mainly 
upon  single  and  relatively  unimportant  characters,  mostly 
drawn  from  the  neuration  of  the  wings  of  the  imago,  and 
almost  ignoring  the  earlier  stages  of  the  insects.  Those 
who  have  paid  serious  attention  to  the  latter  and  have  re- 
garded all  parts  of  the  structure  have  generally  considered 
the  number  as  from  four  to  six.  In  the  present  work  they 
are  regarded  as  but  four  in  number,  called  Skippers  (Hes- 
peridae).  Typical  Butterflies  (Papilionid^e),  Gossamer- 
winged  Butterflies  (Lycaenidae),  and  Brush-footed  Butter- 
flies (Nymphalidae). 

If  we  examine  these  d liferent  groups  with  regard  to 
their  interrelationship  it  is  plain  that  the  Skippers  show 
by  far  the  greatest  and  most  numerous  points  of  resem- 
blance to  the  moths;  and  if  we  look  to  the  sum  of  the 
characters  of  each  as  regards  their  departure  from  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  lower  Lepidoptera,  we  shall  see  that  they 
unquestionably  fall  into  the  order  in  which  they  are  here 
placed.  In  addition  to  this  we  shall  find  two  very  distinct 
parallel  series  in  structure  and  transformations  which  fol- 
low precisely  the  same  course,  each  independent  of  the 
other,  each  pointing  out  the  lines  along  which  develop- 
ment has  proceeded  and  thus  indicating  a  natural  classifi- 
cation. 


26  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

One  of  these  concerns  the  mode  of  transformation.  In 
the  moths,  with  very  few  exceptions,  a  cocoon  or  cell  is 
formed  within  which  the  transformations  take  place.  The 
Skippers  form  a  cocoon,  bnt  lighter  than  is  common  among 
the  moths,  and  in  addition  (j^erhaps  not  universally,  but 
very  generally)  the  chrysalids  are  loosely  swung  up  within 
the  cocoon  by  the  Y-shajied  shrouds  mentioned  above. 
The  Typical  Butterflies  retain  the  shrouds  though  they  droj") 
the  cocoon,  but,  as  the  result,  the  hinder  shrouds  become  a 
mere  pad  of  silk,  the  median  shrouds  a  loose  loop.  The 
only  change  in  the  Gossamer-winged  Butterflies  is  the  tight- 
ening of  the  median  loop  and  the  flattening  of  the  ventral 
surface  of  the  chrysalis  to  correspond.  Lastly  in  the  Brush- 
footed  Butterflies  the  median  loojo  is  dropped  and  the  chry- 
salis hangs  by  the  tail-fastenings  alone,  while  the  straight 
ventral  surface  is  generally  retained — a  significant  atavistic 
indication  of  the  girt  stage. 

The  other  regards  the  structure  of  the  forelegs  of  the 
imago.  In  the  Skippers  these  agree  perfectly  with  the  other 
legs  (as  in  the  moths),  except  in  the  presence  of  a  median 
spine  on  the  tibiae.  The  same  is  true  of  the  Typical  Butter- 
flies excepting  that  the  median  spine  is  wanting  in  one  of 
the  two  subfamilies  (Pierids)  regarded  as  the  further  re- 
moved from  the  Skij)pers.  In  the  Gossamer-winged  But- 
terflies atrophy  has  begun,  but  is  insignificant  excepting 
in  the  male  sex.  While  in  the  Brush-footed  Butterflies 
atrophy  in  both  sexes  has  extended  to  complete  disuse  in 
both,  though  usually  more  excessive  in  the  male  than  the 
female;  one  subfamily,  nearest  to  the  Gossamer-winged 
Butterflies,  partakes  in  this  particular  of  the  characters  of 
the  latter,  namely,  the  Snout  Butterflies  or  Long  Beaks 
(Libytheinae). 


SOME   WORKS  ON  AMERICAN  BUTTERFLIES.       27 


SOME  WORKS  ON  AMERICAN  BUTTERFLIES. 

The  first  important  work  on  American  Butterflies  was 
published  in  England  nearly  a  century  ago  by  Sir  Edward 
Smith,  and  contained  the  observations  and  colored  illus- 
trations of  John  Abbot,  an  Englishman  some  time  resident 
in  Georgia.  The  work*  was  issued  in  two  folio  volumes, 
but  only  a  part  of  the  first  volume  treated  of  butterflies, 
the  remainder  relating  to  moths.  Drawings  of  caterpillar, 
chrysalis,  and  butterfly  were  given  in  every  case,  and  as  a 
rule  they  were  very  well  executed.  A  single  page  of  text 
accompanied  each  plate,  and  24  plates  of  butterflies  are 
given,  rejoresenting  as  many  species.  Many  unpublished 
drawings  of  Abbot  are  still  preserved,  as  he  supported  him- 
self by  their  sale  and  was  a  most  industrious  entomological 
artist. 

The  first  substantial  addition  to  our  knowledge,  so  far 
as  the  early  stages  are  concerned,  was  derived  2:>rinci2oally 
from  the  same  source  —  Abbot's  drawings.  This  was  a 
smaller  octavo  volume  f  prepared  by  Dr.  Boisduval  of 
Paris  in  collaboration  with  Major  LeConte  of  New  York, 
published  in  parts  but  never  completed.  The  twenty-six 
parts  contained  T8  plates,  illustrating  about  93  species, 
while  the  text  only  covered  85  sj)ecies,  not  all  of  which 


*  The  Natural  History  of  the  rarer  Lej^idopterous  Insects  of  Georgia. 
2  vols.  fol.     London,  1T9T.     104  pi. 

f  Histoire  generale  et  iconographie  des  Lepidopteres  et  des  che- 
nilles de  TAmerique  septentrionale.     8vo.    Paris,  1829-42.     228  pp., 

78  pi. 


28  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

were  figured.  The  illustrations,  in  color,  are  inferior  to 
those  of  the  preceding  work.  Both  the  above  works  can 
now  be  obtained  only  by  chance  through  the  second-hand 
dealers  of  Europe,  and  are  high-j^riced. 

Two  other  richly  illustrated  and  costly  works  upon  our 
native  butterflies  have  been  published  in  our  own  country. 
The  first  is  Edwards's  Butterflies,*  a  serial  work,  irregularly 
issued  and  of  which  the  third  volume  is  now  nearly  com- 
pleted. The  plan  of  this  work  is  to  describe  and  figure 
rare  or  interesting  species  or  those  of  which  the  life-history 
has  been  discovered,  the  species  following  no  regular  order. 
Usually  only  a  single  species  is  given  on  a  plate,  but  some- 
times two  or  more  of  one  genus  appear,  or  a  species  may 
cover  two  or  three  plates.  The  wealth,  delicacy,  and  ac- 
curacy of  the  drawings  in  certain  species  has  never  been  sur- 
passed or  even  nearly  equalled  in  any  work  ever  published  in 
any  country;  nowhere  else  have  the  eggs,  caterpillars,  and 
chrysalids  of  single  species  or  the  variations  of  the  perfect 
butterfly  been  illustrated  with  such  copiousness;  while  the 
text  is  often  full  of  the  most  interesting  accounts  of  the 
habits  and  life  of  the  insects.  Each  volume  contains  50 
plates  or  more,  and  on  the  162  which  have  appeared  up  to 
this  writing  about  as  many  different  butterflies  have  been 
depicted;  of  57  of  the  species  more  or  less  abundant  details 
of  the  early  stages  are  given  and  often  a  surprising  number 
of  illustrations.  Through  this  work  the  early  lives  of  some 
of  our  butterflies  are  better  known  than  those  of  any  other 
country,  and  this  often  applies  to  species  from  far-distant 
and  inaccessible  parts  of  the  country  like  the  Rocky 
Mountains.     Nearly  all  the  illustrations  are  in  color. 

The  other  work  is  of  a  more  limited  scope,  but  has 
the  advantage  of  completeness  as  far  as  it  goes,  and  of  a 
systematic  arrangement  whereby  our  knowledge  becomes 


*Tlie  Butterflies  of  North  America.    3  vols.  4to.    Boston,  1868-93. 


SOME   WORKS   ON  AMERICAN  BUTTERFLIES.       29 

clearer.*  It  covers  only  the  butterflies  of  nearly  the  same 
region  as  the  present  volume,  but  describes  them  all^  and 
as  far  as  possible  in  every  stage  of  life  with  exceptionally 
full  accounts  of  their  distribution  and  life-histories,  and 
full  definitions  of  tlie  characters  of  all  the  higher  groups 
as  well  as  of  the  species,  drawn  from  every  stage  of  life, 
164  species  are  described,  and  some  account  of  the  early 
stages  is  given  of  all  but  35  of  them,  of  many  far  fuller  de- 
tails than  ever  before. 

Two  other  books  published  a  generation  or  more  ago  on 
the  insects  of  limited  regions  may  be  mentioned,  because 
they  gave  particular  attention  to  our  butterflies.  The  first  f 
was  by  Emmons,  describing  such  species  as  he  knew  from 
New  York  and  giving  figures  of  them.  This  work  con- 
tained a  bare  description  of  the  perfect  butterflies  (31 
species),  and  colored  illustrations  (occupying  the  part  or 
whole  of  6  plates)  poorly  engraved  and  colored ;  it  contained 
nothing  new  and  was  very  poorly  executed.  It  is  not  now 
of  the  least  value. 

Quite  otherwise  is  the  less  pretentious  but  classic  work  of 
Harris,^;  which,  though  purporting  to  treat  only  of  injurious 
insects  and  mainly  those  of  Massachusetts,  contained  in 
the  last  edition  (to  a  far  less  extent  in  the  earlier  editions 
of  1841  and  1852)  descriptions  and  figures  of  a  number  of 
New  England  butterflies  as  defoliators  of  trees,  etc.,  in- 
cluding descriptions  of  some  new  forms  ;  54  species  are 
described,  and,  when  known, — which  was  not  then  the  case 
with  many, — brief   descriptions   are  given  of   the  earlier 

*The  Butterflies  of  tlie  Eastern  United  States  and  Canada.  By  S. 
H.  Scudder.  3  vols.  imp.  8vo.  Boston,  1889.  44  +  1958  pp.,  96  pL, 
of  which  41  are  colored. 

f  The  Agriculture  of  New  York,  Vol.  V.  4to.  Albany,  1854.  8  -f 
272  pp.,  50  pi. 

\  A  Treatise  on  some  of  the  Insects  injurious  to  Vegetation.  3d  ed. 
Svo.     Boston,  1862.     640  pp.,  278  figures,  8  col.  pi. 


30  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

stages  tiud  full  accounts  of  the  habits,  perhaps  half  of  the 
text  being  given  up  to  these  latter  features.  The  figures, 
54  of  them,  are,  with  9  exceptions,  woodcuts  and  remark- 
able examples  of  the  woodcutter's  art,  all  being  engraved 
by  Henry  Marsh. 

Two  other  books  of  my  own  may  be  mentioned  here, 
since  they  deal  largely  with  the  life-histories  of  our  butter- 
flies. The  first  *  is  based  upon  a  course  of  lectures  upon 
butterflies  in  general,  and  has  something  in  particular  to 
say  about  74  of  our  butterflies,  with  figures  illustrative  of 
many  of  them.  The  other  f  treats  in  the  fullest  possible 
manner  of  the  structure,  life-history,  distribution,  and  habits 
of  a  single  butterfly,  Anosia plexippus,  at  every  point  draw- 
ing comparisons  witli  others,  so  that  it  serves  in  a  measure 
as  a  popular  introduction  to  all. 

Finally,  attention  may  be  directed  to  three  or  four  works 
whicli  deal  almost  exclusively  with  thebutterfly  stage  and 
give  descriptions  either  of  all  our  known  species  or  of  all 
found  in  a  definite  portion  of  our  country.  The  first  I  pre- 
tends to  be  nothing  but  a  compilation  of  published  de- 
scriptions (many  of  them  translations  from  the  French) 
arranged  in  a  systematic  order,  pieceded  by  a  very  meagre 
key  to  the  genera.  It  contains  240  species,  but  is  now 
quite  out  of  date. 

The  second  §  is  an  original  systematic  description  of  the 

*  Butterflies  :  their  Structure,  Changes  and  Life-histories,  with  spe- 
cial reference  to  American  forms.  12mo.  New  York,  1881.  10 -f- 
323  pp.,  201  figs. 

fThe  Life  of  a  Butterfly.  16mo.  New  York,  1893.  186  pp.,  4 
plates. 

:j:  Synopsis  of  the  described  Lepidoptera  of  North  America,  Part  L 
Diurnal  and  Crepuscular  Lepidoptera.  Compiled  by  J.  G.  Morris. 
8vo.     Washington,  1862.     27  +  368  pp. 

§  The  Butterflies  of  the  Eastern  United  States,  for  the  use  of  classes 
in  zoology  and  private  students.  By  G.  H.  French.  12mo.  Phila- 
delphia, 1886.     402  pp.,  93  figs. 


SOME    WORKS  ON  AMEHICAN  BUTTERFLIES.       31 

butterflies  of  the  same  region  as  the  present  work,  but  in- 
cluding also  the  Southern  States  east  of  the  Mississippi. 
201  species  are  included  in  the  work,  w^hich  is  preceded  by 
an  analytical  key  for  the  determination  of  the  species,  but 
which  is  largely  based  on  color;  the  genera  are  now^here 
characterized  except  in  this  key,  and  there  too  vaguely  or 
scantily  to  be  of  much  assistance.  The  early  stages  are 
treatel  of  only  under  the  species,  the  descriptions  being 
compiled  and  condensed  from  preceding  writers. 

The  third  *  is  called  a  manual  and  covers  the  whole 
North  American  field  north  of  Mexico;  but  it  is  difficult 
to  understand  how  it  can  Avell  be  used  as  such,  as  it  con- 
sists of  bare  descriptions  of  the  species,  with  scarcely  the 
slightest  aid  to  discovering  the  genera;  consequently  one 
may  have  to  wade  through  the  whole  to  find  the  one  sought. 
Its  redeeming  features  are  the  cuts,  which,  though  very 
rude,  are  generally  confined  to  some  characteristic  part,  a 
single  wing  or  even  a  part  of  a  wing.  625  species  are 
given,  and  each  of  the  woodcuts  contains  several  figures. 
The  plates  are  exceedingly  poor.  No  attention  whatever 
is  paid  to  the  early  stages.  The  work  reflects  no  credit 
upon  the  author  beyond  his  industry.  Nor  does  an  earlier 
work,  by  the  same,t  on  New  England  butterflies,  in  which 
an  attempt  is  made  to  characterize  the  genera  and  higher 
groups  and  some  little  attention  is  given  to  the  caterpillars 
and  chrysalids;  for  the  work  is  so  filled  with  errors  as  to 
be  quite  untrustworthy,  and  the  figures  so  very  poor  as  to 
be  available  only  when  the  butterfly  has  little  resemblance 
to  any  other;  when  most  needed  they  are  of  least  use. 

The   histories  of   our   butterflies,   however,   are   by   no 


*A  Manual  of  North  American  Butterflies.  By  C.  J,  Maynard. 
8vo.     Boston,  1891.     4  +  226  pp.,  60  figs.,  10  pi. 

fThe  Butterflies  of  New  England.  4to.  Boston,  1886.  4  +  68 
pp.,  8  pi.  col. 


32  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

means  related  only  in  the  works  we  have  mentioned. 
Others  are  spread  broadcast  in  all  manner  of  places  and 
only  the  diligent  student  can  find  them.  The  greater  por- 
tion of  these  scattered  accounts  will  be  found  in  the  mis- 
cellaneous writings  of  Henry  Edwards,  W.  H.  Edwards, 
Fitch,  Fletcher,  Gosse,  Lintner,  Riley,  Saunders,  and 
Scudder;  and  are  particularly  to  be  looked  for  in  the  pages 
of  the  different  entomological  publications  of  our  country, 
past  and  present,  and  especially  in  the  "  Canadian  Ento- 
mologist," "  Psyche,"  and  "  Papilio." 


KEYS  TO   THE   VARIOUS  GROUPS.  33 


KEYS  TO  THE  VARIOUS  GROUPS. 

In"  using  the  following  keys  the  student  has  only  to  keep 
in  mind  three  points : 

1.  That  there  are  always  two  contrasting  alternates  to 
choose  from  (occasionally  three). 

2.  That  these  alternates  are  marked  by  similar  initial 
letters,  A,  B,  c,  d,  etc.,  and  by  similar  indentation  on  the 
page,  and  distinguished  by  superior  numerals.  A",  B^,  c^, 
etc. 

3.  That  the  contrasting  alternate  is  the  nearest  line  in 
the  same  set  which  begins  with  the  same  indentation  and 
the  same  initial  letter,  though  with  a  different  numeral. 

For  example,  in  the  first  table,  the  A'  on  p.  34  has  its 
alternate  A",  which  is  a  long  way  off  (on  p.  42),  but  is  never- 
theless the  next  line  beginning  with  an  A,  and  it  has  the 
same  indentation,  while  D'  on  p.  34  is  immediately  followed 
by  D'. 

When  alternates  relate,  one  or  the  other  or  both  of  them, 
to  tribes  or  higher  groups,  an  initial  capital  is  prefixed ; 
when  both  refer  to  genera,  or  pairs  of  genera,  a  small  letter 
is  prefixed.     The  final  terms  are  the  numbered  genera. 

For  the  explanation  of  the  numbered  veins  in  the  first 
table,  see  the  figure  on  p.  60. 


34  THE  COMMONER  BUTTEMFLIEa. 


Key  to  the  Groups,  Based  on  the  Perfect  Butterfly. 

A'.  Anteuiije  near  together  at  base,  less  tlian  half  as  far 

apart  as  the  height  of  the  eye,  the 
end  clubbed  but  not  hooked  ;  eyes 
with  no  overarching  pencil  of  bristles. 
B'.  Besting  on  four  legs  only,  the  fore  legs  being  un- 
used, much  shorter  than  the  others, 
without  claws  at  the  end,  and  folded 
against  the  breast. 

(Fam.  Brush-footed  Butterflies.) 
C\  None  of  the  veins  of  fore  wings  swollen  at  the 

base. 
D\  Antennae  without  any  scales. 

(Subfamily  Danaids.)   1.  Anosia. 
D^  Antennae  covered,  at  least  above,  with  numerous 

scales.   (Subfamily  Nymphs.) 

E'.  Club  of  antennae  short  and  stout,  three  or 
more  times  as  broad  as  the  stem, 
more  or  less  abruptly  thickened. 
W,  Naked  portion  of  club  of  antennae  with  only 
a  single  longitudinal  ridge  or  none. 
G\  Club  of  antenna3  about  three  or  four  times 
as  long  as  broad ;  palpi  slender,  com- 
pact, the  last  joint  from  one  third  to 
one  half  as  long  as  middle  joint. 

(Tribe  Crescent-Spots.) 

h\  Middle  joint  of  palpi  of  nearly  equal 

size  throughout ;  fore  tibia  of  male 

stout  and  swollen,  not  more  than  five 

or  six  times  longer  than  broad. 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— BUTTERFLY.  35 

i\  Outer  margin  of  fore  wing  scarcely 
shorter  than  the  hind  margin. 

2.  Eiqjhydryas. 

i\  Outer  margin  of  fore  wing  much 
shorter  than  the  hind  margin. 

3.  Cinclidia. 
h^  Middle  joint  of  palpi  tapering  consider- 
ably on  apical  half  ;  fore  tibia  of 
male  very  slender  and  of  equal  size 
throughout,  at  least  ten  times  longer 
than  broad. 

i\  Last  joint  of  palpi  nearly  half  as  long 
as  the  middle  joint  ;  fore  tibia  of 
male  much  shorter  than  the  femur. 

4.   Cliaridryas. 

i\  Last  joint  of  palpi  less  than  one  third 
as  long  as  the  middle  joint ;  fore 
tibia  of  male  scarcely  shorter  than 

the  femur 5.  Phyciodes. 

G^  Club  of  antennge  spoon-shaped,  about 
twice  as  long  as  broad ;  palpi  large 
and  bushy,  the  last  joint  extremely 

short (Tribe  Fritillaries.) 

h*.  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  arising  before  the 
end  of  the  cell. 

i\  Middle  joint  of  palpi  more  than  three 
fourths  longer  than  the  greatest 
length  of  the  eye 7.  Ai^gyimis. 

i^  Middle  joint  of  palpi  only  about  one 
fourth    longer    than    the    greatest 

length  of  the  eye 8.  Speyeria. 

h\  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  arising  beyond  the 
end  of  the  cell. 

i\  Curve  of  outer  margin  of  fore  wings 
opening  outwardly 6.  Brentliis. 


36  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

i\  Curve  of  outer  margin  of  fore  wings 
opening  inwardly   ...  .9.  Euptoieta. 
F\  Naked  portion  of  club  of  antennae  with  three 
distinct  lono-itudinal  ridges. 

(Tribe  Angle- Wings.) 

g\  Fore   wings   rounded    in    the   interspace 

between  2^  and  22- 

h\  Eyes  naked  ;  conspicuous  eye-like  spots 

on  fore  wings  above.  .  .10.  Junonia. 

h".  Eyes  hairy  ;    no    conspicuous  eye-like 

spots  on  upi^er  surface  of  fore  wings. 

11.   Vanessa, 
g\  Fore  wings  sharply  angulated  in  the  inter- 
space between  2j  and  2.^. 
h'.  Basal  three  fifths  of  hind  wings  uni- 
formly dark  above ;  no  silvery  comma 
in  middle  of  hind  wings  beneath. 
i\  Hinds  wings  without  spinous  hairs  on 

under  surface 12.  Aglais. 

i^  Hind  wings  with  numerous  straight 
spinous  hairs  beneath. 

13.  Euvanessa. 

h\  Basal  three  fifths  of  hind  wings  above 

more   or   less   spotted   with  black; 

centre  of  hind  wings  beneath  with  a 

white  or  silvery  comma-like  mark. 

i\  Hind  border  of  fore  wings  straight. 

14.  Eiigonia. 
i\  Hind  border  of  fore  wings  strongly 

sinuous 15.  Polygonia. 

E\  Club   of   antennae  long  and  slender,  hardly 

more  than  twice  as  broad  as  the  stem, 

gradually  thickened. 

F\  Club  of  antennae   with    four   longitudinal 

ridges  on  naked  portion  ;  vein  0  of 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— BUTTERFLY.  37 

liind  wings  arising  opposite  the  part- 
ing of  veins  1  and  2. 
(Tribe  Sovereigns.)  16.  Basilarchia. 
'¥\  Club  of  antenna3  with  three  longitudinal 
ridges  on  naked  portion  ;  vein  0  of 
hind  wings  arising  beyond  the  part- 
ing of  veins  1  and  2. 

(Tribe  Emperors.) 
g\  Antennae  fully  as  long  as  the  width  of  the 

fore  wings 18.  Chlorippe. 

g\  x\ntenn9e  much  shorter  than  the  width  of 

the  fore  wings 17.  Anma. 

C\  Some  of  the  veins  of  the  fore  Avings  swollen  at  the 

base. 

(Subfam.  Satyrs  or  Meadow-Browns.) 
d'.  Antennae  gradually  thickened  from  just  beyond 

the  middle 19.  Cissia, 

d'.  Antennas  gradually  thickened  only  on  the  apical 

third  or  fourth, 
e'.  Eyes  hairy. 

f.  Tibial  spines  of  middle  legs  very  numerous; 
antennae  composed  of  less  than  36 

joints   20.  Satyr  odes. 

f".  Tibial  spines  of  middle  legs  infrequent;  an- 
tennae  composed   of  more   than  40 

joints 21.  Enoclia. 

e'.  Eyes  naked 22.  Cercyonis. 

B^  Resting  on  six  legs,  the  fore  legs,  however,  some- 
times a  little  shorter  and  with  dimin- 
ished armature,  at  least  in  the  male. 
C.  Of  small  size.     Face  between  eves  much  narrower 

than   high ;    eyes    notched   to  give 
room  for  the  antennae. 
(Fam.  Gossamer-winged  Butterflies.) 
P\  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  simple;  under  side  of  hind 


38  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

wings    generally    with    continuous 
markings. . . .  (Tribe  Hair-Streaks.) 
e\  Hind  wings  without  thread-l?ke  tails. 

i\  Hind  wings  of  very  different  shape  in  the  two 
sexes,   the  outer  border  not  crenu- 

late 23.  Strymon. 

f .  Hind  wings  of  similar  form  in  the  two  sexes, 
the  outer  border  crenulate. 

24.  Licisalia. 
e\  Hind  wings  with  one  or  two  thread-like  tails, 
f '.  Interspace  of  hind  wings  between  veins  4  and 
5  apically  lobed ;  male  with  no  stigma 

on  fore  wing 25.  Ura^iotes. 

t\  Interspace  of  hind  wings  between  veins  4  and 

5  not  produced  ;  male  with  stigma 

on  fore  wing  above. 

g\  Club  of  antennae  comparatively  short  and 

stout,   only   five   times   as   long   as 

broad 2G.  Mitura. 

g".  Club  of  antennae  comparatively  long  and 
slender,  eight  times  as  long  as  broad. 

27.  Theda. 
D\  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  forked;  under  side  of  hind 

wings  generally  with  discontinuous 
markings. 
E'.  Spines  on  under  side  of  tarsi  comparatively 
few  and  ranged  in  pretty  regular  se- 
ries; colors  of  upper  surface  usually 
more  or  less  violet  and  dark  brown. 

(Tribe  Blues.) 
f '.  Hind  wings  with  thread-like  tails.  28.  Everes. 

f ^  Hind  Avings  without  tails 29.  Cyaniris. 

E\  Spines  on  under  side  of  tarsi  numerous  and 
clustered  irregularly  at  the  sides  ; 
colors  of  upper  surface  more  or  less 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS-BUTTERFLY.  39 

coppery  or  fulvous  and  dark  brown. 

(Tribe  Coppers.) 
f^  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  arising  at  the  tip  of  the 
cell. 
g\  First  joint  of  middle  and  hind  tarsi  not 
greatly  enlarged   in   male  ;  ground 
color  of  upper  surface  of  fore  and 
hind  wings  the  same,  or  different 
only  in  the  female, 
h^  Fore  tarsi  of  male  Jointed;  ground  color 
of  upper  surface  of  fore  and  hind 
wings  in  the  female  different. 

30.   Clirysoplianus, 
\C.  Fore  tarsi  of  male  not  jointed;  ground 
color  of  upper  surface  of  all  wings  the 
same  in  the  female. .  .31.  Ejndemia. 
g^  First  joint  of  middle  and  hind  tarsi  of 
male  twice  as  stout  as  rest  of  tar- 
sus; ground  color  of  all  wings  above 
the  same  in  both  sexes . .  32.  Heodes. 
r.  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  arising  far  beyond  the 

tip  of  the  cell 33.  Feniseca. 

C".  Of  medium  or  large  size,  rarely  small.  Face  be- 
tween eyes  as  broad  as  high  ;  eyes 
not  notched  next  the  base  of  the 
antenna. 

(Family  Tyj^ical  Butterflies.) 
D'.  Antennae  straight ;  vein  3   of  fore  wings  w^ith 

three  branches;  each  claw  bifid. 

(Subfamily  Pierids.) 
E'.  Antennas  generally  very  gradually  increasing 
in  size  to  form  the  club;  palpi  stout, 
the  last  joint  short. 

(Tribe  Yellows  or  Red-Horns.) 


40  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

i\  Club     of      antennae     cylindrical,     broadly 
rounded  at  tip. 
g\  Middle   joint  of   j^^ljn   but  little  longer 

than  broad 34.   Callidryas. 

g^  Middle  joint  of  paljii  fully  twice  as  long 
as  l)road. 
\i\  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  arising  at  the  tip 
of    the  cell  ;    front  margin  of  fore 
wings  very  strongly  arched. 

35.  Zereiie. 

h^  Vein  2^   of  fore  wings  arising  beyond 

the  tip  of  the  cell  ;  front  margin  of 

fore  wings  only  moderately  arched. 

36.  Eiirymus. 

f.  Club  of    antennse   distinctly  flattened,  the 

last  joint  more  or  less  pointed. 

g\  Club  of  antennce  very   gradually  formed 

and  several  times  longer  than  broad. 

\\\  Hind  femora  only  about  three  fifths  as 

long  as  the  middle  femora. 

37.  Xantliidia. 
li\  Hind   femora   about   three  fourths  as 
long  as  the  middle  femora. 

38.  Eurema, 
g\  Club  of  antennae  abruptly  formed,  hardly 
more  than  twice  as  long  as  broad. 

39.  Nathalis. 
E\  Antennae    with   an   abrupt    broad    flattened 
club;   palpi  slender,   the  last  joint 
about  as  long  as  the  middle  joint. 
F'.  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  forked  near  the  mid- 
dle ;     middle    tibiag    shorter    than 

femora (Tribe 

Orange  Tips.)  40.  Anfliocliaris, 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— BUTTERFLY.  41 

r\  Vein  2^  of  fore  wings  forked  only  at  the 
tip ;  middle  tibi^  at  least  as  long  as 
the  femora.  (Tribe  Whites.) 

g\  Vein  V  of  fore  wings  arising  at  or  beyond 
the  tip  of  the  cell ;  fore  tibiae  very 
much  shorter  than  middle  tibiae. 

41.  Pontia. 
g'  Vein  2^  of  fore   wings  arising   distinctly 
before  the  tip  of  the  cell;  fore  and 
middle  tibiss  of  equal  length. 

42.  Pieris. 
I)^  Antennae  more  or  less  arched;    vein  3  of  fore 

wings    with    four    branches;     each 
claw  simple. 

(Subfamily  Swallow-Tails.) 
e'.  Club  of  antennae  nearly  straight,  almost  im- 
perceptibly  upcurved  ;  i\])  of  abdo- 
men almost  reaching  emargination 

of  hind  wings 43.  Laertias. 

e'".  Club  of  antennae  curved  strongly  upward 
throughout;  tip  of  abdomen  not 
nearly  reaching  emargination  of 
hind  wings, 
i\  Club  of  antennae  relatively  short;  hind 
wings,  exclusive  of  tails,  nearly 
twice  as  long  as  broad. 

44.  Ipliidides. 

f\  Club    of    antennae    relatively   long ;    hind 

wings,  exclusive  of  tails,  hardly  more 

than  half  as  long  again  as  broad. 

g'.  Fore    tibiae    decidedly    shorter  than  the 

tarsi;  tails  of  hind  wings  broadened 

at  the  end. 

h\  Vein  4  of  hind  wings  nearly  straight; 

vein  2^  of  fore  wings  arising  at  about 


42  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

oue  third  the  distance  from  the  tip 
of  the  cell  to  the  apex  of  the  w'ing. 

i'.  Vein  closing  the  cell  of  hind  wings 
and  connecting  veins  2  and  3  not 
much  shorter  than  the  short  vein 
above  it  ;  no  transverse  stri2:)es  on 
upper  side  of  fore  wings. 

45.  Ja^oniades. 

i^.  Vein  closing  the  cell  of  hind  wings 
and  connecting  veins  2  and  3  less 
than  half  as  long  as  the  short  vein 
above  it ;  transverse  stripes  on  upper 
side  of  fore  wings .  . .  4G.  Euphoeades. 
h^  Vein  4  of  hind  wings  strongly  sinuous; 
vein  2*  of  fore  wings  arising  at  much 
less  than  one  third  the  distance  from 
the  tip  of  the  cell  to  the  apex  of  the 

wing 47.  HeracUdes. 

g\  Fore  tibiae  decidedly  longer  than  the 
tarsi;  tails  of  hind  wings  not  broad- 
ened at  the  end 48.  Paj^ilio. 

A".  Antennae  distant  at  base,  more  than  half  as  far  aj^art 

as  the  height  of  the  eye,  the  tip  of 
the  club  more  or  less  distinctly 
pointed  and  recurved;  eyes  usually 
overhung  next  antennae  with  a  curv- 
ing pencil  of  bristly  hairs. 

(Family  Skippers.) 
B'.  Eecurved  part  of  antennal  club  nearly  or  quite  as 

long  as  the  thicker  part;  abdomen 
generally    shorter    than    the    hind 

wings (Tribe  Larger  Skippers.) 

c'.  Hind  wings  tailed  or  distinctly  angulate  at  the  tip 

of  vein  4;  vein  3*  arising  hardly  or 
no  nearer  the  base  of  the  hind  wing 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS-BUTTERFLY.  43 

than  2';  club  of  antennae  abruptly- 
bent  in  the  mirldle. 
d^  Hind  wings  Avith  a  distinct  tail  or  tooth  at  ti^o  of 

vein  4 49.  Epargyreus. 

d'.  Hind  wings  merely  broadly  angulate  at  tip  of 

vein  4 50.   Tlioryhes. 

c\  Hind  wings  regularly  rounded  at  tij)  of  vein  4  as 

elsewhere;    vein    3'   arising    much 

nearer  the  base  of  the  wing  than  2'; 

club  of  antennae  curved  throughout. 

d\  Club  of  antennae  generally  ending  in  a  long-drawn 

point;  if  not,  the  antennae  half  as 

long  as  the  fore  wing.  .51.  Tlianaos. 

d'.  Club  of   antennae  tapering  but  little  on  apical 

half,  the  tip  bluntly  pointed,  the 
whole  antenna  less  than  half  as  long 
as  the  fore  wing, 
e'.  Club  of  antennae  six  or  seven  times  as  long  as 
broad,  tapering  from  the  middle 
equally  in  both  directions. 

52.  PlioUsora, 

e^  Club  of  antennae  not  more  than  four  or  five 

times  as  long  as  broad,  tapering  more 

rapidly  from  the  middle  toward  the 

tip  than  in  the  opposite  direction. 

53.  Ilesperia. 
B^   Recurved  part  of  antennal  club  brief  as  compared 

with  the  thicker  part,  occasionally 
absent ;  abdomen  reaching  to  or  be- 
yond the  outer  margin  of  the  hind 

Aving (Tribe  Smaller  Ski^jpers.) 

c'.  Club  of  antennae  with  no  apical  hook. 

54.  Ancyloxipha. 
c^  Club  of   antennae  with  a  distinct,  though  some- 
times slight,  apical  hook. 


44  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFIJK8. 

d'.  Hind  tarsi  shorter  than,  though  sometimes  nearly 

equal  in  length  to,  the  middle  tarsi, 
e'.  Hook  of  antennal  club  as  long  as  the  width  of 

the  club 55.  At ry tone. 

e"*.  Hook  of  antennal  club  shorter,  generally  much 

shorter,  than  the  width  of  the  club. 

i\  Cell  of  fore  wings  two  thirds  as  long  as  the 

wing 5G.  Ery nnis. 

f\   Cell  of  fore  wings  only  about  three  fifths  as 
long  as  the  wing. 
g\  First  joint  of  palpi  greatly  expanded  at 
tip;  middle  and  hind  tibiae  conspic- 
uously spined  on  the  upper  surface 

as  elsewhere 57.  Antkomaste?\ 

g'.  First  joint  of  palpi  not  expanded  at  tip; 
middle  and  hind  tibiae  with  no  con- 
spicuous spines  on  upper  surface. 

58.  Polites. 
d\  Hind  tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  tarsi. 

e\  Cell  of  fore  wings  only  three  fifths  as  long  as 

the  wing 59.  Thymelicus. 

e^   Cell  of  fore  wings  nearly  two  thirds  as  long  as 
the  wing 60.  Limocliores. 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— CATERPILLAR.  4o 


Key  to  the  Groups,  based  ok  the  Caterpillar. 

A\  Head  and  body  not  separated  by  a  strongly  and  ab- 
ruptly strangled  neck. 
B\  Body  generally  covered  with  spines;  when  naked  or 

merely  covered  with  pile,  either  the 
head  is  tubercnlate,  or  the  last  seg- 
"  ment  ends  in  a  fork,  or  the  body 
joints  are  crossed  by  not  more  than 
three  creases. 

(Family  Brush-footed  Butterflies.) 
C\  Last  segment  entire,  rounded. 
D\  Body  with  no  spines. 

e\  Body  furnished  with  a  few  long  fleshy  fila- 
ments. 

(Subfamily  Danaids.)     1.  Anosia. 

e'.  Body  covered  with  pile  only 17.  Anwa. 

W,  Body  covered  with  spines. 

(Most  of  Subfamily  Nymphs.) 
E'.  Body  uniform,  with  uniform  series  of  taper- 
ing spines. 
F'.  Spines  more  like  tubercles,  leathery,  not 
horny,  their  sides  crowded  with 
needles,  no  one  at  tip  distinguished 
from  the  others. 

(Tribe  Crescent-Spots.) 
g'.  Body  distinctly  tapering  in  front,  cross- 
striped   on   all   but   the  front   seg- 
ments. 


46  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

\\\  A  tubercle  just  below  the  spiracle-line 
on  the  third  thoracic  segment.* 

2.  Euphych^yas. 
h^  No  tubercle  just  below  the  spiracle-line 
on  the  third  thoracic  segment. 

3.  Cinclidia. 
g\  Body  scarcely  tapering  in    front,  striped 
longitudinally. 
h\  Tubercles  slender,  tapering  but  little, 
three  times  as  high  as  broad. 

4.  Charidryas. 
h."  Tubercles  stout,  conical,  less  than  twice 

as  high  as  broad 5.  Pliyciodes. 

r\  Spines  horny,  their  sides  supporting  scat- 
tered needles,  one  at  tip  crowning 
the  whole. 
G\  No  spines  along  the  middle  line  of  the 

back (Tribe  Fritillaries.) 

h\  Spines  only  about  half  as  long  as  the 

joints  of  the  body G.  Breniliis, 

h^.  Spines  fully  as  long  as  the  joints  of  the 
body, 
i*.  All  the  sjiines  of  upper  row  equal  or 
subequal  and  like  the  rest. 

7.  Argynnis, 
i^  Most   of    the   upper    spines    of    ab- 
dominal  segments    a   little    longer 
than    the   rest,    the    others    nearly 

equal 8.  Speyeria. 

i^  Upper  spines  of  first  thoracic  segment 
longer  than  the  rest  and  distinctly 
enlarged  at  tip,  the  others  equal. 

9.  Euptoieta. 

*  There  is  of  course  no  spiracle  on  this  segment  ;  the  spiracle-line 
may  be  determined  by  comparing  those  of  the  segments  next  suc- 
ceeding. 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— CATERPILLAR.  47 

G\  Some  spines  on  the  middle  line  of  the 
back,  especially  on  the  seventh  or 
eighth  abdominal  segment. 

(Tribe  Angle-Wings.) 

h^  Head  with  no  conspicuous  spines  above. 

i'.  Second    abdominal   segment   with   a 

spine  on  the  middle  line  of  the  back. 

j'.  First   abdominal   segment   with   a 

similar  spine 11.    Vanessa. 

j\  First  abdominal  segment  with   no 

similar  spine 12.  Aglais. 

i".  Second  abdominal  segment  with   no 
spine  on  middle  line  above. 

13.  Euvanessa. 

h'.  Head  crowned  with  prominent  spines. 

i'.  Spinules  of  body  spines  not  arranged 

in  a  stellate  manner. 

j'.  Spines  of  thoracic   segments  with 

spinules  throughout.  ..10.  Junonia. 

j^  Spines  of  thoracic  segments  with  no 

spinules  on  basal  half.  14.  Eugonia. 

i^  Spinules  of  body  spines  arranged  in  a 

stellate  manner 15.  Polygonia. 

W,   Body   hunched,   with    irregularly-developed 
series  of  tubercles. 
(Tribe  Sovereigns.)  16.  Basilarcliia. 
C^  Last  segment  bifurcate. 

D\  Head  crowned  by  a  branching  appendage. 

18.   Cliloriiype. 
D^  No  coronal  spines,  or  else  simple  ones  on  the 

head. 

(Subfam.  Satyrs  or  Meadow-Browns.) 
e\  Head  with  coronal  spines  or  tubercles. 
V.  Coronal  spines  slight  and  inconspicuous. 

19.  Cissia, 
f\  Coronal  spines  nearly  as  long  as  the  head. 


48  THE  COMMONER  BUTTEUFLIES. 

g\  Head  sleuder  and,  including  the  spines, 
twice  as  high  as  broad. 

20.  Satyrodes. 

g'.  Head  stout  and,  inchiding  the  spines,  half 

as  high  again  as  broad.. 21.  Enodia. 

e'.  Head  uniformly  rounded  above  22.  Cercyonis, 

B\  Body  never  furnished  with  spines;  the  joints  crossed 

by  more  than  three  creases,  the  last 
joint  never  forked. 
C*.  Body   oval   and    slug-shaped,   flattened   beneath, 

rarely  almost  cylindrical,  with  very 
small  head. 

(Fam.  Gossamer-winged  Butterflies.) 
D'.  Head  not  one  fourth,  sometimes  not  one  sixth, 

the  width  of  the  body;  dorsal  shield 
behind  head  wanting  or  covered  with 
hairs  like  the  parts  about  it. 

(Tribe  Blues.) 
e\  Last  segment  of  body  broad  and  greatly  flat- 
tened   28.  Everes. 

e\  Last  segment  of  body  comparatively  slender 

and  less  flattened 29.  Cyaniris. 

D\  Head  generally  at  least  one  third  the  width  of 

the  body;  dorsal  shield  behind  head 
distinct  and  naked  or  covered  with 
many  fewer  hairs  than  the  parts 
about  it. 
E\  Segments  of  body  highest  next  hind  edge,  or 
at  least  with  the  hinder  slope  the 
more  abrupt.  Head  capable  of  im- 
mense extension. 

(Tribe  Hair-Streaks.*) 


*  The  genera  of  this  group  are  not  sufficiently  known  to  give  a 
key  to  them. 


^12 


KE7  TO   TUB  GROUPS— CATERPILLAR.  49 

E\  Segments  of  body  highest  next  front  edge,  or 
with  the  front  sloj^e  the  more  abrupt. 
Head  not  capable  of  special  extension . 
i\  Body  flattened,  covered  with  short  hairs 
uniformly  distributed.  30.  Cliryso- 
2)]ianus.    31.  Eindemia.    32.  Heocles. 

r.  Body  hardly   flattened,  covered  with   long 
hairs  arranged  in  transverse  masses. 

33.  Feniseca, 
.  Body  cylindrical  or  enlarged  in  front,  with  head  of 

ordinary  size. 

(Family  Typical  Butterflies.) 
D\  Back  of  head  descending  from  summit  ;  body 

with  numerous  papillae  and  no  scent- 
organs (Subfamily  Pierids.) 

W,  Papilla  (supporting   hairs)    nearly  equal    in 
size,  or  if  not,  the  larger   ones  are 
numerous    and   distinctly   arranged 
in  transverse  and  not   longitudinal 
series   on   the  abdominal  segments. 
(Tribe  Yellows  or  Red -Horns.) 
f.  No  anterior  process   on  first   thoracic   seg- 
ment, above. 
g\  Papillae  (supporting  hairs)  elevated,  dis- 
tinctly higher  than  broad. 
h\  Papillae  of    two   sizes,  the   larger    ar- 
ranged in  definite  transverse  rows. 

34.  CalUdri/as. 
h'.  Papillse  of  nearly  uniform  size  with  no 
definite  transverse  arrangement. 
i\  Largest  papillse  on  head  larger  than 

largest  ocelli 37.  Xanthidia. 

i'.  Largest  papillse  on  head  smaller  than 
largest  ocelli   38.  Eurema, 


50  2 HE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

g^  Papillae  (supporting  hairs)  mere  raised 
points,  not  distinctly  higher  than 
broad. 
h\  A  shining  lenticle  just  above  the  spir- 
acle-line on  second  and  third  tho- 
racic segments 35.  Zerene. 

h^  No  shining  lenticle  just  above  the  spir- 
acle-line   36.  Eurymus. 

r.  A  pair  of  anterior  processes  on  first  thoracic 

segment  above 39.  Nathalis. 

E'.  Papillae  (supporting  hairs)  of  unequal  size, 
the  larger  arranged  in  longitudinal 
as  well  as  sometimes  in  transverse 
series  on  the  abdominal  segments. 
F'.  Body  slender  ;  head  much  broader  than 
high. 

(Tr.  Orange  Tips.)   40.  Antliocliaris. 

F*.  Body  less  slender  ;   head   scarcely  or  not 

broader  than  high . .  (Tribe  Whites.) 

g\  Larger  hair- bearing  papillae  broader  than 

high 41.  Pontia. 

g^  Larger  hair-bearing  papillae  higher  than 

broad 42.  Pieris. 

D^  Back  of  head  with  no  descent    from  summit; 

body  almost  naked,  with  exceedingly 
few  papillae  and  with  scent-organs 
which  can  be  thrust  out  of  the  seg- 
ment behind  the  head. 

(Subfamily  Swallow-Tails.) 
e\  Body  with  long  fleshy  filaments  on  the  sides. 

43.  Laertias. 
e\  Body  with  no  permanent  fleshy  filaments. 
i\  Hinder  thoracic  segments  noticeably  larger 
than  the  next  succeeding  segments. 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— CATEHPILLAR.  51 

g\  Third  thoracic  segment  with  no  transverse 
ridge  above. 
h\  Middle  of  third  thoracic  segment  with- 
out markings   44.  Iphiclides. 

h^  Middle  of  third  thoracic  segment  with 
a  }3air  of  eye-like  spots. 
i\  First    abdominal    segment   with    no 
large  bright  patches  above. 

45.  Jasoniades, 
i^  First  abdominal  segment  with  a  pair 

of   bright   patches  above,  nearly  as 
large  as  the  eye-like  spots  in  front. 

46.  Eiqjliceades. 
g\  Third  thoracic   segment   with    a   trans- 
verse dorsal  ridge ...  47.  Heraclides. 

r.  Hinder   thoracic   segments   scarcely   larger 
than  the  succeeding  segments. 

48.  Papilio. 
A^  Head  and  body  separated  by  a  strongly  and  abruptly 

strangled  neck . .  (Family  Skippers.) 
B'.  Body  comparatively  stout  ;    upper  half  of  head  as 

seen  from  in  front  rounded  or  quad- 
rangular. . .  (Tribe  Larger  Skippers.) 
c\  Head  at  least  as  high  as  broad,  the  highest  point  of 

each   hemisphere   lying  within   the 
middle    line   of    that    hemisphere; 
dorsal  shield  obvious. 
d\  Papillae  of  body  inconspicuous  except  from  col- 
oring,   49.  E'pargyreus. 

d^  Papillae  of  body  conspicuous,  giving  a  granulat- 
ed appearance 50.   Thoryhes. 

c\  Head  distinctly  broader   than  high,  the   highest 

point  of  each  hemisphere  at  or  out- 
side the  middle  line  of  that  hemi- 


52  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

sphere:  dorsal  shield  inconspicuous 
except  sometimes  at  hinder  edge. 
d\  Head  as  seen  from  in  front  angulated  at  upper 

outer  corners  ;  hairs  of  head  simple. 

51.   TlianaoH. 
d^  Head  regularly  rounded  at  upper  outer  corners; 

hairs  of  head  branching. 
e\  None   of   the   hairs   on    abdominal   segments 
longer  than  the  shorter  sections  of 

those  segments 52.  Pliolisora. 

e\  Among  the  hairs  on  abdominal  segments  are 
some  serially  arranged  which  are 
much   longer   than  the   sections  of 

those  segments 53,  Ilesperia, 

B^  Body  very  elongated  ;   upper  half  of  head  as  seen 

from  in  front  tapering  above. 

(Tribe  Smaller  Skippers.) 
c\  Head   pyramidal,  much   higher   than   broad,  the 

front  facing  upward  when  at  rest. 

54.  Ancyloxipha. 
c\  Head  more  or  less  rounded,  the  front  facing  for- 
ward when  at  rest. 

[The  further  analysis  of  the  genera  of  Smaller  Skippers 
can  hardly  be  attempted  with  our  present  slight  informa- 
tion about  them.] 


KEY  TO  THE  GROUPS-CHRYSALIS,  53 


Key  to  the  Groups,  based  ox  the  Chrysalis. 

A'.  More  or  less  augulated  or  with  j^i'ojectiiig  shoulders, 

or  if  smooth  and  rounded,  then  very 
short  and  stout,  the  thoracic  spiracle 
inconspicuous.     Not  concealed  in  a 
cocoon. 
B\  Hanging  by  the  tail  only,  or  else  with  no  hooks  at 

the  tail  to  hang  by. 
(Family    Brush-footed    Butterflies.) 
C\  AVith  generally  numerous  conspicuous  prominences. 

(Subfamily  Nymj^hs.) 
D'.  Head  forming  a  single  mass  w4th  the  thorax. 

(Tribe  Crescent-Spots.) 
q\  a  tubercle  on  second  abdominal  segment  just 
above  the  spiracle-line. 
i\  Tubercles    of    eighth    abdominal    segment 
nearly  as  prominent  as  on  the  pre- 
ceding segment 2.  Eupliydryas, 

f\  No  distinct  tubercles,  but  only  dark  sjDots 
on  eighth  abdominal  segment. 

3.   Cindidia. 

e\  No  tubercle  just  above  spiracle-line  on  second 

abdominal  segment. 

f '.  No  distinct  ridge  uniting  tubercles  of  fourth 

abdominal  segment.  .4.   Cliaridryas. 

f.  A  distinct  ridge  uniting  tubercles  of  fourth 

abdominal  segment. .  .5.  Phyciodes. 

D'.  Head    projecting    independently     beyond    the 

thorax. 


54  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

E'.  Base  of  wings  marked  by  a  pair  of  tubercles. 
F'.  Tail-jiiece  short  and  stout. 

(Tribe  Fritillaries.) 
g\  Upper  row  of  tubercles  on  abdominal  seg- 
ments distinctly  unequal  in  size. 

6.  Brentliis, 
g^  Upper  row  of  tubercles  on  abdominal  seg- 
ments equal  in  size, 
h'.  Front   of   head   between    the    smooth 
crescents  tuberculate  at  the  side. 

7.  Argynnis.     8.  Speyeria. 
h^  Front   of    head   between    the   smooth 
crescents  regularly  arched. 

9.  Eu]}toieta, 
F^  Tail-piece     long,    slender,     and    tapering. 

(Tribe  Angle- Wings.) 
g\  Ocellar  tubercles  blunt  and  rounded, 
h'.  Ridge  following  upper  margin  of  wings 
blunt,  the  dentations  rounded. 

10.  Junonia. 
h^  Ridge  following  ui)per  margin  of  wings 

sharp,  the  dentations  pointed. 

11.  Vanessa. 
g^  Ocellar  tubercles  pointed. 

h^  No  tubercle  on  middle  line  of  second 
abdominal  segment. .  13.  Euvanessa. 
h*.  A   small   tubercle   ou   middle   line   of 
second  abdominal  segment. 
i\  Middle  prominence  of  thorax  moder- 
ate, almost  uniformly  tectate. 

12.  Aglais. 
r.  Middle  prominence  of   thorax   large 
and  compressed,  at  least  at  ti]3. 
j'.  Tubercle  just  above  spiracle-line  on 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— CHRYSALIS,  5o 

eighth  abdominal  segment  scarcely 

perceptible 14.  Eiujonia. 

j^  Tubercle  just  above  spiracle-line  on 
eighth  abdominal   segment   minute 

but  distinct 15.  Polygonia. 

E^  Base  of  wings  marked  by  only  a  single  tuber- 
cle. 
F'.  Middle  prominence  of  thorax  very  high  and 
strongly  compressed. 
(Tribe  Sovereigns.)  16.  Basilarchia. 
F\  Middle  prominence  of  thorax  not   highly 

developed (Tribe  Emperors.) 

g\  Abdomen  transversely  ridged  on  the 
fourth  segment,  with  no  longitudinal 

ridge 17.  Ancea, 

g^.  Abdomen  longitudinally  ridged  along  the 
middle  of  the  back,  with  no  trans- 
verse ridge 18.  Clilorippe, 

C\  With  no  conspicuous  prominences. 

D'.  Back   of  abdomen  with  a  transverse  series  of 

tubercles. 

(Subfamily   Danaids.)       1.  Anosia. 
D\  Back  of  abdomen  with  no  transverse  series  of 

tubercles. 

(Subfam.  Satyrs  or  Meadow-Browns.) 
e'.  Front  and  lower  planes  of  head  forming  less 
than  a  right  angle. 
t\  Abdomen  with  a  pair  of  distinct  longitudi- 
nal ridges 19.  Cissia. 

f^  Abdomen  with  no  longitudinal  ridges. 
g\  Abdomen  beyond  tip  of  wings  as  long  as 

the  wings 20.  Satyrodes. 

g^  Abdomen  beyond  tip  of  wings  shorter 
than  the  wings 21.  Enodia. 


56  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

e^  Front  and  lower  planes  of  head  not  forming 
less  than  a  right  angle. 

22.  Cercyonis. 
B\  Fastened  aronnd  the  middle  by  a  silken  sling  as  well 

as  by  the  tail. 
C\  Body    stont,    short,    and    with     all     j^i'^j^^tions 

rounded,    the    front     end     broadly 
rounded. 

(Fam.  Gossamer-winged  Butterflies.) 
\)\  llair-like   appendages   of   the  skin  cylindrical, 

pointed,  or  else  stellate  at  tip. 
E'.  These   appendages  tapering  only  at  tip,  the 
abdomen  rarely  more   than  half  as 
long  again  as  broad. 

(Tribe  Ilair-Streaks.*) 
f^  A  delicate  ridge  along  middle  of  thorax. 

24.  Incisalia. 
f .  No  distinct  ridge  along  middle  of  thorax. 
g\  Abdomen  much  wider  than  thorax. 

h\  Longest  hairs   nearly  half   as  loug  as 
segments  of  abdomen. .  25.   Uranotes. 

h^  Longest  hairs  not  one  fourth  the  length 
of  abdominal  segments.  26.  Mitura. 
g*.  Abdomen  scarcely  wider  than  thorax. 

27.   Thecla. 
E^  These   a2'>pendages   tapering    throughout   or 
stellate  at  tip,  the  abdomen  gener- 
ally almost  twice  as  long  as  broad. 

(Tribe  Blues.) 
f*.  Body  much  more  than  three  times  as  long 

as  broad 28.  Everes. 

V.  Body  much  le?s  than  three  times  as  long  as 
broad 29.   Cyaniris. 

*  Chrysalis  of  Stryinon  not  examined. 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS-CHRYSALIS.  57 

D^  Hair-like  aj^j^endages  of  the  skin  short,  mush- 
room-shaped   (Tribe  Coppers.*) 

e\  Abdomen  rounded,  the  last  segments  not  sepa- 
rately protuberant, 
f '.  Only  the  lower  half  of  ninth  abdominal  seg- 
ment sloping  forward. 

30.  Cliryso])lianus. 
f^  The   whole    of    ninth    abdominal   segment 

sloping  forward 32.  Heodes. 

e\  Abdomen    with    irregular    surface,    the    hind 
segments  protruding  and  expanded. 

33.  Feniseca. 
C\  Body  elongate  with  angular  projections,  the  front 

with  one  or  two  projecting  tubercles. 
W.  Front  end  with  a  single  conical  j^rojection  or 

rounded  prominence. 

(Subfamily  Pierids.) 
E\  Wing-cases  distinctly  protuberant  below  the 
general  under  surface  of  the  body. 
r\  The  head  well  distinguished  from  the  frontal 
projection. 

(Tribe  Yellows  or  Eed  Horns.)  f 

g'.  Ventral  protuberance  of  wings  doubling 

the  depth  of  the  body. 

\\\  Fourth     abdominal    segment    with    a 

distinct  sharp  ridge  along  the  sides. 

34.   Callidryas. 
li\  Fourth    abdominal    segment    with   no 

distinct  ridge 37.  Xantliidea. 

g\    Ventral     protuberance     of     wings     not 
doubling  the  depth  of  the  body, 
h'.  Frontal  process  slender,  acuminate. 

38.  Eurema. 

*  Chrysalis  of  Epidemia  unknown, 
f  Excepting  Natlialis. 


58  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

h^  Frontal  process  blunt,  angulate. 

35.  Zerene.     36.  Eurymus. 
F".  Head  insensibly  merging  into  the  frontal 
process. 
G'.  Head  with  no  marked  projection. 

39.  Nathalis, 

G".  Head  with  an   excessively  long  frontal 

projection. 

(Tribe  Orange  Tips.)     40.  Anthocharis, 

W,  A¥ing-cases   scarcely   protuberant   below   the 

general  under  surface  of  the  body. 

(Tribe  Whites.) 
f '.  Frontal  process  stout,  no  longer  than  broad. 

41.  Pontia. 
i\  Frontal  process  slender,  very  much  longer 

than  broad 42.  Fieris, 

'D\  Front  end  with  two  projecting  tubercles. 

(Subfamily  S wallow-Tails.) 
e\  Surface  of  body  except  the  large  projections 
tolerably  smooth, 
f.  Distinct  ridges  along  the  sides  of  abdomen 

above. 
g\  Abdomen  greatly  expanded  next  the  base. 

43.  Laertias. 
g\  Abdomen  gently  enlarged  in  the  middle. 

44.  I^jhidides. 
t\  No  ridges  along  sides  of  abdomen  above. 

46.  Etijiliaeades. 
e\  Surface  of  body  very  much  roughened. 

i\  Under   surface  of  body,  as  seen  from  the 

side,  hardly  bent.  . .  45.  Jasoniades. 

i\  Under   surface  of  body,  as  seen  from  the 

side,  strongly  bent. 

g'.  Base  of  antennae  with  a  distinct  tubercle. 

47.  Heraclides, 


KEY  TO   THE  GROUPS— CHRYSALIS.  59 

g^  Base  of  antennas  with  no  tubercle. 

48.  Papilio. 
A\  Smooth  and  rounded,  elongate,  the  thoracic  spiracle 

conspicuous.      Concealed   in   a   co- 
coon   (Family  Skipjiers.) 

B'.  Tongue-case   not   free,  not    extending   beyond   the 

wings (Tribe  Larger  Skippers.) 

c'.  Abdomen  exclusive  of  tail-piece  no  longer  than  the 

rest  of  the  body. 
d\  Thoracic    spiracle   with    no   posterior   elevated 

flaring  lip 49.  Eparcjyreus, 

d\  Thoracic  spiracle  with  a  posterior  elevated  flar- 
ing lip 50.   Thonjhes, 

G'.  Abdomen  exclusive  of  tail-jiiece  longer  than  the 

rest  of  the  body, 
d^  Hinder  lip  of  thoracic  spiracle  scarcely  raised, 

not  flaring 51.   Tliaiiaos. 

d\  Hinder  lip  of  thoracic  spiracle  much  elevated, 

flaring,  fluted. 
e\  The  hinder  equal  part  of  tail-jiiece,  seen  from 
above,  scarcely  longer  than  broad. 

52.  FJtoUsora. 
e*.  The  hinder  equal  part  of  tail-piece,  seen  from 
above,  twice  as  long  as  broad. 

53.  Hesjieria. 
B'.  Tongue-case  free  at  tip,  extending  beyond,  some- 
times much  beyond,  the  wings. 

(Tribe  Smaller  Skippers.) 

[The  genera  of  Smaller  Skippers  are  too  little  known  to 
separate  them  by  their  chrysalids.  ] 


NOMENCLATURE  OF  THE  PARTS  OF  THE  WING. 


Neuration  op  Anosia  plexippus. 


cm  costal  margin. 

om outer  margin. 

im inner  margin. 

dc discoidal  cell. 

aa anal    angle. 


pc  (0)  precostal  vein. 

c     (1) costal  vein. 

sc   (2) subcostal  vein. 

VI    (3) median  vein. 

sm  (4) submedian  vein 

i     (5) internal  vein. 


60 


NOMENCLATURE  OF  HIE  PARTS  OF  THE  WING.       61 

The  veins  may  for  conciseness,  as  in  our  "Key  to  the 
Groups/^  be  numbered  from  above  downward  from  0  to  5 
as  in  their  explanation  above,  and  their  branches  may  be 
further  indicated  by  adding  to  the  number  one  which  shall 
designate  whether  it  is  the  first  branch,  second  branch,  etc., 
and  also  whether  it  is  thrown  off  from  the  upper  or  under 
edge.  Thus  the  branches  striking  the  margin  of  the  fore 
wing  in  the  above  figure,  beginning  above,  would  have  tliis 
consecutive  designation :  1,  2',  2%  2',  2',  2,  2,,  2^,  Sg,  3„,  3,,  4 
(the  internal  running  into  the  submedian) ;  while  those  of 
the  hind  wing  (including  the  postcostal,  which  does  not 
quite  reach  the  margin)  would  be :  0, 1,  2',  2^^,  2",  83 ,  S^ ,  3^ ,  4, 
5.  In  this  way  equivalent  nervules  of  the  two  wings,  or  of 
the  same  wings  in  different  butterflies,  would  have  a  similar 
symbol. 


THE   COMMONER   BUTTERFLIES 

OF  THE 

NOETHEEN   UNITED   STATES  AND   CANADA. 


FAMILY   BEUSH-FOOTED   BUTTEEFLIES. 

Subfamily   Daxaids. 

1.  Genus  Anosia. 

ANOSIA   PLEXIPPUS— THE  MONARCH   OR   MILK-WEED 

BUTTERFLY. 

(Danais  arcliippus,  Danais  erippus.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  above  and  fore  wings  beneath  rather  light 
tawny  brown,  the  veins  margined  with  black,  and  the  wings 
broadly  margined  with  the  same  enlivened  by  a  double  row  of 
small  whitish  spots;  besides,  all  the  apex  of  the  fore  wings  is 
more  or  less  black,  but  contains  two  or  three  dashes  of  obscure 
tawny  and,  just  beyond  the  cell,  a  couple  of  oblique  series  of 
large  buff-tawny  spots,  those  nearest  the  front  margin  smaller, 
elongate,  and  white.  Beneath,  the  ground  color  of  the  hind 
wings  is  buff,  and  the  black  veins  are  edged  with  some  whitish 
scales.  The  male  is  distinguished  by  a  conspicuous  thickened 
black  patch  (really  a  pocket  containing  special  scales)  next  one  of 
the  veins  near  the  middle  of  the  hind  wings.     Expanse  4  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  smooth  and  rounded,  yellow,  conspicuously 
banded  with  black.     Body  cylindrical,  tapering  a  little  in  front, 

63 


64  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

naked,  but  with  two  pairs  of  long  and  very  slender  black  thread- 
like filaments,  one  pair,  the  longer,  on  the  second  thoracic,  the 
other  on  the  eighth  abdominal,  segment.  The  body  is  white  with 
numerous  slender  black  and  yellow,  and  especially  black,  trans- 
verse stripes,  repeated  with  considerable  regularity  on  each  of 
the  segments,  so  that  there  are  nowhere  any  broad  patches  of 
color.     Length  nearly  2  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Pea-green.  Stout  and  not  elongated,  largest  in 
the  middle  of  the  abdomen,  where  it  is  transversely  ridged;  else- 
where it  is  smooth  and  rounded,  with  no  striking  prominences, 
but  with  little  conical  projections  at  most  of  the  elevated  points 
like  those  which  half  encircle  the  body  at  the  abdominal  ridge, 
all  of  a  golden  color  except  the  latter,  which  are  situated  in  a 
tri-colored  band,  black  in  front,  nacreous  in  the  middle  (these 
dividing  the  points  between  them),  and  gilt  behind.  Length 
more  than  1  inch. 

We  begin  with  one  of  tlie  most  interesting  of  our  butter- 
flies, about  which  a  volume  might  be  written,  but  of  which 
we  have  still  much  to  learn.  It  is  found  in  the  summer- 
time over  almost  the  entire  continent,  certainly  as  far  north 
as  into  the  Dominion  of  Canada;  and  yet  it  is  probable 
that  it  does  not  exist  in  the  winter  further  north  than  the 
Gulf  States.  It  has  extraordinary  powers  of  flight,  more 
so  than  any  known  butterfly,  and  every  autumn  when 
abundant  (after  first  collecting  in  vast  flocks  or  bevies  of 
hundreds  of  thousands,  changing  the  color  of  the  trees  or 
shrubs  on  which  it  alights  for  the  night)  migrates  south- 
ward in  streams,  like  our  migrating  birds.  After  passing 
the  winter  on  the  wing,  without  so  far  as  known  hibernat- 
ing in  torpidity,  it  leaves  its  winter  quarters  in  the  extreme 
south  with  the  opening  spring  and  flies  northward,  not  in 
flocks  or  streams,  but  singly.  The  females  lay  their  eggs 
when  they  are  ripe  wherever  they  may  chance  to  be,  some 
flying  even  as  far  as  southern  New  York  and  Minnesota 
before  concluding  their  life-duties.  The  caterj^illars  born 
from  these  eggs  develop  into  butterflies,  many  of  which 
again  fly  northward  before  they  lay  their  eggs;  while  the 


FAMILY  BliUSH-FOOrED  BUTTERFLIES.  ^^^ 

butterflies  developing  from  these  last  do  not  lay  eggs  the 
same  season  (unless  possihl}^  in  the  warmer  south),  but 
migrate  southward  at  the  end  of  the  season,  to  return  again 
the  next  spring.  North,  therefore,  of  the  farthest  points 
to  which  the  wintering  butterflies  have  journeyed  in  the 
sj^ring,  there  appears  to  be  but  one  brood  a  year,  south  of 
it  two,  and  in  the  extreme  south  possibly  more. 

As  a  further  proof  of  the  transcendent  powers  of  flight 
of  this  butterfly,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  it  has  been 
seen  at  sea  five  hundred  miles  from  land  and  has  within 
thirty  years  spread  over  nearly  all  the  islands  of  the 
Pacific  and  even  to  Australia  and  Java.  Undoubtedly 
carried  in  the  first  place  hy  trading  or  other  vessels  to 
the  Hawaiian  Islands  and  thence  to  Micronesia,  it  has  un- 
questionably Jtow7i  from  island  to  island  many  hundreds 
of  miles  apart.  It  has  also  appeared  at  various  times 
in  different  places  on  the  sea-coast  of  Europe,  here  also 
probably  transported  accidentally  by  vessel.  In  1885,  for 
instance,  no  less  than  nine  specimens  were  captured  in 
four  different  counties  of  England,  and  in  188G  it  was 
reported  at  different  points  from  England  to  Gibraltar. 

The  egg  is  long  oval  in  shape,  with  over  twenty  low  up- 
right ridges  and  many  cross  lines,  is  of  a  pale  green  color, 
and  is  laid  singly  on  the  food-plant  of  the  caterpillar 
(various  kinds  of  milk-weed,  especially  the  commonest 
kind,  AscJepiafi  cornuti)  and  usually  upon  the  under  sur- 
face of  the  tender  upturned  apical  leaves  near  the  middle. 
It  hatches  in  about  four  days,  the  caterpillar  feeds  quite 
exposed  upon  the  leaves,  generally  resting,  however,  upon 
the  under  surface,  and  takes  two  or  three  weeks  to  grow 
to  its  full  size.  In  New  England  the  eggs  are  usually  laid 
during  July,  and  belated  caterpillars  may  be  found  even 
in  September.  The  chrysalis  hangs  from  nine  to  fifteen 
days. 

But  the  chief  interest  attaching  to  this  butterfly  is  that 


m  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

it  belongs  to  a  favored  race,  as,  like  all  the  members  of  its 
tribe,  it  is  protected  from  its  natural  enemies  among  the 
birds  by  some  nauseous  peculiarities.  The  males  can  pro- 
trude from  the  end  of  the  abdomen  on  either  side  a  bunch 
or  brush  of  hairs  which  may  be  the  means  of  producing  an 
offensive  smell;  but  besides  this  the  whole  body  of  both 
sexes  seems  to  have  a  rank  odor,  and  its  protection  is  the 
cause  of  its  unconscious  mimicry  by  another  of  our  butter- 
flies, BasilarcMa  arcliippus.  It  is  the  best  example  of 
mimicry  known  in  North  America. 


The  subfamily  of  Heliconians  is  represented  in  the  southern  part 
of  our  district  by  the  genus  Agraulis,  with  one  species,  A.  tsanillae, 
a  southern  species  which  has  occasionally  been  taken  as  far  north  as 
Pennsylvania. 

Subfamily  Nymphs. 

TRIBE  CKESCENT-SPOTS. 

2.    Genus  Euphydryas. 
EUPHYDRYAS  PHAETON— THE  BALTIMORE. 

(Melitaea  phaeton.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  black,  marked  with  red  and  pale  straw- 
yellow,  the  markings  larger  on  the  under  than  on  the  upper  sur- 
face ;  the  red  is  confined  to  two  or  three  spots  (more  below)  near 
the  base  of  each  wing  and  to  a  broad  outer  margin,  divided  by 
the  black  veins  ;  the  yellow  mostly  to  four  i)arallel  series  (two  on 
the  upper  surface  of  hind  wings)  of  small  round  or  squarish  spots 
(the  outer  row  lunulate)  between  the  veins  in  the  outer  half  of 
the  wing,  before  the  marginal  band.  Expanse  of  male  2  inches; 
of  female  24  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black  with  low  conical  summits.  Body 
spined,  dark  orange  transversely  ringed  with  black  lines,  the 
tlioracic  segments  tapering,  mostly  black  ;  spines  bluish  black, 
about  as  long  as  the  segments  with  numerous  long  black  bristles, 
set  on  papillae  ;  there  is  a  dorsal  series,  two  others  on  each  side 
equally  dividing  the  space  between  that  and  the  spiracles,  and  one 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  67 

other  below  the  spiracles,  including  one  on  the  third  thoracic  seg- 
ment ;  a  row  of  smaller  spines,  two  to  a  segment,  occurs  at  the 
base  of  the  prolegs.     Length  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Very  pale  bluish  white,  marked  with  velvety  black 
and  pale  orange  ;  little  conical  orange  tubercles  mark  the  position 
of  the  spines  of  the  caterpillar,  black  dots  or  small  dashes  are 
sprinkled  over  the  body  especially  on  the  abdomen,  and  larger 
dashes  divided  by  orange  nervules  cross  the  middle  of  the  wings 
in  a  continuous  series.  Legs  orange  marked  with  black.  Tubercles 
of  eighth  abdominal  segment  distinct.     Length  nearly  f  inch. 

The  eggs  are  largest  below,  taper  above  to  a  very  broad 
and  depressed  summit,  the  sides  vertically  ribbed  on  upper 
half,  at  first  yellow,  afterwards  purplish;  they  are  laid  in 
large  irregular  clusters,  several  layers  deep,  upon  the  under 
surface  of  a  leaf  of  the  food-plant,  and  hatch  in  about 
twenty  days.  During  the  season  in  wdiich  they  are  born 
the  caterpillars  feed  in  society,  living  in  a  web  with  which 
they  line  and  envelop  their  food-plant,  the  snake-head, 
CJi  el  one  glabra,  and  less  commonly  other  Scrophulariaceous 
plants.  After  moulting  three  times,  which  the  caterpillars 
do  under  and  within  their  webs,  the  whole  colony  hiber- 
nates within  the  web,  made  more  dense  for  the  purpose, 
which,  contracting  as  the  w^inter  dries  the  foliage,  becomes 
a  compact  rounded  mass  as  large  as  an  egg,  filled  with 
caterpillars,  cast  skins,  and  filth.  In  the  spring  the  cater- 
pillars make  their  way  out,  disperse,  and  no  longer  con- 
struct webs  but  feed  openly,  frequently  choosing  other  food- 
plants,  Lonicera  or  Viburnum,  Caprifoliaceous  plants. 
The  chrysalis  hangs  from  fourteen  to  eighteen  days.  The 
butterfly  is  extremely  local,  often  confining  its  wanderings 
to  an  acre  of  ground,  and  is  only  found  near  or  in  swampy 
places;  it  flies  heavily — indeed  it  is  our  most  sluggish  but- 
terfly— and  is  single-brooded,  appearing  early  in  June  and 
flvinor  for  more  than  a  month. 


68  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

3.  Genus  Cincltdia. 

CINCLIDIA   HAKRfsiI— HARRIS'S   BUTTERFLY. 

(Melitaea  barrisii,  Phyciodes  liarrisii.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  nearly  black,  the  fore 
wings  with  a  broad  sinuous  band  of  dull  orange  across  the  middle 
broken  by  the  black  veins,  followed  outwardly  by  a  sinuous  row 
of  similar  unequal  spots  and  inwardly  by  a  few  irregular  orange 
spots  ;  hind  wings  with  most  of  the  disk  dull  orange,  begrimed 
with  black  and  cut  by  black  veins.  Under  surface  brownish 
orange,  the  veins  mostly  black,  marked  with  usually  black-edged 
white  spots,  conspicuous  on  the  hind  wings  where  the  median 
spots  are  sordid  cut  by  a  black  line,  the  subbasal  and  lunular 
subapical  spots  shining.     Expanse  If  inches. 

Caterpillar.— Head  shining  black,  summits  tuberculate  and 
low  conical.  Body  spined,  tapering  on  the  thoracic  segments, 
deep  orange  with  a  black  dorsal  line,  and  ringed  narrowly  with 
black  stripes  throughout  ;  spines  jet-black,  a  little  shorter  than 
the  segments,  covered  with  black  needles  set  on  papillae ;  they 
are  arranged  as  in  Euphydryas  excepting  that  there  is  no  spine 
on  the  third  thoracic  segment  in  the  row  just  below  the  spiracles. 
Length  nearly  1  inch. 

Chrysalis.— Snow-white,  marked  much  as  in  Euphydryas 
phaeton,  but  with  the  darker  markings  mostly  confined  to  edgings 
of  the  orange  tubercles.  Legs  white  tipped  with  black.  No  dis- 
tinct tubercles  on  the  eighth  abdominal  segment,  but  their  place 
marked  by  spots.     Length  ^  inch. 

The  eggs,  wliich  are  shaped  as  in  Euphydryas  but  with  a 
smaller  summit,  are  pale  lemon-yellow  and  are  laid  in 
patches  of  tw^enty  or  more  in  a  closely-crowded  single  layer 
on  the  under  side  of  a  leaf  of  the  food-plant;  their  period 
in  unknown.  So  far  as  know^n,  tlie  caterpillars  have  but  a 
single  food-plant,  Aster  {Doelliiigeria)  iniibellatus.  They 
first  eat  the  parenchyma  of  the  under  surface  of  the  leaf  on 
which  they  are  born  and  then  move  in  company  down  the 
plant,  devouring  the  parenchyma  of  each  surface  of  every 
leaf  as  they  go,  covering  everything  wath  a  thin  w^b, 
beneath  and  upon  which  they  live  until  the  end  of  the 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  69 

season,  their  nests  resembling  those  of  Enphydryae  but  less 
dense.  Early  in  September  and  after  two  or  three  moults 
they  desert  these  nests  and  hibernate  in  crannies,  probably 
to  some  degree  in  company;  for  in  the  early  S2)ring  they 
may  be  found  again  in  loose  companies,  but  living  openly, 
often  four  or  five  on  a  single  leaf  of  their  food-plants  and 
in  close  vicinity  to  their  birthplace.  The  caterpillars 
change  to  chrysalis  at  the  end.  of  May  or  early  in  June  and 
hang  from  ten  to  sixteen,  usually  about  thirteen,  days. 
The  butterfly  is  extremely  local,  occurring  only  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  places  where  the  food-plant  grows;  but 
not  always  there,  for  the  butterfly  hardly  occurs  south  of 
lat.  42°  or  west  of  Wisconsin,  while  Doellingeria- extends 
to  Georgia  and  Arkansas.  It  is  single-brooded,  appearing 
upon  the  wing  about  the  middle  of  June  and  flying 
throughout  July. 

4.  Genus  Charidryas. 

CHARIDRYAS   NYCTEIS— THE   SILVER  CRESCENT. 

(Melitaea  nycteis,  Phyciodes  nycteis.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  pale  orange  fulvous, 
marked  with  black;  fore  wings  with  outer  border  very  broadly 
margined  with  black,  especially  above,  where  it  nearly  reaches  a 
broad  bar  descending  from  the  costa  to  the  middle  of  the  wing  ; 
base  and  cell  with  a  tangle  of  black  lines  ;  hind  wings  mostly 
black  with  an  exceedingly  broad  subequal  transverse  fulvous 
belt,  broken  in  the  middle  by  a  brown  stripe  and  with  a  row  of 
round  spots  in  outer  half.  Under  surface  of  fore  wings  much 
like  upper  (but  washed  out)  excepting  for  varied  light  markings 
near  apex;  hind  wings  pale  buff  marked  with  dark  brown,  the 
veins  brown,  dull  silvery  spots  next  the  base  and  one  or  two  on 
the  costal  and  apical  margins,  on  the  latter  in  the  middle  of  a 
broad  brown  field.     Expanse  If  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  shining  black,  rounded  on  summits. 
Body  spined,  scarcely  tapering  on  thoracic  segments,  velvety 
black  above  with  a  dull  orange  stigmatal  band;  spines  black  or 


70  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

blackish,  slender,  at  least  three  times  as  high  as  broad,  arranged 
much  as  in  Euphydryas.    Length  nearly  1  inch. 

Chrysalis.  —  "Some  are  light-colored,  nearly  white,  with 
delicate  blackish  spots  and  fine  streaks  of  brown  over  the 
surface;  others  are  almost  wholly  black,  while  others  again  are 
between  the  two  extremes  "  (Edwards).  It  closely  resembles  that 
of  CincUdia  harrisii^  from  which  it  may  be  distinguished  by 
having  no  suprastigmatal  tubercle  on  the  second  abdominal 
segment,  and  by  the  wing  spots  hardly  forming  a  definite  band. 
Length  ^  inch. 

The  eggs,  the  sides  of  which  are  ribbed  above,  pitted  iji 
the  middle,  and  smooth  below,  are  pale  green  and  are  laid 
on  the  under  surface  of  a  leaf  of  the  food-plant  in  clusters 
of  from  a  few  up  to  a  hundred,  side  by  side  in  regular  rows; 
they  hatch  in  from  nine  to  fourteen  days.  The  caterpillars 
feed  on  various  Composite  plants,  jiarticularly  sunflower 
and  Actinomeris;  when  young  they  are  gregarious  and 
feed  on  the  parenchyma  of  the  leaf;  later  they  eat  the 
whole  leaf,  but  at  no  time  do  they  spin  a  web  for  conceal- 
ment or  protection;  they  hibernate  when  partly  grow^n, 
doubtless  in  crevices,  and  separate  in  spring,  feeding 
singly.  The  chrysalis  hangs  from  ten  to  fifteen  days. 
The  butterfly  is  not  at  all  local  and  is  far  more  common  in 
the  West  than  in  the  East,  where  it  has  not  been  recog- 
nized east  of  the  middle  of  Maine.  It  appears  to  be  single- 
brooded  in  the  North,  flying  in  the  latter  half  of  June  and 
in  July;  bnt  according  to  observations  in  AVest  Virginia 
and^Missouri  it  appears  to  be  there  partly  single-  and  partly 
double-brooded,  a  first  generation  appearing  in  May  and  a 
second,  partial  generation  in  July,  some  of  the  caterpillars 
from  the  May  butterflies  going  into  early  hibernation,  others 
passing  forward  to  form  the  second  generation. 


Another  species  of  this  genus  is  C.  ismeria,  which  is  a  southern 
form,  but  in  the  West  occurs  as  far  north  as  Colorado  and  Montana 
and  has  even  been  reported  from  Brandon,  Manitoba, 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES,  71 

5.    Genus  Phyciodes. 

PHYCIODES   THAROS— THE   PEARL  CRESCENT. 

(Melitaea  tharos,  Melitaea  marcia,  Melitaea  j)liaros  ) 

Butterfly. — Wings  dull  orange,  heavily  marked  with  blackish 
brown,  the  markings  heavier  in  the  female  and  found  on  the 
upper  surface  principally  in  a  broad  outer  margin,  a  broad 
divided  bar  across  the  middle  of  the  fore  wings,  and  a  mesh  of 
lines,  confused  in  the  female,  at  the  base  of  the  wings  ;  a  pre- 
apical  series  of  dots  on  the  hind  wings.  On  the  under  surface  tlie 
dark  markings  of  the  fore  wings  are  mostly  confined  to  irregular 
patches  at  the  middle  of  the  costal  and  at  the  middle  and  just 
before  the  tip  of  the  inner  border;  the  hind  wings  are  ochraceous 
with  a  transverse  median  tracery  of  lunulate  cinnamon  lines,  and 
a  large  brown  cloud  on  the  hind  margin ;  the  preapical  dots  of 
the  upper  surface  are  repeated.     Expanse  1^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  shining  bronze,  marked  with  wiiite, 
rounded  on  summits.  Body  spined,  scarcely  tapering  on  thoracic 
segments,  blackish,  dotted  above  with  yellow,  with  a  black  dorsal 
stripe  (often  wanting),  a  yellow  line  in  the  middle  of  the  sides, 
and  a  yellow  band  just  beneath  the  spiracles;  spines  mostly 
yellowish,  stout,  less  than  twice  as  high  as  broad,  arranged 
much  as  in  Euphydryas.     Length  |  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Grayish  white,  the  effect  of  brownish  creases  on  a 
wdiite  ground,  darker  on  the  abdomen,  where  there  is  a  dull  band 
below  the  spiracles  ;  no  band  on  the  wings.     Length  |  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  taper  so  that  the  siinimit  is  only  half  as 
broad  as  the  base  and  are  ribbed  above  on  the  sides,  are 
light  yellow-green  and  are  laid  in  clusters  of  from  twenty 
to  two  hundred  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  of  the  food- 
plant,  crowded  together,  sometimes  in  one  layer,  at  others 
in  several  ;  they  hatch  in  from  five  to  ten  days.  The  cat- 
erpillars feed  ou  asters,  but  their  proper  food-plant  appears 
to  be  only  Aster  novae  angliae.  They  feed  in  company,  de- 
vouring at  first  only  the  parenchyma  of  the  under  surface 
of  the  leaf,  later  in  life  the  entire  leaf,  spinning  no  web  at 
any  time.  The  caterpillars  of  the  latest  brood  become 
lethargic  after  the  second  or  third  moult  and  then  hiber- 


72  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

nate.  The  chrysalis  haugs  for  an  uncertain  period,  gener- 
ally from  six  to  thirteen  days,  sometimes  prolonged  to  a 
month.  The  butterfly  flies  slowly  and  for  short  distances 
only  ;  it  is  everywhere  abundant  in  open  places  and  is 
single-  or  double-brooded  according  to  locality,  triple-  or 
even  quadruple-brooded  further  south.  In  New  England 
it  is  double-brooded,  the  first  brood  appearing  in  the  latter 
half  of  May  and  flying  until  the  end  of  the  first  week  in 
July  ;  the  second  brood  appears  about  the  middle  of  July 
and  may  be  found  even  to  October,  there  being  great  irreg- 
ularity in  the  development  of  different  caterpillars,  among 
which  there  is  sometimes  a  certain  amount  of  temporary 
lethargy.  The  full  accounts  of  the  behavior  of  the  cater- 
pillars of  this  species  given  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Edwards  are 
well  worthy  of  close  attention.  The  species  is  dimorphic, 
the  butterflies  of  the  first  brood  (wdierever  there  are  more 
than  two)  differing  from  those  of  the  later  in  having  more 
accentuated  markings. 


A  second  species  of  this  genus,  P.  batesii,  has  been  taken  sparingly 
east  of  the  Appalachians  ;  and  a  third,  P.  gorgone,  an  extreme  south- 
ern species,  has  been  recorded  from  Kansas. 

TRIBE  FKITILLARIES. 

6,  Genus  Bkenthts. 

BRENTHIS  BELLONA— THE  MEADOW  FRITILLARY. 

(Argyunis  bellona.) 

Butterfly.— Upper  surface  of  wings  fulvous,  heavily  marked 
with  black  ;  on  most  of  the  basal  half  or  more,  bounded  by  an 
augulate  dentate  outer  line,  the  black  predominates,  touclied  wiMi 
fulvous  dashes  ;  outer  margin  bordered  with  black  reduced  to 
small  T-shaped  spots  on  the  hind  wings,  preceded  by  two  rows 
of  spots,  the  inner  circular  and  crossing  the  middle  of  the  fulvous 
field.  On  the  under  side  the  fore  wings  are  fulvous  heavily  blotched 
with  black  excepting  on  the  outer  fourth,  where  there  are  cinna- 
moneous  clouds  ;  hind  wings  cinuamoneous  fulvous  on  the  basal 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  78 

half,  one  or  the  other  tint  predominating  in  large  spots,  traversed 
by  brown  lines,  the  outer  half  purplish  brown,  obscurely  clouded 
and  marked  with  brown.     Expanse  nearly  2  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  shining  blackish  green,  the  summits  round- 
ed. Body  spined,  purplish  black,  mottled  with  yellowish  and 
with  a  velvety-black  broken  lateral  stripe  ;  spines  leathery,  dull 
luteous  tipped  with  fulvous,  all  of  nearly  the  same  size.  Length 
nearly  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Dark  yellowish  brown,  resulting  from  brown 
creases  on  a  yellowish-brown  ground  ;  laterodorsal  tubercles  of 
abdomen  (very  prominent  on  third  segment)  constricted  before 
the  tip,  those  of  first  and  second  segments  of  equal  size.  Length 
more  than  ^  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  tall  sn  gar-loaf -shaped  with  twenty 
or  more  prominent  vertical  ribs,  are  dull  olive-yellow  and 
are  jDrobably  laid  singly  on  the  food-plant  ;  one  observer 
says  he  has  seen  the  female  drop  her  eggs  loosely  w^hile 
hovering  in  the  air  ;  they  hatch  in  from  five  to  nine  days. 
The  cater j)illars  feed  singly  and  openly  upon  violets,  but 
only  at  night,  making  no  w^eh  and  concealing  themselves 
about  the  roots  of  the  herbage  by  day.  AVinter  is  passed  by 
the  caterpillars  when  half  grown.  The  chrysalis  hangs  for 
about  a  week.  The  butterfly  is  most  commonly  found 
about  wet  meadows  and  bogs,  and  is  a  northern  species, 
hardly  found  south  of  lat.  -41";  it  has  a  moderately  rapid 
but  low  zigzag  flight.  There  are  three  broods  annually: 
the  first  appears  about  the  middle  of  May  and  fresh  speci- 
mens continue  to  emerge  throughout  June  ;  the  eggs,  how- 
ever, appear  not  to  be  laid  until  the  middle  of  June  and 
may  be  laid  all  through  the  rest  of  the  month  and  July, 
for  the  butterfly  is  very  long-lived;  the  second  brood  ap- 
pears about  the  middle  of  July  before  the  first  brood  has 
disappeared  and  continues  on  the  wing  into  September;  the 
third  brood  appears  late  in  August  and  continues  up  to  the 
time  of  frosts. 

There  are  some  strange  anomalies  about  the  development 


74  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

of  this  butterfly.  It  would  appear  that  in  the  first  brood 
of  butterflies,  and  sometimes  but  not  always  in  the  second, 
the  eggs  are  not  developed  in  the  bodies  of  the  females  so 
as  to  be  ready  to  lay  until  the  butterfly  has  been  on  the 
wing  two  or  three  weeks  ;  while  in  part  of  the  second  and 
all  of  the  third  brood  the  eggs  are  fully  developed  as  soon 
as  the  butterflies  emerge  from  the  chrysalis,  or  at  any  rate  in 
a  day  or  two.  So,  too,  the  behavior  of  the  caterpillars  is 
very  different,  at  least  in  the  second  brood,  some  feeding 
regularly  and  passing  forward  to  form  the  chrysalids  from 
which  the  butterflies  of  the  third  brood  emerge  ;  others  be- 
coming lethargic  in  midsummer,  when  half  grown,  and 
passing  into  premature  hibernation  curled  up  in  crannies. 
As  the  caterpillars  from  the  eggs  of  the  final  brood  of  but- 
terflies probably  hibernate  before  moulting  at  all,  the  spring 
opens  with  caterpillars  of  different  stages  of  growth  and  of 
different  generations  of  the  preceding  year,  which  passing 
on  to  chrysalis  combine  to  make  the  first  long-drawn-out 
brood  of  butterflies.  Whether  any  of  the  caterpillars  of 
the  first  brood  behave  in  this  way  (so  that  the  spring  brood 
of  butterflies  shall  be  made  up  of  parts  of  all  the  generations 
of  the  preceding  season)  is  not  yet  determined,  but  it  seems 
probable  from  the  irregularity  and  long  continuance  of  the 
second  brood  of  butterflies. 

BRENTHIS  MYRINA— THE  SILVER  BORDERED  FRITILLARY. 

(Argynnis  myrina.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  fulvous  marked  with  black  ; 
the  markings  consist  principally  of  an  outer  margin  inwardly 
dentate  and  enclosing  fulvous  dots,  a  curving  series  of  round 
spots  beyond  middle  of  outer  half  of  wing,  and  across  the  base 
and  middle  a  coarse  and  irregular  mesh  of  subcontinuous  dashes. 
Under  surface  of  fore  wings  fulvous  with  black  markings  feebly 
repeated,  a  cinnamoneous  cloud  at  apex  and  apical  silvery  spots  ; 
of  hind  wings  mixed  cinnamoneous  and  ochraceous,  with  two 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  75 

transverse  series  of  silvery  spots,  besides  those  at  base  and  apex. 
Expanse  If  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  dark  metallic  green,  the  summits  rounded. 
Body  spined,  mottled  with  dark  green,  purple,  and  luteous  ;  spines 
leathery,  blackish  fuscous  or  partly  luteous,  those  on  the  back  of 
the  first  thoracic  segment  several  times  longer  than  the  others. 
Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Dark  luteous,  the  abdomen  darker,  the  whole 
marked  with  fuscous  ;  laterodorsal  tubercles  of  abdomen  (very 
prominent  on  the  third  segment)  uniformly  conical,  those  of 
first  segment  smaller  than  those  of  second.     Length  ^  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  tall  sugar-loaf- shaped,  with  sixteen 
or  seventeen  prominent  vertical  ribs,  are  olivaceous  yellow 
and  are  laid  singly  on  the  leaves  or  stems  of  the  food-plant 
or  on  immediately  adjoining  vegetation ;  also,  according  to 
some  observers,  dropped  loosely  on  the  wing;  they  hatch 
in  from  six  to  ten,  sometimes  fourteen,  days.  The  cater- 
pillars feed  by  night  upon  violets,  and  hide  by  day,  and  are 
very  quick  in  their  movements  and  easily  disturbed.  The 
chrysalis  hangs  from  seven  to  eleven  days.  The  haunts 
and  flight  of  the  butterfly  are  the  same  as  those  of  B. 
hellona  and  its  life-history  probably  identical;  certainly  it 
passes  the  winter  in  the  caterpillar  state,  both  just  from, 
the  Q^g  and  half  grown,  but  the  lethargic  features  noticed 
ill  the  preceding  species  have  not  been  observed,  though 
they  probably  occur,  in  this;  the  butterfly,  however,  is  a 
few  days  later  than  B.  lellona  in  appearing  in  its  successive 
broods  in  a  given  locality. 


Three  other  species  of  Brenthis  occur  in  the  northern  parts  of  our 
district,  two  in  the  high  north,  B.  cliaridea  and  B.  freija,  both  of 
them  circumpolar  insects,  sometimes  taken  in  Canada  not  far  from 
our  border  ;  and  B.  montinus,  known  only  from  the  subalpine  dis- 
tricts of  the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire,  and  thought  b^ 
some  to  be  merely  a  variety  of  B.  charidea, 


76  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

7.  Genus  Akgynnis. 
ARGYNNIS  ATLANTIS— THE  MOUNTAIN  SILVER  SPOT. 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  orange  fulvous,  witli  well- 
defined  black  markings.  These  consist,  in  all  our  species  of 
Argynnis,  in  the  fore  wings,  of  three  sinuate  bars  across  the 
outer  part  of  the  cell  besides  a  straight  and  a  sinuate  bar  at  the 
tip,  a  more  or  less  disconnected  zigzag  band  across  the  middle  of 
the  wing,  and  a  series  of  rounded  spots  on  the  middle  of  its  outer 
half,  besides  a  submarginal  series  of  sagittate  spots  on  a  dusky 
border.  On  the  under  surface  the  design  of  the  fore  wingt:  is  a 
vague  repetition  of  the  upper  markings,  while  the  hind  wings 
have  submarginal,  extramesial,  intramesial,  and  prebasal  serit-s 
of  very  large  silvery  spots,  those  of  the  outer  series  usually  the 
larger.  The  peculiarities  of  each  species  are  seen  principally  on 
the  under  surface  of  the  hind  wings,  which  in  the  present  species 
is  distinguished  by  the  depth  and  griminess  of  the  basal  tint  and 
by  the  width  of  the  buff  belt  between  the  two  outer  rows  of  silver 
spots,  which  is  intermediate  in  this  particular  between  A.  aphro- 
dite and  A.  eijhele.     Expanse  2^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  dark.  Body  spinous,  dark  velvety  purple 
above,  scarcely  paler  beneath  ;  spines  corneous,  livid  at  base,  the 
spinules  nearly  half  as  long  as  the  spines.     Length  1^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Chestnut-brown  irrorate  with  black,  basal  seg- 
ments of  abdomen  unicolorous;  dorsal  and  ventral  surfaces  of 
front  part  of  body  set  at  an  angle  of  about  50^     Length  |  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  short  sugar-loaf-shaped,  as  high  as 
broad,  with  twelve  to  fourteen  vertical  ribs  and  honey-yel- 
low, are  laid  singly  on  the  food-plant  and  hatch  in  about 
a  fortnight.  The  caterpillars  go  into  winter  quaiters  im- 
mediately after  emerging  from  the  Qgg  without  tasting  of 
vegetable  food,  a^vake  early  in  the  spring,  and  feed  singly 
and  by  night  upon  violets,  hiding  in  crevices  by  day.  The 
chrysalids  are  found  attached  to  the  under  side  of  logs 
lying  on  the  ground  and  in  similar  places;  their  period  is 
unknown.  The  butterfly  is  wilder  than  the  succeeding 
species  of  the  genus  and  is  a  more  northern  form,  being 
limited  southwardly  by  about  the  annual  isotherm  of  45°  F. 


FAMILY  BRUSH  FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  77 

It  is  single-brooded,  appearing  about  the  middle  of  June, 
but  not  becoming  common  until  the  middle  of  August, 
and  is  still  on  the  wing  in  September;  although  the  males 
appear  some  time  before  the  females,  the  latter  may  be 
found  long  before  they  are  ready  to  lay  their  eggs,  which 
is  not  until  the  latter  half  of  August.  The  males  have  a 
yery  perceptible  odor  of  sandal-wood. 

ARGYNNIS  APHRODITE— THE  SILVER-SPOT  FRITILLARY. 

Butterfly. — The  ground  color  of  the  under  surface  of  the  hind 
wings  is  a  pure  chmamoneous,  and  the  buff  band  between  the 
two  outer  rows  of  silver  spots  is  very  narrow,  narrower  than  the 
outermost  brown  margin,  and  at  its  extremities  often  disappears. 
Expanse  3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  reddish  yellow  behind.  Body 
spined,  blackish  brown,  with  a  velvet-black  spot  at  base  of  each 
spine,  not  so  dark  beneath;  spines  corneous,  black,  some  reddish 
yellow  at  base.     Length  fully  H  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Livid  brown  and  blackish,  less  coarsely  rugose, 
and  with  less  prominent  tubercles  than  in  A.  cyheUy  the  basal  seg- 
ments of  the  abdomen  bicolored.     Length  nearly  1  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  short  sugar-loaf -shaped,  as  high  as 
broad,  with  sixteen  to  nineteen  vertical  ribs  and  honey- 
yellow,  are  laid  singly  on  the  food-plant  and  hatch  in 
a  fortnight.  After  devouring  their  egg-shells,  the  cater- 
pillars move  actively  about  as  if  searching  for  winter  quar- 
ters, utterly  declining  all  vegetable  food.  After  hiberna- 
tion they  feed  by  night  on  all  kinds  of  wild  violets,  and 
during  the  day  lie  concealed  on  the  ground  under  chips 
and  stones;  they  are  very  active.  The  chrysalis  hangs 
from  seventeen  to  twenty  days.  The  butterfly  is  very  fond 
of  the  blossoms  of  the  thistle,  and  when  feeding  can  readily 
be  taken  with  the  fingers.  Though  a  more  northern  but- 
terfly than  A.  cyhele,  it  is  more  southern  than  A.  atlantis 
and  more  eastern  than  A.  alcestis.  It  is  found  throughout 
New  England,  excepting  in  the  heart  of  the  White  Moun- 


78  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

tains.  It  is  single-brooded  and  a  little  later  in  appearance 
than  its  companion-species,  first  appearing  about  the 
beginning  of  July;  the  butterflies  are  seldom  abundant 
before  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  July,  and  disappear  by 
the  middle  of  September;  the  eggs  are  not  laid,  apparently, 
before  the  middle  of  August.  The  males  have  no  percep- 
tible odor. 

ARGYNNIS  ALCESTIS— THE  RUDDY   SILVER  SPOT. 

Buttterfly. — The  ground  color  of  the  under  surface  of  the 
hind  wings  is  a  nearly  uniform  and  pure  deep  cinnamoneous, 
with  no  distinct  band  of  buff  between  the  outer  rows  of  silvery 
spots.     Expanse  3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  yellowish  behind.  Body  spinous, 
velvety  black;  spines  corneous,  black  above  the  yellowish  base. 
Length  If  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Ked,  brown,  or  drab,  irregularly  mottled  and 
creased  with  black;  abdominal  segments  drab,  edged  in  front 
with  black.     Length  1  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  short  stigar-loaf-sha2:)ed,  much 
higher  than  broad,  with  about  eighteen  vertical  ribs,  are 
presumably  laid  on  the  food-plant  and  hatch  in  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  days.  Nearly  all  the  caterpillars, 
after  devouring  their  egg-shells,  go  at  once  into  hiberna- 
tion, but  some  have  been  known  (in  captivity,  in  a  region 
south  of  their  native  home)  to  feed  and  moult  once  or 
twice  before  winter;  they  feed  readily  on  violets.  The 
chrysalis  hangs  for  three  weeks  or  more.  The  butterfly  is 
fond  of  the  open  country  and  is  found  only  in  the  West, 
occurring  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  from  Michigan  to  Mon- 
tana north  of  lat.  40°.  Its  seasons  are  all  similar  to  those 
of  our  eastern  species  of  Argynnis.  The  male  has  been 
credited  with  no  odor. 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  79 

ARGYNNIS  CYBELE— THE  GREAT  SPANGLED  ERITILLARY. 

Butterfly. — The  ground  color  of  the  under  surface  of  the  hind 
wings  is  rather  dull  cinnamoneous,  more  or  less  sprinkled  with 
buff,  and  the  buff  band  between  the  two  outer  rows  of  silver  spots 
is  very  broad,  broader  than  the  outermost  brown  border,  and 
extends  from  margin  to  margin.     Expanse  fully  3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  dull  black,  castaneous  behind.  Body 
spined,  dull  black,  the  more  exposed  parts  somewhat  velvety; 
spines  corneous,  shining  blackish  castaneous,  the  base  of  many 
dull  orange  luteous.     Length  1|  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Dark  brown,  creased  and  mottled  with  drab  or 
reddish  brown,  or  almost  wholly  dead-leaf  brown,  more  coarsely 
rugulose  and  with  more  prominent  tubercles  than  in  A.  aphrodite, 
the  basal  segments  of  abdomen  unicolorous.  Length  more  than 
1  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  short  siigar-loaf-shaped,  higher 
than  broad,  with  sixteen  to  eighteen  vertical  ribs,  and 
honey-yellow,  are  laid  singly  on  the  food-plant,  and  also, 
according  to  some  observers,  loosely  dropped  by  the  mother 
while  poising  in  the  air;  they  hatch  in  about  fifteen  days. 
The  caterpillars  go  at  once  into  hibernation,  and  become 
full  fed  on  violets  during  the  next  June.  \A^hen  about  to 
pupate,  the  caterj^illar  seeks  the  under  surface  of  stones 
and  of  bark  lying  on  the  ground,  and  the  chrysalis  hangs 
from  fourteen  to  twentj-four  days.  The  butterflies  are 
found  in  open  fields  and  are  single-brooded,  the  earliest 
appearing  the  last  of  June  and  continuing  to  emerge  from 
the  chrysalis  until  at  least  the  middle  of  July;  they  re- 
main on  the  wing  until  the  middle  of  September  or  later; 
although  pairing  by  the  end  of  July,  the  earliest  females 
not  appearing  until  the  beginning  of  that  month,  eggs  are 
hardly  laid  before  the  middle  of  August.  Further  south, 
according  to  W.  H.  Edwards,  the  butterfiies  appear  at  the 
end  of  May,  but  by  the  first  of  July  have  all  disappeared,  a 
fresh  brood' appearing  about  the  middle  of  August;  jQi 
he  has  never  been  able  to  get  butterflies  of  this  first  brood 


80  THE  COMMON  EH  BUTTERFLIES. 

to  lay  eggs,  nor  has  he  found  mature  eggs  in  the  bodies  of 
females  at  that  season.     The  male  has  no  perceptible  odor. 

8.  Genus  Speyekia. 
SPEYERIA  IDALIA— THE  REGAL  FRITILLARY. 

(Argynnis  idalia.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  fore  wings  brilliaiit  orange, 
marked  with  black,  much  after  the  pattern  of  Argynnis  ;  of  hind 
wings  purpUsh  bkxck,  with  an  extramesial  bent  series  of  cream- 
colored  roundish  spots  and  a  subniarginal  series  of  similar  spots, 
cream-colored  in  the  female,  orange  in  the  male.  Under  surface 
of  fore  wings  as  in  Argynnis,  of  hind  wings  dark  olivaceous, 
heavily  marked,  Argynnis-fashion,  with  series  of  large  silvery 
spots,  edged,  especially  on  the  basal  side,  with  bhick.  Expanse 
3^4  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black  below,  reddish  above.  Body  s])inous, 
velvety  black,  heavily  banded  and  striped  witli  ochrey  yellow  or 
reddish;  spines  corneous,  mostly  yellowish,  the  spinules  black. 
Length  If  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Brown,  tinged  with  pink  and  marked  with  black  in 
rather  small  spots,  scattered  over  the  thorax  and  wings  and  in 
front  of,  sometimes  including,  the  tubercles.  Length  more  than 
1  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  short  sugar-loaf-shaped,  broader 
than  high,  tapering  rapidly,  with  sixteen  to  eighteen  verti- 
cal ribs  and  pale  green,  are  laid  singly  on  the  food -plant, 
probably  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves;  they  hatch  in 
about  thirty  days.  The  caterpillars  at  once  hibernate  after 
devouring  their  egg-shells,  or  possibly  some  remain  in  the 
^g^  all  winter.  The  remainder  of  the  life-history  transpires 
the  next  season,  the  caterpillar  feeding  upon  violets  (and 
Compositae  ?),  the  chrysalis  hanging  (in  the  single  instance 
recorded,  in  West  Virginia)  seventeen  days.  The  butter- 
fly is  somewhat  local  and  is  found  in  open  breezy  places,  oc- 
curring only  in  a  relatively  narrow  belt  across  the  country, 
following  the  annual  isotherm  of  50°  F.;  it  flies  low  and 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  81 

with  no  great  rapidit}^,  settling  suddenly,  and  is  single- 
brooded,  the  males  appearing  at  the  very  end  of  June  or 
early  in  July,  the  females  [ibout  ten  days  later,  and  both 
continuing  on  the  wing  until  near  the  end  of  September, 
fresh  specimens  coming  from  the  chrysalis  until  after  the 
middle  of  August,  indicating  probably  some  lethargy  in  the 
caterpillars.  The  eggs  are  not  laid  until  the  last  of  August 
and  usually  not  until  Sej^tember.  This  is  one  of  our  show- 
iest butterflies  and  the  male  has  a  slight  musky  odor. 

9.    Genus  Ecptoieta. 
EUPTOIETA   CLAUDIA— THE    VARIEGATED   FRITILLARY. 

(Argynnis  columbina  ) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  pale  fulvous,  darker  in  the 
basal  half,  with  an  irregular,  transverse,  black  mesial  line,  darker, 
broader,  and  much  more  abruptly  zigzag  on  the  fore  than  on  the 
hind  wing,  and  a  pair  of  extramesial,  moi'e  or  less  wavy  brown 
lines  enclosing  between  them  a  series  of  round  blackish  spots. 
Under  surface  of  fore  wings  much  like  the  upper,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  a  large  apical  clouded  patch  of  gray  and  brown,  obliquely 
divided;  of  hind  wings  dark  yellowish  brown  with  the  markings 
of  the  upper  surface  obscurely  repeated  and  overlaid  by  hoary 
patches  and  streaks,  especially  forming  a  marginal  and  a  broad 
extramesial  band,  in  both  more  intense  in  tint  toward  the  costal 
margin.     Expanse  more  than  2  to  nearly  3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  blackish,  orange  above.  Body  spinous, 
very  variable  in  color  but  generally  of  some  glistening  shade  of 
reddish  orange,  twice  longitudinally  banded  on  each  side  with 
black,  enclosing  or  partly  enclosing  squarish  white  spots.  Length 
IJ  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Silvery  white,  dotted  and  blotched  with  black  ; 
wings  much  blotched  with  black;  tubercles  gilt,  but  sometimes 
silvery  behind,  nearly  encircled  with  black.     Length  f  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  short  sugar-loaf-shaped,  with  from 
thirty  to  forty  vertical  ribs  and  pale  green,  are  laid  singly 
on  the  food-plant  and  hatcli  in  from  five  to  twelve  da3^s. 


82  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

The  caterpillar  feeds  on  a  considerable  variety  of  polypeta- 
lons  plants,  but  particularly  on  Passiflora  and  Sedum;  it 
feeds  readily  on  violets  and  has  been  known  to  be  injurious 
to  the  garden  pansy;  it  probably  feeds  only  by  night.  The 
chrysalis  hangs  for  about  eleven  days.  The  butterfly  fre- 
quents open  fields  and  is  a  southern  form,  though  occurring 
farther  nortli  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  than  in  the  East;  it 
is  rarely  found  in  southern  New  England  and  perhaps  does 
not  Avinter  there.  It  is  apparently  triple-brooded ;  the  last 
brood  is  the  most  numerous  and  appears  so  late  that,  taking 
into  account  the  appearance  of  butterflies  very  early  in  the 
spring,  it  seems  probable  either  that  the  butterfly  itself 
hibernates  or  else  that  some  of  the  autumn  chrysalids  con- 
tinue over  the  winter,  or  both ;  but  it  is  not  unlikely  also  that 
caterpillars  from  eggs  laid  late  in  the  season  may  hibernate 
as  soon  as  hatched  or  when  partly  grown.  It  is  only  by 
further  careful  observation  and  experiment  in  the  Middle 
and  Southern  States  that  the  life-history  of  this  butterfly 
can  be  determined.  The  inequality  of  the  broods  would 
indicate  lethargic  tendencies  in  midsummer  caterpillars. 


The  genus  Semnopsyche  (5.  diana)  also  occurs  in  the  southernmost 
part  of  our  district. 

TRIBE  ANGLE-WINGS. 
10.  Genus  Junonia. 

JUNONIA   C(ENIA— THE   BUCKEYE. 

(Vanessa  coenia,  Junonia  lavinia). 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  blackish  brown,  marked 
with  orange  patches  and  with  peacock-eye  spots;  on  the  fore 
wings  two  parallel  orange  bars  cross  the  cell,  and  between  them 
and  the  tip  a  broad  bent  whitish  band  crosses  the  wing,  broaden- 
ing below  and  enclosing  near  the  lower  outer  angle  a  large  pea- 
cock-eye with  a  velvet-black  ground;  on  the  outer  half  of  the 
hind  wings  are  two  such  spots,  the  smaller  the  lower,  and  between 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  83 

them  and  tlie  brown  margin  an  orange  band.  Under  surface 
gray-brown,  more  or  less  ferruginous,  only  the  markings  of  the 
fore  wing  repeated,  the  spots  of  the  hind  wing  becoming  small 
and  inconspicuous  ocelli.     Expanse  more  than  2  inches. 

Caterpillar.  — Head  dark  glossy  brown,  sprinkled  with  yellow 
tubercles,  the  summits  crowned  with  an  equal  spine  of  moderate 
height.  Body  spinous,  black-gray,  marked  with  minute,  black- 
edged  orange  dashes  and  dots  transversely  arranged  and  a  pair 
of  maculate  pale  stripes  next  the  spiracles  ;  spines  nearly  as  long 
as  the  segments,  all  furnished  throughout  with  spinules,  not  stel- 
late, luteo-fuscons  with  a  metallic  lustre.     Length  H  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Brown  with  dusky  shades  and  more  or  less 
mottled  and  marked  with  black  and  cream  color,  the  latter  on 
the  abdomen;  tubercles  and  alar  ridge  blunt  and  rounded. 
Length  1  inch  or  less. 

The  eggs,  which  are  globose,  with  ten  very  thin  high 
vertical  ribs  and  dark  green  in  color,  are  laid  singly  on  the 
tips  and  nnJer  side  of  the  leaves  of  the  food-plant  and 
hatch  in  four  days.  The  caterpillar  feeds  on  Gerardia  and 
a  few  other  Scrophulariaceae,  as  well  as  on  some  other  plants, 
at  first  upon  the  under  surface  leaving  only  a  skeleton, 
afterwards  openly  and  at  all  times  with  no  web.  The 
chrysalis  hangs  from  seven  to  seventeen  days,  according 
to  the  season.  The  butterfly  lives  in  the  open  country, 
has  a  strong  and  vigorous  flight,  and  is  a  southern  spe- 
cies, though  it  is  seen  occasionally  as  far  north  as  south- 
ern New  England  and  the  southern  edge  of  the  Great 
Lakes.  In  the  South  there  are  several  broods  annually, 
the  butterfly  hibernating;  in  the  northern  ^i\i't  of  its  range 
there  may  more  probably  be  only  two,  and  it  is  doubtful 
whether  in  the  farthest  points  at  which  it  is  found  it  is 
indigenous,  as  all  captures  have  been  made  late  in  the  sea- 
son, perhaps  the  progeny  of  individuals  which  have  flown 
far  north  beyond  the  natural  limits.  A  single  specimen 
was  even  taken  by  Geddes  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  of 
Canada,  to  which  it  must  certainly  have  flown  from  a  dis- 
tant point. 


84  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

11.  Genus  Vanessa. 

VANESSA   CARDUI— THE   PAINTED    LADY,    or    THISTLE 

BUTTERFLY. 

(Cyntliia  cardui,  Pyrameis  cardai.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  blacki.sh  brown,  lieavily 
and  irregularly  marked  with  orange;  apical  half  of  fore  wings 
uneqnally  spotted  with  white  and  hind  wings  with  a  premarginal 
series  of  round  black  spots.  Under  surface  of  fore  wings  like 
the  upper  with  exaggerated  markings;  of  hind  wings  lieavily 
marbled  and  transversely  lined  with  a  mingling  of  white,  oliva- 
ceous brown,  and  gray,  the  submarginal  spots  of  the  upper  sur- 
face becoming  more  or  less  perfect  and  unequal  peacock-eye 
ocelli,  occurring  in  nearly  all  the  interspaces.  Expanse  2^-3 
inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  blackish  with  pale  hairs,  not  spined  on 
summit.  Body  spinous,  dingy  olivaceous  yellow,  with  a  more  or 
less  inconspicuous  delicate  tracery  of  paler  color  and  a  mottling 
of  velvety  black,  varying  considerably  in  relative  amount,  and 
with  a  conspicuous  infrastigmatal  yellow  stripe;  spines,  including 
a  mediodorsal  one  on  both  first  and  second  abdominal  segments, 
yellowish,  the  spinules  of  the  apical  circlet  as  long  as  the  spine 
below  the  circlet;  hairs  on  body  much  more  than  half  as  long  as 
the  spines.     Length  \\  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Greenish,  nacreous,  or  bluish  white,  delicately 
creased  with  black  and  banded  with  light  brown  or  livid,  the 
tubercles  often  gold-tipped;  no  distinct  supralateral  tubercle  on 
eighth  abdominal  segment,  and  the  wing  tubercles  blunter  liuui 
in  the  other  species  of  the  genus.  Length  somewhat  less  than  1 
inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  barrel-shaped,  a  third  higher  than 
broad,  with  about  sixteen  thin  high  vertical  ribs  and  pale 
green,  are  laid  singly  upon  the  npper  surface  of  the  leaves 
of  the  food-plant  and  hatch  in  from  six  to  eight  days. 
The  caterpillar  feeds  upon  almost  any  kind  of  thistle, 
which  is  its  favorite  plant,  but  also  upon  other  Comj^osite 
plants,  especially  x\naphalis,  and  it  is  also  partial  to  Mal- 
vaceae.    On  hatching  the  caterpillar  leaves  its  egg-shell 


FAMILY  BRUSH  FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  85 

uneaten,  and  after  a  meal  or  two  on  the  parench^'ma  of 
the  upper  side  of  the  leaf  2iasses  to  the  under  surface  and 
makes  a  filmy  solitary  nest  next  one  of  tlu'  ribs,  into  ^vhich 
from  time  to  time,  as  it  needs  to  enlarge  it,  it  weayes  bitten 
particles  of  the  leaf  or  leaf-hairs;  later  it  makes  a  larger 
nest  or  tent,  often  at  the  summit  of  the  plant,  sometimes 
implicating  seyeral  of  its  leaves,  or  stretching  across  inequal- 
ities of  surface  in  a  single  leaf  beneath  which  it  liyes.  The 
chrysalis  hancrs  from  eio'ht  to  fourteen  days.     The  butter- 

•,00  «> 

fly  inhabits  open  fields  and  is  more  nearly  cosmopolitan  in 
its  distribution  than  any  butterfly  known,  being  found  in 
almost  eyery  quarter  of  the  globe  except  in  South  America 
(in  the  northern  parts  only  of  which  is  it  found)  and  the 
arctic  regions.  It  is  generally  regarded  as  single-brooded 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  Europe,  but  with  us,  even 
as  far  north  as  Xew  England  and  Canada,  it  is  certainly 
double-brooded.  It  hibernates  in  the  butterfly  state  (per- 
haps also  some  autumn  chrysalids  pass  over  the  winter) 
and  so  appears  early  in  the  spring.  Eggs  are  laid  late  in 
May  and  early  in  June;  the  caterpillars  become  fully  grown 
between  the  middle  of  June  and  the  end  of  July,  and  before 
the  middle  of  July  the  first  brood  of  butterflies  makes  its 
appearance.  Eggs  are  again  laid  by  the  end  of  this  month 
niul  during  August,  and  late  in  August  or  early  in  Septem- 
ber a  second  brood  of  butterflies  appears.  More  than  most 
butterflies  this  species  is  subject  to  extensive  fluctuations 
in  numbers,  and  in  Europe  at  least  has  been  known  to 
migrate  in  vast  flocks. 

VANESSA   HUNTERA-THE   PAINTED  BEAUTY. 

(Cynthia  liuntera,  Pyrameis  buntera,  Pyrameis  virginiensis, 

Pyrameis  terpsicliore.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  much  as  in  T".  carduU 
excepting  that  the  largest  pale  spot  in  the  apical  half  of  the  fore 
wings  is  wliite  in  the  male  but  orange  in  the  female,  and  that  the 


86  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

premarginal  series  of  spots  on  the  hind  wing  becomes  a  more  or 
less  continuous  band  with  the  bhie  pupil  of  an  ocellus  in  two  of 
the  interspaces.  The  under  surface  of  the  hind  wings  is  smoky 
brow'n,  with  a  conspicuous  tracery  of  whitish  cross  lines  on  the 
basal  half,  and  a  broad,  irregular,  mesial  white  band,  beyond 
which  are  two  moderately  large,  exquisitely  formed,  round  pea- 
cock-eye spots.     Expanse  2-2|  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  without  spines  on  summits.  Body 
spinous,  velvety  black,  with  delicate,  transverse,  yellowish  lines 
next  the  incisures,  and  at  the  front  base  of  the  supralateral 
spines,  from  the  second  abdominal  segment  backward,  a  con- 
spicuous, round,  silvery- white  spot ;  spines,  including  a  medio- 
dorsal  one  on  both  first  and  second  abdominal  segments,  black ; 
hairs  short.     Length  1^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Didl  grayish  white  marked  with  brown  or  oliva- 
ceous, sometimes  golden  green  marked  with  purple,  the  darker 
markings  in  part  forming  an  irregular  broad  band  along  the 
sides  from  one  end  of  the  body  to  the  other  ;  tubercles  orange- 
tipped,  the  supralateral  series,  including  one  on  the  eighth  ab- 
dominal segment,  bluntly  conical.     Length  f  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  barrel-shaped,  slightly  liigher  than 
broad,  with  thirteen  to  sixteen  thin  high  vertical  ribs  and 
yellowish  green,  are  laid  singly  on  the  npper  surface  of 
the  leaves  of  the  food-plant  and  crowded  down  between 
the  hairs  which  cover  it;  their  period  has  never  been  re- 
corded. The  caterpillars  feed  almost  exclusively  on 
Gnaphalieae,  a  group  of  Composite  plants  nearly  allied  to 
the  thistles,  and  particularly  on  "everlasting,^^  Gnaphalium, 
but  they  have  also  been  found  on  a  number  of  other  j^lants, 
including  thistles.  ,0n  emerging  from  the  egg,  they  bur- 
row beneath  the  silken  hairs  of  the  food-j)lant,  bite  them 
off  and,  miugling  them  with  much  silk,  form  at  once  a 
dense  Avhite  mat;  beneath  this  they  devour  the  j'^aren- 
chyma  and  then  enlarge  the  nest,  never  leaving  it  for  food 
but  enclosing  larger  and  larger  areas,  until  finally  many 
leaves  are  drawn  together,  the  bitten-oif  inflorescence  of 
the  Gnaphalium  interwoven  with  the  web,  and   a  nest 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  87 

formed  as  large  as  a  pigeon's  Qgg]  only  in  the  last  few 
days  of  their  life  do  they  leave  the  nest  and  devour  the 
entire  leaf.  The  chrysalis,  sometimes  formed  within  the 
final  nest,  hangs  from  ten  to  twelve  days.  The  butterfly 
is  a  vigorous  flyer  and  is  found  in  open  fields.  It  is  double- 
brooded  in  the  North,  hibernating  as  a  butterfly  and  also 
to  some  extent  as  a  chrysalis.  The  hibernating  butterflies 
leave  their  winter  quarters  about  the  middle  of  May  and 
the  chrysalids  give  forth  their  contents  a  few  weeks  later; 
eggs  are  laid  early  in  June,  and  from  the  middle  of  July 
to  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  August  the  butterflies  of 
the  first  brood  (proper)  of  the  season  make  their  appear- 
ance. Eggs  are  again  laid  in  August,  and  the  second 
brood  of  butterflies  flies  from  the  middle  of  September  to 
the  end  of  the  season.  As  the  butterfly  is  long-lived,  indi- 
viduals may  be  seen  on  the  wing  throughout  the  entire 
season  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the  end  of  October.  In 
the  South  the  number  of  broods  is  certainly  greater,  and 
the  winter  is  passed  in  the  butterfly  state,  if  not  also  in 
the  chrysalis. 

VANESSA  ATALANTA— THE  RED  ADMIRAL. 
(Cynthia  atalanta,  Pyrameis  atalanta.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  purplish  black,  the  fore 
wings  with  white  markings  at  the  apex  as  in  other  species  of 
Vanessa,  but  also  with  a  conspicuous,  oblique,  curved  belt  of 
bright  orange  across  the  middle  of  the  wing ;  hind  wings  mar- 
gined with  the  same.  Under  surface  of  hind  wings  greatly 
varied  with  marbling  and  transverse  wavy  lineation  of  pale 
brown  olivaceous  gray  and  black  markings  of  intricate  pattern, 
including  a  triangular  gray  patch  on  the  middle  of  the  costal 
border  and  a  dusting  of  metallic  green  on  a  submargiual  series 
of  obscure  dark  ocelli.    Expanse  2^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Very  similar  to  that  of  V.  cardtd,  including 
mediodorsal  spines  on  first  and  second  abdominal  segments,  but 
perhaps  even  more  variable  in  coloring ;  usually,  however,  more 


88  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

or  less  of  a  saffron  tint,  the  distinct  light  lateral  band  more  com- 
monly macular  than  in  V.  cardui,  the  hairs  notably  shorter,  be- 
ing less  than  half  as  long  as  the  spines,  and  the  spinules  of  the 
apical  circlet  not  one  third  as  long  as  the  spine  below  the  circlet. 
Length  1^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Ashen  brown,  more  or  less  clouded  with  blackish 
fuscous  and  with  a  dark  stigmatal  band,  burt  enlivened  by  some 
brilliant  more  or  less  golden  spots  and  dotted  with  black ;  tuber- 
cles brownish  yellow  except  some  golden  ones  in  the  constricted 
base  of  the  abdomen,  the  supralateral  series  extending  upon  the 
eighth  abdominal  segment  and  sharply  conical.  Length  more 
than  f  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  barrel- shaped  with  nine  thin  high 
vertical  ribs  and  delicate  green  in  color,  are  laid  singly  on 
the  npper  surface  of  the  food-plant  and  hatch  in  five  or 
six  days.  The  caterpillar  feeds  on  Urticaceons  plants  and 
almost  exclusively  on  true  nettle  (Urtica).  On  quitting 
the  Qgg  the  caterpillar  partially  devours  it  and  then  gener- 
ally makes  its  way  to  another  leaf — by  preference  one  of 
the  half-opened  ones  at  the  summit  of  the  plant — and  fast- 
ening together  different  jooints  of  the  leaf  makes  a  canopy 
under  which  it  lives,  eatinsr  onlv  the  surface  of  the  leaf 
beneath  the  web;  later  it  catches  the  outer  edges  of  a 
larger  leaf  together  with  silk,  and  lives  in  the  tube  thus 
formed,  devouring  the  lower  edges  until  it  has  eaten  itself 
out  of  house  and  home;  it  then  forms  another  nest,  first 
Ijiting  the  stem  partly  through  so  as  to  cause  it  to  droop. 
The  chrysalis  often  transforms  in  one  of  these  bowers 
after  hanging  for  about  ten  days.  This  butterfly,  again, 
is  an  inhabitant  of  the  oj^en  field  and  is  found  all  over 
Europe  as  well  as  North  America.  Its  life-history  is  much 
like  that  of  V.  Mcntera,  it  being  double-brooded  and  hi- 
bernating principally  as  a  butterfly,  but  also  as  a  chrysalis. 
About  the  second  week  in  May  the  butterfly  comes  out  of 
winter  quarters,  and  by  the  first  week  in  June  the  chrysa- 
lids  begin  to  disclose  their  inmates,  both  sets  of  butterflies 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTEUFLIES  89 

laying  eggs  at  or  about  the  same  time,  so  that  caterpillars 
may  be  found  throughout  the  whole  of  June  and  the  first 
half  of  July,  and  butterflies  of  the  new  brood  emerge  from 
the  chrysalis  throughout  July.  Eggs  are  laid  at  once,  and 
then  a  fresh  lot  of  caterpillars  may  be  found  directly  the 
old  ones  have  disappeared,  or  even  before  that.  These 
develop  into  butterflies  by  the  very  last  of  August,  and 
continue  on  the  wing  until  they  disappear  into  their  win- 
ter hiding-places.  This  they  do  among  the  very  last  of 
our  hibernating  butterflies.  Further  south  there  are 
doubtless  a  greater  number  of  broods. 

12.    Genus  Aglais. 

AGLAIS    MILBERTI— AMERICAN   TORTOISE-SHELL. 

(Vanessa  milberti,   Nymphalis  milberti,  Vanessa  furcillata.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  blackish  brown  with  two 
orange  fulvous  spots  in  the  cell  of  the  fore  wings  and  a  very 
broad  premarginal  band  of  the  same  crossing  both  wings,  on  the 
fore  wings  divided  at  its  upper  extremity;  a  marginal  series  of 
small  blue  lunnles.  Under  surface  slate-brown,  the  premarginal 
band  gray-brown,  crowded  with  cross-threads  of  blackish  brown, 
the  basal  half  with  distant  black  cross-threads.  Expanse  2 
inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  with  white  papillae,  not  spined  on 
summits.  Body  spinous,  the  spines  shorter  than  the  segments, 
with  a  mediodorsal  spine  on  second  but  not  on  first  abdominal 
segment ;  velvety  black  above,  profusely  dotted,  except  on  dorsal 
line,  with  whitish  papillae,  giving  a  snuff -gray  appearance,  green- 
ish yellow  beneath.     Length  nearly  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Pale  brown,  everywhere  creased  and  flecked  with 
dark  fuliginous  ;  or  pale  golden  green  with  indistinct  ferruginous 
creases  and  then  marked  with  salmon  and  livid  tints  ;  ocellar 
tubercles  pointed,  a  mediodorsal  tubercle  on  second  abdominal 
segment,  the  mesothoracic  prominence  not  compressed  at  tip. 
Length  f  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  barrel -shaj^ed,  as  broad  as  high,  with 
nine  or  ten  thin  and  high  vertical  ribs  and  pale  grass-green, 


90  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

are  laid  in  masses  close  together  in  several  superposed  layers 
or  heaps  to  the  number  of  several  hundred  on  the  under 
side  of  leaves  of  the  food-plant  near  the  summit;  they 
hatch  in  about  six  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  upon  nettles 
and  are  social  in  the  first  half  of  their  life,  at  once,  without 
devouring  the  egg-shell,  climbing  to  the  summit  of  the 
2:>lant,  lining  it  with  a  web  beneath  which  they  swarm; 
when  half  grown  they  disperse  and  live  more  openly  or  in 
partial  shelters,  as  where  three  or  four  may  be  found  to- 
gether in  incompletely  closed  leaves  of  nettle,  open  at  tip 
but  closed  at  base,  by  whicli  a  reversed  pocket  is  formed 
within  which  they  live  when  not  feeding.  The  chrysalids 
usually  hang  for  ten  or  twelve  days.  The  butterfly  has  a 
lively  flight,  is  found  by  roadsides  in  Canada  and  the  North- 
ern United  States  as  far  south  as  the  latitude  of  New  York 
City,  or  higher  than  that  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  It  is 
triple-brooded,  hibernating  in  both  the  butterfly  and  the 
chrysalis  state,  in  the  former  under  piled  stones.  The 
wintering  butterflies  come  out  while  the  snow  still  lies  on  the 
ground,  and  in  April  the  wintering  chrysalids  give  birth 
to  the  enclosed  butterflies  which  may  be  found  on  the  wing 
through  May.  Eggs  are  first  laid  late  in  April,  and  by 
about  the  middle  of  June  the  butterflies  from  caterjiillars 
of  the  same  season  begin  to  fly;  by  the  end  of  July  a  sec- 
ond, and  by  the  first  of  September  a  third  brood  of  butter- 
flies appears,  though  some  of  the  later  chrysalids  continue 
ov^r  the  winter;  even  as  late  as  November  the  butterfly 
may  sometimes  be  seen  on  the  wing. 

13.    Genus  Euvanessa. 

EUVANESSA    ANTIOPA— THE   MOURNING  CLOAK. 

(Vanessa  aiitiopa.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  rich  maroon,  deepening 
into  black  next  the  straw  yellow,  black-dusted,  outer  margin,  and 
in  the  black  enlivened  by  small  dashes  of  blue.     Under  surface 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  91 

nearly  uniform  black-gray  through  a  mingling  of  crowded  trans- 
verse threads  of  black  and  blue  (as  seen  under  a  lens),  the  broad 
outer  margin  ashen  white,  much  flecked  with  brown.  Expanse 
3-3^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  not  spined  on  summits.  Body 
spinous,  the  spines  much  longer  than  the  segments,  but  no  me- 
diodorsal  spines  on  either  first  or  second  abdominal  segments; 
velvety  black,  sprinkled  with  white  papillae  and  with  a  row  of 
large  mediodorsal  orange  spots;  prolegs  reddish.  Length  2 
inches. 

Chrysalis. — Dark  yellow-browni  marked  with  blackish  fuscous, 
often  with  a  pale  bloom  and  tinged  with  roseate  ;  larger  tubercles 
red-tipped  ;  ocellar  tubercles  pointed;  no  mediodorsal  tubercle 
on  second  abdominal  segment.     Length  1  inch  or  more. 

The  eggs  are  barrel-shaped,  slightly  higher  than  broad, 
with  seven  or  eight  thin  high  vertical  ribs  fading  next  base 
and  ure  of  a  pale  yellow  at  first,  changing  to  dark  brown 
and  then  to  inky  black;  they  are  laid  in  a  single  layer  in 
rings  encircling  or  nearly  encircling  one  of  the  terminal 
twigs  of  the  food-plant  near  its  tip  and  hatch  in  from  nine 
to  sixteen  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  principally  npon 
willows  and  elm,  but  also  on  poplars  and  to  a  less  extent  on 
a  number  of  allied  plants;  they  are  gregarious  throughout 
life,  and  in  feeding  at  first  range  themselves  side  by  side  in 
compact  columns;  they  spin,  however  but  little  web  and 
this  merely  to  make  a  track  upon  the  stems  of  the  food- 
plant,  along  which  they  travel  in  a  procession  Avhen  moving 
from  place  to  place.  The  chrysalis  state  lasts  from  eight 
to  sixteen  days  according  to  the  season,  and  the  butterfly  is 
double-bfooded,  hibernating  in  the  perfect  stage.  The 
butterflies  come  out  the  first  of  the  butterfly  hibernators — 
any  ,varm  winter  day  may  lure  them — and  lay  eggs  early  in 
May,  from  w^hich  a  first  brood  of  the  season's  butterflies 
springs  into  being  very  late  in  June  or  early  in  July;  by 
the  middle  or  last  of  July  eggs  are  again  laid,  and  the  sec- 
ond brood  of  butterflies  is  on  the  wing  early  in  September 


92  THE  COMMON  Ell  BUTTERFLIES. 

and  remains  on  the  wing  until  early  in  I^ovember.  In  the 
northern  part  of  its  range,  however,  as  in  the  White  Moun- 
tains of  New  Hampshire,  the  butterfly  is  single-brooded, 
appearing  early  in  August. 

14.  Gknus  Eugonia, 
EUGONIA   J-ALBUM— THE   COMPTON  TORTOISE. 

(Vanessa  j -album,  Grapta  j -allium,  Nymphalis  j -album.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  tawny  orange,  paling  into 
yellow  on  the  outer  half  of  the  wings,  marked  heavily  with 
black  especially  on  the  fore  wings,  where  three  large  black 
patches  depend  from  the  costal  margin,  while  four  smaller  patches 
occur  in  the  middle  of  the  lower  half  of  the  wing  ;  a  small  white 
transverse  bar  near  apex  of  fore  wings,  repeated  nearer  the  base 
on  the  hind  wing.  Under  surface  brownish  cinereous,  darker  on 
basal  half,  everywhere  transversely  streaked  with  dark  threads 
or  clouded  with  fuliginous  shades  ;  an  L-shaped  white  spot  at 
apex  of  cell  of  hind  wings,  the  lower  limb  subobsolete.  Expanse 
nearly  3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  lighter  or  darker,  but  dark  above  and 
crowned  with  prominent  black  spines.  Body  spinous,  variable 
in  color  but  darker  above  than  below,  and  more  or  less  green, 
dotted  with  white  and  with  longitudinal,  light-colored,  often 
whitish,  maculate  stripes  ;  the  upper  spines  black  with  rufous 
base,  the  lower  lighter  colored,  those  of  the  thoracic  segments 
with  no  spinules  on  the  basal  half.     Length  l|^-2  inches. 

Chrysalis.—  Green  of  various  shades,  often  covered  with  a 
whitish  bloom,  sometimes  clouded  with  brown,  sometimes 
roseate,  the  tubercles  in  the  saddle  metallic  golden,  the  meso- 
thoracic  prominence  apically  compressed,  a  mediodorsal  tubercle 
on  second  abdominal  segment,  the  suprastigmatal  tubercle  on 
eighth  abdominal  segment  obsolete.     Length  1  inch. 

The  eggs  are  doubtless  laid  in  small  clusters  on  the  food- 
plant,  but  they  have  never  yet  been  found.  The  caterpil- 
lars feed  upon  the  white  birch  in  company  (fifteen  have 
been  found  together),  but  no  w^eb  has  been  mentioned. 
The  chrysalis  hangs  for  about  ten  days.     The  butterfly  is 


FAMILY  BRUSH  FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES,  93 

a  northern  species,  having  in  eastern  America  ahnost 
precisely  the  range  of  AgJais  milherti,  and  is  fonnd  in 
forest  roads  and  open  woodhmd.  It  is  probably  single- 
brooded  and  winters  as  a  bntterfly,  ajopearing  fresh  on  the 
Aving  at  the  very  end  of  June  and  early  in  July,  but 
becoming  much  more  numerous  later  in  the  season  and 
hibernating  in  October,  appearing  again  in  the  early  spring 
and  laying  eggs  early  in  May.  A  swarm  of  this  butterfly 
invaded  one  of  the  Nantucket  light-houses  one  September 
night,  perhaps  in  migration. 

15.  Genus  Poltgonia. 

The  butterflies  of  this  genus  may  be  distinguished  al- 
most at  a  glance  by  their  greatly  angulated  and  excised 
wings.  All  are  tawny-colored  above,  heavily  spotted  and, 
especially  the  hind  wings,  broadly  bordered  with  black; 
the  dark  markings  of  the  fore  wings  consist  mainly  of  two 
stout  bars  depending  from  the  costal  margin  and,  around 
I  he  inner  bar,  of  a  series  of  five  or  six  rounded  spots 
arranged  in  a  line  bent  at  right  angles,  one  limb  parallel 
to,  the  other  depending  from,  the  costal  margin.  The 
species  differ  principally  in  the  colorings  and  markings  of 
the  under  surface  of  the  hind  wings. 

POLYGONIA   PROGNE— THE  GRAY  COMMA. 

(Vanessa  progne,  Grapta  progne,  Grapta  c-argenteum.) 

Butterfly. — Middle  of  outer  margin  of  fore  wings  distinctly 
crenulate ;  tail  of  hind  wings  not  more  than  twice  as  long  as 
broad  ;  under  surface  of  same  wings  gray,  traversed  by  trans- 
verse blackish  threads,  with  sliglit  greenish  snbmarginal  mark- 
ings, and  a  central  thin  silvery  L,  the  upper  limb  pointed  at  tip. 
Expanse  fully  2  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  brown,  crowned  by  long  and  slender 
spines  having  lateral  spinules  thrown  off  from  the  middle,  and 
not  so  long  as  the  portion  of  the  central  spine  beyond  them  ; 


94  THE  COMMON  Ell  BUTTERFLIES. 

body  spinous,  yellowish  brown,  uniformly  variegated  above  with 
blaekisli  olivaceous  ;  spines  mostly  black.  Length  more  than 
1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Greatly  variegated  with  buff,  olive-green,  brown, 
white  and  salmon-red;  ocellar  tubercles  equal  on  basal  half,  con- 
ical beyond,  the  notch  between  them  broader  than  deep  ;  largest 
abdominal  tubercles  not  very  much  larger  than  tlie  others.  Length 
nearly  1  inch. 

Tlie  eggs,  which  are  pale  green,  barrel-shaped  and  ribbed, 
are  laid  singly  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  leaves  of  the 
food-plant  and  hatch  in  four  or  five  days.  The  caterpillar 
feeds  openly  on  species  of  Kibes  (currant,  gooseberry, 
etc.)  and  probably  other  Grossulaceae  and  will  eat  elm. 
The  chrysalis  state  varies  from  ten  to  sixteen  days  and  has 
been  known  to  be  as  short  as  seven.  The  butterfly  is  a 
northern  species,  hardly  occurring  south  of  lat.  40",  is 
fond  of  lanes  and  the  vicinity  of  barns,  and  is  greatly  ad- 
dicted to  the  moisture  from  drying  fruit.  It  is  double- 
brooded,  hibernating  as  a  butterfly,  coming  out  in  March, 
laying  eggs  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  continuing  on 
the  wing  into  June.  At  the  very  eaid  of  June  or  early  in 
July  the  new  butterflies  begin  to  appear,  lay  eggs  the  same 
month,  and  the  second  brood,  which  is  the  more  abundant, 
comes  upon  the  stage  in  the  latter  part  of  August  and 
early  in  September;  very  few  have  not  sought  their  winter 
quarters  by  the  middle  of  October. 

POLYGONIA  FAUNUS— THE  GREEN  COMMA. 

(Grapta  faunus,  Vanessa  f annus,  Nymphalis  f annus.) 

Butterfly. — Middle  of  outer  margin  of  fore  wings  conspicuous- 
ly crenate  ;  tail  of  hind  wings  not  more  than  twice  as  long  as 
broad  ;  under  surface  of  same  wings  dark  gray- brown,  much 
enlivened  by  green  and  ashen  along  the  outer  third,  especially  in 
the  male,  and  with  a  central,  heavy,  silvery  comma  with  expand- 
ed tips.    Expanse  fully  2  inches. 

Caterpillar.— Head  black  with  a  pale  W  on  the  front,  crowned 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  9.5 

by  not  very  long  black  spines.  Body  spinous,  brownish  yellow, 
with  a  large  dorsal  white  patch  on  posterior  half  of  body  in  strik- 
ing contrast  to  the  rest ;  spines  white.     Length  1}  inches. 

Clirysalis. — Pale  wood-brown,  streaked  with  dusky  green  ; 
ocellar  tubercles  equal  on  basal  half,  conical  beyond,  the  notch 
between  them  deeper  than  broad  ;  largest  tubercles  of  abdominal 
segments  not  very  much  larger  than  the  others.  Length  nearly 
1  inch. 

The  grass-green,  barrel-shaped,  ribbed  eggs  are  laid 
singly  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  leaves  of  the  food-plant 
and  hatch  in  one  week.  The  caterpillar  feeds  principally 
on  willow  and  black  birch,  but  has  also  been  taken  on 
alder,  currant,  and  wild  gooseberry;  it  does  not  devour  its 
egg-shell  on  hatching,  but  immediately  crawls  to  the  under 
side  of  the  leaf,  otherwise  living  openly  and  making  no 
sort  of  nest.  The  chrysalis  state  lasts  from  eight  to  fifteen 
days.  The  butterfly  is  a  northern  species,  not  occurring 
in  the  east  south  of  Massachusetts  (except  along  the  Ap- 
palachians), though  in  the  Mississip23i  Valley  it  comes  as 
far  south  as  Iowa  and  northern  Nebraska.  It  is  very 
active  in  its  movements,  partial  to  roadw^ays,  especially 
through  the  forest,  and  although  on  the  wing  the  entire 
summer  appears  to  be  only  single-brooded.  It  hibernates 
as  a  butterfly  and  lays  eggs  in  the  latter  half  of  May  and 
throughout  June,  and  about  the  middle  of  July  the  brood 
of  butterflies  of  the  season  appears  while  some  of  the 
hibernators  are  still  on  the  wing;  butterflies  continue  to 
emerge  from  the  chrysalis  for  a  month,  and  it  is  not  until 
the  middle  of  October  that  they  have  all  retired  to  winter 
quarters. 

POLYGONIA  COMMA— THE  HOP  MERCHANT. 

(Vanessa  comma,  Grapta  couiina,  Vanessa  c-album,  Grapta  dryas, 

Nymphalis  dryas.) 

Butterfly. — Middle  of  the  outer  margin  of  fore  wings  distinctly 
crenate  ;  tail  of  hind  wings  not  more  than  twice  as  long  as  broad; 


96  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

under  surface  of  same  wings  dark  brown  on  basal  half,  lighter 
brown  (more  or  less  cinereous  in  the  male)  on  apical  half,  consider- 
able variegated  (especially  in  the  male)  and  traversed  by  short 
transverse  threads  of  darker  brown  throughout,  with  a  central 
lieavy  silvery  comma  expanded  at  tlie  ends.    Expanse  2-2^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  more  or  less  faced  with  green, 
crowned  by  stout  and  not  very  long  black  spines,  the  spinules  of 
which,  emitted  from  the  middle,  are  about  as  long  as  the  part  of 
the  spine  beyond  them.  Body  spinous,  varying  in  different  in- 
dividuals from  green  to  dark  brown,  in  the  latter  case  light  below, 
and  transversely  and  narrowly  lined  with  lighter  colors  above  ; 
spines  pellucid.     Length  1  inch. 

Chrysalis, — Pale  wood-brown,  tinged  and  streaked  with  pale 
green  ;  ocellar  tubercles  conical  throughout,  the  largest  abdominal 
tubercles  strikingly  larger  than  the  others,  mesothoracic  tubercle 
triangular,  on  side  view.     Length  nearly  1  inch. 

The  pale  green,  barrel-shaped,  ribbed  eggs  are  laid  singly 
or  more  commonly  in  columns  of  from  two  to  nine  upon 
the  under  surface  or  stems  of  the  leaves  of  the  food-plant 
and  hatch  in  four  or  five  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  on 
Urticaceous  plants,  particularly  on  the  hop,  to  which  they 
are  sometimes  destructive.  The  top  Qgg  of  the  column 
hatches  first  and  the  rest  in  succession  down,  or  rather  up, 
the  column  ;  the  eggs  are  not  eaten  and  the  caterpillar  is 
strictly  solitary,  two  being  rarely  found  on  one  leaf  ;  at  first 
it  lives  openly,  but  later  in  life  it  draws  together  the  edges 
of  the  leaf  on  the  under  side  of  which  it  is  living,  sufficiently 
to  protect  it  from  sight  and  the  weather,  emerging  from  it 
at  night  to  feed.  The  chrysalis  generally  hangs  from  seven 
to  eleven  days,  but  late  in  the  season  the  time  is  sometimes 
prolonged  to  eighteen  days.  The  butterfly  is  wary  and 
active,  inhabits  the  open  country,  fields,  etc.,  and  is  double- 
brooded.  The  butterfly  hibernates  and  is  on  the  wing  from 
March  to  May  and  sometimes  early  June,  lays  eggs  on  the 
tender  leaves  as  soon  as  they  burst,  and  the  first  fresh  but- 
terflies of  the  season  appear  at  the  end  of  June  and  fly 
through  August.     Eggs  are  again   laid  late  in  July  and 


FAMILY  BRUSn-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  97 

iu  August  and  the  butterflies  of  the  second  brood  appear 
tlie  last  week  in  August ;  they  have  all  or  almost  all  gone 
into  winter  quarters  before  October. 

There  are  two  ver}^  distinct  forms  of  this  butterfly,  one 
(dryas)  with  the  upper  surface  of  the  hind  wings  much 
darker  than  the  other  (harrisii) ;  most  of  the  first  brood  are 
of  the  former,  most  of  the  second  of  the  latter,  but  not  in- 
variably. 

POLYGONIA  INTERROGATIONIS.— THE  VIOLET  TIP. 

(Vanessa  interrogationis,  Grapta  interrogationis,  Grapta  fabricii, 

Grapta  iimbrosa.) 

Butterfly. — Middle  of  outer  margin  of  fore  wings  scarcely 
crenulate;  tail  of  hind  wings  several  times  longer  than  broad; 
under  surface  of  same  wings  highly  variegated  with  patches  and 
transverse  stripes  of  various  shades  of  ferruginous  brown  and 
ochraceous  in  the  male,  nearly  uniform  reddish  brown  in  the 
female,  in  both  with  a  central  silver*reversed  semicolon.  Ex- 
panse 2^-3  inches. 

Caterpillar. —  Head  lighter  or  darker  brown,  crowned  by 
moderately  stout  spines,  the  lateral  spinules  of  which  are  emitted 
from  below  the  middle.  Body  spinous,  castaneous,  uniformly 
flecked  with  light  dots  so  distributed  as  to  form  longitudinal 
faintly  oblique  stripes  on  each  segment ;  spines  luteous  or  rufous. 
Length  nearly  \^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Various  shades  of  w-ood-brown  tinged  with  oliva- 
ceous, with  a  fine  web  of  brown  in  impressed  lines,  the  tubercles 
of  the  saddle  nacreous;  ocellar  tubercles  conical  throughout,  the 
larger  abdominal  tubercles  strikingly  larger  than  the  others, 
mesothoracic  tubercle  quadrate  as  seen  from  the  side.  Length 
nearly  1  inch. 

The  bluish-green,  barrel-shaped,  ribbed  eggs  are  laid  on 
the  under  surface  of  the  leaves  of  the  food-plant,  either 
singly  or  in  columns  of  from  three  to  eight,  and  hatch  in 
from  three  to  eleven  days  according  to  the  season.  The 
caterpillars  feed  upon  Urticaceous  jolants  of  which  hop 
and  elm  are  the  favorites,  and  also  upon  linden.     They  are 


98  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

partially  gregarious,  several  being  often  found  in  a  loose 
company;  they  rarely  seek  concealment,  though  they  some- 
times do  so  after  the  manner  of  P.  comma.  The  chrysalis 
hangs  from  seven  to  twenty-six  days  according  to  the  sea- 
son and  locality.  The  butterfly  is  a  southern  species  rarely 
found  north  of  the  Canadian  border.  In  the  northern  part 
of  its  range  it  is  double-brooded,  but  at  least  triple-brooded 
in  the  Southern  States,  probably  everywhere  hibernating 
as  a  butterfly  ;  in  the  region  with  which  w^e  are  concerned 
it  leaves  its  winter  quarters  early  in  May  and  flies  until 
the  early  part  or  middle  of  June,  laying  eggs  late  in  May 
and  early  in  June.  The  first  brood  of  the  season's  butter- 
flies aj^pears  early  in  July  or  the  last  days  of  June  and  con- 
tinues flying  until  the  middle  of  August  ;  the  second  brood 
appears  toward  the  last  of  August  and  continues  to  emerge 
from  the  chrysalis  even  into  October. 

This  butterfly  is  dimorphic  in  much  the  same  way  as 
P.  co?n7na,one  form  (umbrosa)  having  the  upjoer  surface  of 
the  hind  wings  much  darker  than  the  other  (fabricii),  but 
differing  also  in  the  form  of  the  wings  ;  as  in  P.  comma 
the  butterflies  of  the  first  brood  are  mostly  of  the  dark  type, 
but  those  of  the  second  invariably,  or  with  very  rare  excep. 
tions,  of  the  lighter  type. 


Other  species  of  this  genus  occurring-  in  our  district  are  P.  gracili\ 
at  the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire  and  northwestward  ;  an(^ 
P.  satyrus,  a  Pacific  coast  species  occasionally  found  in  southern 
Canada. 

TRIBE  SOVEREIGNS. 

16.  Genus  Basilarchia. 

BASILAECHIA  ARTHEMIS— THE   BANDED  PURPLE. 

(Limenitis  arthemis,  Nymphalis  arthemis,  Nymphalis  lamina.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  velvety  chocolate-black, 
with  a  broad  white  bow  crossing  both  wings  just  beyond  the 
middle.     Under  surface  very  dark  brown,  with  a  similar  bow,  a 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  99 

few  black-bordered  orange  spots  at  the  base,  and  a  premarginal 
series  of  plain  orange  spots,  besides  a  double  series  of  crenulate 
blue  lines,  next  outer  margin.     Expanse  nearly  3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  dark  drab,  tuberculate,  the  summits 
crovvjied  with  a  large  tubercle,  rounded  at  tip  but  with  raised 
points  ;  the  principal  tubercle  behind  it  tumid,  but  little  higher 
than  broad.  Body  naked,  humped,  and  irregularly  tuberculate, 
of  various  shades  of  green,  especially  olive,  with  a  dorsal  patch 
of  pal  3  butf;  a  pair  of  long,  clubbed,  prickly  tubercles  on  second 
thoracic  segment;  not  more  than  about  twenty  minute  smooth 
warts  on  any  one  segment  above  the  spiracles.  Length  nearly  \\ 
inches. 

Chrysalis. — Varying  from  creamy  white  to  silvery  gray,  the 
wings  margined  with  greenish  brown,  the  body  grotesquely 
streaked;  basal  wing-tubercle  produced  to  a  minute,  backward- 
directed  point;  tail-piece,  seen  from  above,  less  than  twice  as 
long  as  its  width  at  apex.     Length  nearly  1  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  globular,  pitted,  studded  with  short 
filaments,  and  grayish  green,  are  laid  singly  on  the  upper 
surface  of  the  extreme  ti^^s  of  the  pointed  leaves  of  the 
food-plant,  leaves  on  young  plants,  only  a  few  feet  above 
the  ground,  being  usually  selected;  they  hatch  in  from 
seven  to  nine  days.  The  caterpillars  usually  feed  upon 
black  and  yellow  birch,  preferably  the  former,  willow  and 
poplar,  but  have  also  been  found  on  shadbush  and  some 
other  plants.  As  soon  as  it  has  hatched  the  young  cater- 
pillar devours  its  ^gg,  and  then  begins  to  feed  upon  the 
leaf  upon  which  it  was  born,  beginning  at  the  extreme 
tip,  but  always  leaving  the  midrib  untouched  as  it  proceeds 
toward  the  base;  when  resting  after  a  meal,  it  always 
takes  its  station  on  the  stripped  midrib,  to  which  it  fastens 
with  much  silk  minute  bits  of  leaf  to  strengthen  it;  and 
like  all  the  other  species  of  the  genus  it  makes  while 
young  a  loose  ball  of  the  size  of  a  small  pea  out  of  bitten 
scraps  of  leaf  held  together  by  a  few  strands  of  silk  and 
hangs  it  by  a  thread  or  two  to  the  stripped  midrib,  so  that 
it  is  moved  by  every  breath  of  wind — a  device,  perhaps,  to 


100  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

distract  from  itself  the  attention  of  an  enemy;  for,  by  con- 
stant removals,  it  is  always  kept  close  to  the  eaten  edge  of 
tlie  leaf,  while  its  own  perch  is  as  far  out  on  the  stripped 
midrib  as  it  can  find  a  good  footing.  After  the  second 
moult  it  pays  no  further  attention  to  this  packet,  and 
retires  for  its  siesta  to  the  leaf-stalk  or  neighboring  twig, 
but  it  does  not  quit  its  feeding  spot  until  the  leaf,  always 
excepting  the  midrib,  is  almost  or  quite  devoured,  when  it 
passes  to  a  neighboring  leaf.  The  chrysalis  state  lasts  from 
nine  to  fourteen,  usually  ten  to  twelve,  days.  The  butter- 
fly, one  of  our  most  striking  species,  is  a  northern  form, 
hardly  occurring,  except  in  elevated  regions,  south  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  frequents  shaded  roads,  particularly  in  the 
forest.  It  is  perhaps  as  a  rule  single-brooded,  though  a 
second  brood,  feeble  in  numbers,  is  known  to  occur;  the 
first  brood  appears  in  the  latter  half  of  June  and  remains 
upon  the  wing  until  early  in  August;  the  second  brood, 
when  it  appears,  comes  very  late  in  August  and  early  in 
September.  The  insect  hibernates  as  a  half-grown  cater- 
pillar, and  to  do  this  constructs,  like  all  the  si^ecies  of  the 
genus,  a  singular  hibernaculum :  selecting  a  growing  leaf 
of  its  food-plant,  it  eats  away  the  apical  third  or  fourth, 
excepting  the  midrib  and  a  narrow  flange  on  each  side  of  it; 
or  it  uses  the  leaf  it  has  been  eating,  already  trimmed  in 
this  fashion;  it  then  draws  together, above,  the  outer  edges 
of  the  uneaten  portion  to  construct  a  tube,  which  it  lines 
very  heavily  with  brown  silk,  within  and  without;  further 
than  this,  it  binds  the  leaf-stalk  to  the  stem  with  repeated 
windings  of  silk  to  prevent  its  falling  to  the  ground  in  the 
winter;  by  means  of  the  ledge  formed  by  the  projecting 
midrib,  it  then  enters  its  tube  head  foremost  and  com- 
pletely fills  it,  so  that  the  02:)ening  is  just  closed  by  the 
roughened  end  of  the  body.  In  the  spring  it  quits  its 
winter  home  as  soon  as  the  first  tender  leaves  have  appeared. 
A  form  called  proserpina,  a  hybrid  between  this  species 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.         lOl 

and  the  next,  but  more  nearly  resembling  the  latter  with 
more  or  less  distinct  traces  of  the  white  bow  peculiar  to  the 
former,  is  found  at  places  along  the  southern  limit  of 
B.  artliemis;  by  some  it  is  regarded  as  a  dimorphic  form 
of  the  present  species. 

BASILARCHIA  ASTYANAX— THE  RED-SPOTTED  PURPLE. 

(Limenitis  astyanax,  Nymplialis  epliestion,  Nymphalis  Ursula, 

Limenitis  ursula.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  blackish,  the  outer  third 
of  the  hind  wings  with  three  series  of  pale  blue  or  green  spots, 
the  inner  of  variable  width  and  sometimes  suffusing  nearly  the 
whole  wing,  at  least  in  some  lights.  Under  surface  brown,  with 
a  double  submarginal  series  of  blue  lunulate  lines,  a  submarginal 
series  of  orange  spots  in  a  black  setting,  and  a  few  black-edged 
orange  spots  at  the  base.     Expanse  3-4  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  brownish  red,  tuberculate,  the  summits 
crowned  with  a  large  nearly  spherical  tubercle  with  small  pro- 
jections. Body  naked,  humped  and  irregularly  tuberculate, 
strangely  streaked,  blotched  and  mottled  with  brown,  olivaceous, 
and  creamy  tints  ;  a  pair  of  long,  clubbed,  and  prickly  blackish 
tubercles  on  second  thoracic  segment  ;  considerably  more  than 
twenty  minute  smooth  warts  on  most  segments  above  the 
spiracles.     Length  \\  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Grotesquely  variegated  with  patches  and  streaks 
of  pale  salmon,  dark  olivaceous,  inky  plumbeous,  and  yellow- 
brown,  the  lighter  tints  prevailing;  basal  wing-tubercle  rounded 
or  partially  suppressed;  tail- piece,  seen  from  above,  less  than 
twice  as  long  as  its  width  at  apex.     Length  nearly  1  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  globular,  pitted,  briefly  filamentous, 
and  bright  yellowish  green,  are  laid  as  in  the  last  species, 
but  their  duration  has  not  been  definitely  ascertained.  The 
caterpillar  is  polyphagons,  but  seems  to  prefer  Eosaceons 
plants,  especially  Prunus,  Crataegus,  and  Pyrus;  its  habits 
are  precisely  those  of  the  preceding  species  in  every  par- 
ticular mentioned  above.     The  chrysalis  hangs  for  ten  or 


102  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

twelve  days.  The  butterfly  is  somewhat  of  a  forest  species 
like  the  last,  but  not  to  so  considerable  a  degree,  is  often 
found  in  orchards,  and  is  strangely  attracted  by  a  manure- 
heap.  It  is  a  southern  species  having  its  northern  limits 
at  just  about  the  southern  extension  of  the  preceding 
species.  In  the  north  it  appears  to  be  partly  single-,  joartly 
double-brooded,  some  caterpillars  from  the  first  eggs  of  the 
season  going  into  their  hibernacula  when  half  grown, 
others  continuing  to  feed,  changing  to  chrysalis  and  pro- 
ducing a  new  brood  of  butterflies  late  in  the  season;  these 
lay  eggs,  the  caterpillars  from  which  enter  their  hiber- 
nacula and  in  tlie  next  season  develop  into  butterflies  side 
by  side  with  those  from  the  first  brood.  The  butterflies  of 
the  first  brood  appear  in  the  northern  part  of  their  range, 
i.e.,  in  our  district,  about  the  middle  of  June,  continue  to 
emerge  from  the  chrysalis  for  a  month  and  are  still  to  be 
seen  early  in  August,  about  the  middle  of  which  month 
the  second,  less  abundant  brood  appears  and  flies  through 
September. 

In  the  South  this  butterfly  is  mimicked  by  the  female 
of  Semnopsyclie  diana. 

BASILARCHIA  ARCHIPPUS— THE  VICEROY. 

(Limenitis  archippus,  Limenitis  misippus,  Limenitis  disippus  ) 

Butterfly. — Wings  orange  with  heavy  black  veins,  a  broad 
black  outer  border  enclosing  a  row  of  white  spots  (beneath,  a 
doable  series  of  white  lunules),  a  triangular  black  spot  enclosing 
two  white  spots  and  ending  in  a  streak  across  the  fore  wings 
beyond  the  middle,  and,  on  tlie  hind  wings,  a  heavy,  curved, 
black,  extramesial  line.     Expanse  3-3J  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  reddish  brown,  tuberculate,  the  summits 
crowned  with  a  large  tubercle  heavily  denticulate  at  tip,  the 
principal  tubercle  behind  it  denticle-shaped,  many  times  higher 
than  broad.  Body  naked,  humped,  and  irregularly  tuberculate, 
dark  olivaceous,  often  tinged  with  brownish  yellow,  and  with  a 
cream-colored  ragged-edged  patch  on  top  of  middle  abdominal 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.         103 

segments  ;  a  pair  of  long,  clubbed,  and  prickly  tubercles  on 
second  thoracic  segment;  not  more  than  about  twenty  minute, 
smooth  warts  on  any  one  segment  above  the  spiracles.  Length 
more  than  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Strangely  streaked  and  blotched  with  blackish 
green,  yellowish  brown,  pale  salmon,  and  plumbeous,  lightest  on 
the  abdomen;  tail-piece,  viewed  from  above,  twice  as  long  as  its 
apical  width.     Length  nearly  1  inch. 

The  eggs,  wliicli  are  globular,  pitted,  briefly  filameutous, 
and  deep  green,  are  laid  as  in  the  other  species,  but 
occasionally  also  on  the  under  surface  of  the  leaf,  and 
hatch  in  from  four  to  eight  days.  The  caterpillar  feeds 
upon  various  Salicaceae,  particularly  willow  and  poplar;  its 
habits  are  precisely  like  those  of  the  other  species  as 
recorded  above,  but  it  is  remarkable  that,  being  everywhere 
at  least  double-brooded,  the  caterpillars  of  the  first  brood 
never  form  hibernacula,  so  that  we  have  here  an  instinct 
inherited  only  by  alternate  generations.  The  chrysalis 
hangs  from  seven  to  ten  days.  The  butterfly  lives  in  the 
open  country  and  is  widespread;  as  stated  above,  it  is 
double-brooded,  and  probably  in  the  Southern  States  there 
is  a  third  brood,  which  may  perhaps  sometimes  appear  as 
a  supplementary  feeble  brood  further  north.  About  the 
latitude  of  central  New  England  the  first  butterflies,  from 
the  caterpillars  which  have  hibernated  in  their  first  or 
second,  rarely  their  third,  stage,  appear  the  first  week  in 
June,  continue  to  emerge  throughout  this  month  and  begin 
to  lay  eggs  about  a  fortnight  after  they  first  apj)ear;  the 
second  brood  appears  about  the  middle  of  July,  while  many 
of  the  butterflies  of  the  first  brood  are  still  on  the  wing; 
as  butterflies  are  still  to  be  found  laying  eggs  late  in 
August  and  even  in  September,  there  may  possibly  be  a 
third  brood. 

This  butterfly  has  a  special  interest  from  its  remarkable 
departure  in  coloring  and  pattern  from  the  other  species 


104  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

of  the  genus,  thereby  mimicking  to  an  extraordinary  degree 
the  general  appearance  of  Anosia  jjlexipjms. 

TRIBE  EMPERORS. 
17.  Genus  Anaea. 

ANilA  ANDRIA— THE  GOAT-WEED  BUTTERFLY. 

(Papliia  glycerium,  Papliia  troglodyta.) 

Butterfly. — Fore  wings  falcate,  hind  wings  tailed.  Upper  sur- 
face either  dark  orange,  margined  feebly  with  brown  (male)  or 
paler  orange,  heavily  margined  with  brown,  and  with  a  very 
irregular,  broad,  paler  band  edged  with  dark  brown  crossing 
both  wings  (female).  Under  surface  nearly  uniform  dry-le<if 
brown.     Expanse  2^-3  inches. 

Caterpillar. —Head  gray -green,  with  minute  tubercles  which 
are  slightly  larger  on  the  summits.  Body  naked,  gray-green, 
studded  with  numerous  and  well-distributed  raised  paler  points. 
Length  1^  inches. 

Chrysalis.— Stout  and  plump,  light  green,  granulated  with 
white,  sometimes  speckled  with  brown,  transversely  ridged  above 
the  wings  in  the  middle  of  the  abdomen.     Length  nearly  f  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  nearly  spherical,  encircled  near 
snmmit  with  raised  points,  and  sky-bhie  when  first  laid, 
afterwards  turning  opaque  yellow,  are  nsnally  laid  singly 
on  the  nnder  side  of  the  leaf  of  the  food-plant,  though 
often  two  will  be  found  on  a  single  leaf;  they  hatch  in 
four  to  six  days.  The  caterj^illar  feeds  on  species  of 
Croton,  goat-weed;  in  its  earlier  life  it  devonrs  the  tip  of 
the  leaf  except  the  midrib,  on  which  it  rests  as  a  perch 
after  the  manner  cf  Basilarchia,  strengthening  it  by 
pellets  of  the  leaf  attached  by  silk ;  after  its  second  moult 
it  lines  the  upper  surface  of  a  leaf  with  silk,  bringing  the 
npper  edges  together  without  fastenings,  and  thus  makes 
a  nest  like  that  of  Eu23lioeades,  wdthin  which  it  lies  con- 
cealed, eating  the  base  of  the  leaf;  when  this  becomes  too 
small  it  makes  a  similar  nest  from  another  leaf^  but  goes 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.  105 

outside  to  feed  on  neighboring  leaves,  generally  toward 
evening.  The  chrysalis  hangs  from  seven  to  twenty  days. 
The  butterfly  is  rapid  in  flight  and  shy  of  approach ;  it  is 
found  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  from  southern  Illinois 
southward,  and  west  to  the  Great  Plains.  The  butterfly 
hibernates  early  in  November,  and  there  are  said  to  be  two 
broods  annually,  the  eggs  of  the  first  brood  being  laid 
from  the  middle,  of  May  on,  of  the  second  apparently  in 
July. 

There  is  said  to  be  "  a  decided  seasonal  dimorphism  in 
the  two  broods  of  the  females." 

18.  Genus  Chlokippe. 

CHLORIPPE  CLYTON— THE  TAWNY  EMPEROR. 

(Apatiira  clyton,  Doxocopa  herse,  Apatura  lierse,  Apatiira  proserpina.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  tawny  marked  with 
blackish  brown,  the  outer  half  of  the  fore  wings  mostly  dark,  so 
that  the  tawny  there  appears  only  in  two  sinuous  rows  of  round- 
ish spots;  while  the  hind  wings  are  wholly  tawny  except  a  dark 
outer  margin  and  a  sinuous  premarginal  row  of  round  black 
spots.  Under  surface  light  brown,  with  pallid  and  blackish 
transverse  markings  and,  on  the  hind  wings  only,  a  sinuous  pre- 
marginal series  of  small,  nearly  round,  blue-pupilled  ocelli.  Ex- 
panse 2-3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  pale  green,  with  two  white  facial  stripes, 
lateral  spines,  and  the  summits  crowned  by  a  long  spine- like 
tubercle,  having  numerous  long  spinules  throughout.  Body 
naked,  minutely  papillate  throughout,  striped  in  green,  yellow, 
and  white  in  continuous  and  equal  bands  from  head  to  the  forked 
tail.     Length  1^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Pale  grass-green,  with  a  yellow  stripe  marking 
the  dorsal  crest  which  extends  the  length  of  the  body,  and  faint 
oblique  stripes  on  the  abdominal  segments.  Length  nearly  1 
inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  subglobular,  with  about  twenty 
slight  vertical  ribs,  and  yellowish  white,  are  laid  on  the 


106  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

under  side  of  the  leaves  of  the  food-plant  in  dense  patches 
of  from  two  to  five  tiers  to  the  number  sometimes  of  five 
hundred;  they  hatch  in  eight  or  nine  days.  The  cater- 
pillars feed  on  sj^ecies  of  Celtis,  the  hackberry;  they  do 
not  devour  the  egg-shell,  and  are  gregarious  in  their  first 
three  stages,  feeding  side  by  side  in  rows,  eating  the  leaf 
from  the  tip  backward,  but  leaving  the  stouter  ribs;  they 
form  a  pathway  of  silk  wherever  they  go;  but  construct  no 
concealment  of  any  kind;  after  the  third  moult  they  dis- 
perse and  feed  singly.  The  chrysalis  state  lasts  fibout  ten 
days.  The  butterfly  is  a  southern  species  and  is  therefore 
found  only  in  the  southern  part  of  our  district,  about  as 
far  north  as  the  Ohio  River,  but  occurs  in  southern  Iowa 
and  has  been  once  reported  from  southern  Michigan.  It 
is  single-brooded,  ajipearing  on  the  wing  in  June  and  July, 
and  the  caterpillars  hibernate  in  fallen  leaves  and  crevices 
of  bark  at  about  the  time  of  their  third  moult. 

The  species  is  dimorphic,  one  form  (proserpina)  having 
the  upper  surface  of  the  hind  wings,  at  least  in  the  female, 
obscured  with  brown,  while  in  the  other  (clyton)  it  is  not 
so  obscured. 

CHLORIPPE    CELTIS— THE  GRAY  EMPEROR. 

(Apatiira  celtis,  Doxocopa  lycaon,  Apatura  lycaon.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  sordid  or  gray  fulvous, 
marked  much  as  in  the  preceding  species,  but  with  the  lighter 
spots  of  the  outer  half  of  the  fore  wings  white  and  therefore  very 
conspicuous,  a  premargiual  ocehus  in  the  lower  half  of  the  wing 
and,  on  the  hind  wings,  a  distinct  sinuous  black  stripe  between 
the  dark  margin  and  the  row  of  black  spots.  On  the  under  sur- 
face it  differs  in  a  similar  way,  and  also  in  the  larger,  more  oval, 
more  largely  blue-pupilled  ocelli  of  the  hind  wings,  found  also  to 
some  extent  (but  usually  white-pupilled)  on  the  fore  wings. 
Expanse  about  2  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  green,  witli  four  pale  facial  stripes,  lateral 
spines  and  the    summits    crowned  by  a  long,   apically  forked, 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.         107 

scarcely  spinous  tubercle.  Body  naked,  minutely  papillate,  yel- 
low-green on  the  bf.ck,  blue-green  on  the  sides,  with  faint  paler 
stripes  connecting  the  base  of  the  head  tubercles  and  of  the 
deeply  forked  caudal  spines.     Length  IJ  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Yellow-green  or  blue-green,  finely  specked 
throughout  with  pale  yellow,  with  a  cream-yellow  line  along  the 
dorsal  crest,  which  extends  the  length  of  the  body.  Length  more 
than  f  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  subglobular,  with  about  eighteen 
slight  vertical  ribs  and  pale  green,  are  laid  on  the  under 
side  of  the  leaf  of  the  food-plant,  either  singly  or  in  small 
clusters  of  a  dozen  or  less,  and  hatch  in  three  or  four  days. 
The  caterpillars  feed  upon  Celtis,  hackberry,  and,  lining 
the  U23per  surface  of  a  leaf  so  as  to  cause  the  sides  to  curl 
slightly  upward,  are  partially  concealed  from  view.  The 
chrysalis  hangs  from  seven  to  ten  days.  The  butterfly  is  a 
southern  species  and  extends  nearly  but  not  quite  so  far 
north  as  C.  clyton.  It  appears  to  be  double-brooded,  but 
some  of  the  caterpillars  of  the  first  as  well  as  of  the  second 
brood  hibernate  when  half  grown  and,  in  the  opinion  of 
Edwards,  some  butterflies  also  hibernate.  The  first  brood 
of  butterflies  of  the  season  appears  in  June,  the  second  in 
August ;  the  butterfly  life  is  long,  so  that  some  are  flying 
most  of  the  season,  Avhile  the  caterpillars  (except  those 
that  hibernate)  often  feed  so  rapidly  that  all  the  earlier 
stages  are  passed  within  a  month. 

Subfamily  Meadow  Browi^^s  or  Satyrs. 

19.  Genus  Cissia. 

CISSIA  EURYTUS— THE  LITTLE  WOOD-SATYR. 

(Euptychia  eurytus,  jMegisto  eurytus,  Hipparchia  eurytris,  Neonyin- 

pha  eurytris.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  uniform  dark  brown,  with 
two  distant,  preraarginal,  moderately  large,  circular  ocelli,  the 
upper  one  of  hind  wings  small  and  inconspicuous,  sometimes  ob- 
solete.    Under  surface  lighter  brown^  the  ocelli  larger,  all  dis- 


108  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

tinct,  more  distinctly  ringed  with  yellow,  those  of  the  hind  wings 
with  satellites  ;  two  distant  nearly  straight  brown  lines  cross 
the  middle  of  the  wings.     Expanse  If  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  dirty  white,  heavily  mottled  with  brown, 
densely  papillate,  the  summits  angulate,  almost  tuberculate. 
Body  naked,  but  covered  with  dense  pile  arising  from  papillae  in 
transverse  series,  pale  brown  with  a  greenish  tinge,  with  a  dark 
dorsal  stripe  and  obscure  brown  longitudinal  markings  ;  a  dis- 
tinctly constricted  neck  and  short  caudal  fork.  Length  fully  f 
inch. 

Chrysalis. — Pallid  brown,  heavily  flecked  with  griseous,  the 
abdomen  with  a  pair  of  distinct,  distant,  longitudinal  ridges. 
Length  less  than  ^  inch. 

The  subgiobular,  reticulated,  very  ])'d\Q  green  eggs  are 
laid  singly  on  blades  of  grass,  living  or  dead,  and  hatch  in 
about  thirteen  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  upon  grasses 
and  usually  only  by  night,  concealing  themselves  by  day 
among  the  roots  or  on  dry  sticks  on  the  ground;  they  are 
exceedingly  sluggish  in  movement  and  are  lethargic  and 
long-lived,  hibernating  when  more  than  half  grown  but 
not  mature.  The  chrysalis  hangs  for  sixteen  days.  The 
butterfly  is  a  southern  species,  but  extends  far  northward 
into  nearly  all  the  settled  parts  of  Canada  exce2:)t  Mani- 
toba, and  it  has  not  been  reported  from  Minnesota,  though 
it  probably  occurs  there.  It  haunts  groves  and  open  spots 
and  roads  in  the  forest,  is  single-brooded,  and  flies  from 
the  last  week  in  May  through  July,  with  accessions  to  the 
l)rood  certainly  through  June. 


AiK)tlier  species  of  Cissia,  C.  sosylnus,  a  southern  form,  occurs  as 
ftir  north  as  West  Virginia. 

20.  Genus  Satyrodes. 

SATYRODES  EURYDICE— THE  EYED  BROWN 

(Argus  eurydice,  Neonympba  canthus,  Pararge  canthus,  Hipparchia 

boisdiivalii.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  mouse-brown,  beyond  the 
middle  p^der,  especially  in  the  feuaale  ;  jv  series  of  four  or  five 


FAMILY  BRUSH-FOOTED  BUTTERFLIES.         l09 

small  black  ocelli  distant  from  the  margin.  Under  surface  slaty 
brown,  paler  beyond  a  strongly-waved  median  brown  line,  the 
ocelli  repeated,  but  larger  and  more  complex.  Expanse  2  inches 
or  more. 

Caterpillar. — Head  green,  the  coronal  tubercles  very  high, 
conical,  red  with  brown  stripes.  Body  naked,  briefly  pilose, 
green,  longitudinally  striped  with  darker  or  lighter  green  ;  a  dis- 
tinctly constricted  neck  and  long  caudal  fork.     Length  1^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Green  with  buff  longitudinal  stripes  ;  head  acut- 
angulate  as  seen  from  sides  ;  abdomen  with  no  longitudinal 
ridges,  the  part  beyond  the  wings  as  long  as  they  are.  Length 
I  inch. 

The  smooth,  snbglobular,  pale  green  eggs,  Laid  singly, 
hatch  in  from  seven  to  nine  days.  The  caterpillars,  on 
leaving  them,  sometimes  devour  a  part  or  the  whole  of  the 
egg-shell  and  feed  on  grasses  and  sedges,  having  been  found 
on  Scirpus  and  Carex ;  they  feed  and  mature  very  slowly, 
are  at  first  exceedingly  sluggish  and  when  not  feeding  re- 
main on  the  blade  of  grass  serving  as  food ;  but  later  in 
life  they  move  about  restlessly  though  slowly  and  eat  with 
more  relish,  feeding  apparently  only  by  day  and  mostly  in 
the  early  morning;  they  hibernate  in  the  larval  condition, 
nearly  grown.  The  chrysalis  hangs  for  about  nine  days. 
The  butterfly  is  found  from  Iowa  to  the  Atlantic,  but  does 
not  appear  to  extend  further  south  than  central  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania,*  though  reaching  northward  to  Hudson 
Bay.  It  is  found  in  elevated,  moist  meadows,  and  is 
single-brooded,  flying  in  July  and  the  first  half  of  August. 

21.  Genus  Enodia. 

ENODIA  PORTLANDIA— THE   PEARLY  EYE. 

(Satyrus  portlandia,  Debis  portlandia,  Hipparchia  andromacha.) 
Butterfly. — Wings  soft  brown,  slightly  paler  beyond  a  median, 
sinuate    (on    hind   wings  doubly   arcuate),   blackish   transverse 
stripe,  beneath  with  a  second  nearly  straight  dark  stripe  nearer 

^  It  has,  however,  been  once  taken  by  Smythe  in  South  Carolina, 


no  THE  COMMOXER  BVTTEHFLIES. 

the  base  ;    a  premarginal  series  of  unequal,  mostly  very  large, 

black  ocelli,  beneath  far  more  distinctly  ocellate  than  above,  and 

also  there  encircled  with  a  common  pale  lilac  loop.     Expanse  2^ 

inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head   yellowish   green,    the   coronal   tubercles 

moderately  high,  conical,  red-tipped.  Body  naked,  green, 
sprinkled  with  very  minute  white  papillae,  with  a  dark  green  dor- 
sal line  and  faint  side  stripes  of  yellow  ;  a  distinctly  constricted 
neck  and  long  caudal  fork.     Length  1\  inches. 

Clirysalis. — Green,  lighter  veutrally,  the  wing  ridges  creamy  ; 
liead  acntangulate  as  seen  from  side  ;  abdomen  with  no  longitu- 
dinal ridges,  the  part  beyond  the  wing-cases  much  shorter  than 
thev  are.     Length  4  inch. 

The  smooth,  subglobnlar,  pure  white  eggs  hatch  in  from 
four  to  six  days.  The  caterj^illar  feeds  on  grasses  and 
hibernates  when  about  half  grown.  The  chrysalis  hangs 
for  thirteen  or  fourteen  days.  The  btitterily  is  a  forest 
species,  very  gamesome,  and  has  the  habit  of  pitching  on 
tree  trunks,  head  downward.  In  tlie  Xorth  the  butterfly 
is  sinofle-brooded,  flvino'  from  the  last  of  June  to  the  first 
of  August:  but  in  the  Southern  States  it  is  probably  double- 
brooded,  as  it  appears  in  West  Virginia  in  the  latter  half  of 
May,  and  fresh  specimens  have  been  taken  in  August. 

22.  Gexts  Cercstoxis. 

CERCYONIS  ALOPE— THE  BLUE  EYED  GRAYLING. 

(Satyrus  alope,  Hipparchia  alope,  Minois  alope.) 

Eutterfly. — Wings  dark  brown,  nearly  uniform  above  except 
for  a  minute,  generally  blind,  ocellus  in  the  lower  median  inter- 
space of  the  hind  wings  and  a  pair  of  distant  large  black  ocelli 
enclosed  in  a  very  broad  premarginal  yellow  band  nearly  cross- 
ing the  fore  wing.  On  the  under  surface  the  markings  of  the  fore 
wing  are  repeated,  but  the  ocellus  of  the  hind  wings  forms  one 
of  a  sinuous  series  of  perfect  ocelli  ;  while  both  wings,  except  the 
yellow  band,  are  traversed  by  short  transverse  dark  threads. 
Expanse  2i-2f  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  green,  papillate,  with  no  summit  tubercles. 
Body  naked,  finely  pilose  from  minute  papillae,  green,  with  a  faint 


FAMIL  Y  BR USH-FOOTED  B UTTERFLIES.  1 1 1 

slender  yellow  stripe  on  the  side,  the  lateral  fold  also  yellow  ;  no 
distinctly  constricted  neck,  the  tail  with  a  slender  bat  short  fork. 
Length  1^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Pea-green,  mottled  with  paler  green,  the  ridges 
pale  straw-yellow,  the  surface  feebly  shagreened  ;  head  rectangu- 
late  as  viewed  from  the  side.     Length  f  inch. 

The  eggs,  which  are  short  barrel-shaj^ed  bttt  tumid, 
with  about  twenty-five  vertical  ribs,  and  honej-yellow, 
afterwards  pinkish,  are  laid  singly  and  hatch  in  from  twenty 
to  twenty-seven  days.  The  caterpillars  do  not  devour  the 
egg-shell,  but  go  into  hibernation  at  once  upon  escape;  in 
the  spring  they  feed  upon  grasses,  but  are  lethargic  and 
mature  slowly,  not  reachino;  the  chrysalis  state  until  July; 
this  lasts  about  a  fortnight.  The  butterfly  is  limited  in  its 
northward  extension  by  about  the  line  of  the  annual 
isotherm  of  45^  F.,  being  found  in  the  southern  half  of 
Xew  England  and  westward  to  Xebraska.  It  flies  in  open 
woods  and  on  the  outskirts  of  shrubbery,  is  single-brooded, 
appears  about  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  July  and  flies 
into  September. 

CERCYONIS  NEPHELE— THE  DULL-EYED  GRAYLING. 

(Hipparchia    nephele,    Erebia    nephele,    Satyrus    nephele,    Minois 

nephele.) 

Butterfly. — Differs  principally  from  the  preceding  species  in 
the  total  absence  of  the  yellow  baud  of  the  fore  wings,  or  its  sub- 
stitution by  a  faint  pallid  cloud.     Expanse  2-*2^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  emerald -green,  papillate,  with  no  summit 
tubercles.  Body  naked,  finely  pilose  from  minute  papillae,  dull 
yellow-green,  the  sides  slightly  darker,  with  a  yellow  stripe  along 
lateral  fold  ;  no  distinctly  constricted  neck,  the  tail  with  a  slender 
but  short  fork.     Length  IJ  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Yellow-green  with  white  granulations,  the  ridges 
cream-white  ;  head  rectaugulate  as  yiewed  from  the  side.  Length 
f  inch. 

The  eofs^s,  which  are  like  those  of  C.  alope,  are  laid 
singly  and  hatch  in  about  twenty-eight  days.     The  cater- 


112  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

pillars  live  on  grass  and  behave  precisely  as  in  the  other 
species,  and  the  chrysalis  hangs  a  fortnight.  The  butterfly 
flies  from  Maine  to  Montana  and  in  Canada,  and  extends 
southward  so  as  to  overlap  a  little  the  northern  limits  of 
C.  alo2)e ;  it  flies  in  similar  places  and  like  it  is  single- 
brooded,  and  in  northern  New  England  usually  appears 
about  the  middle  of  July  and  disappears  by  the  end  of 
August. 

Along  the  belt  where  this  species  and  the  preceding 
overlap,  at  least  in  New  England,  intergrades  occur  which 
must  probably  be  looked  upon  as  hybrids. 


Cercyonu  itegala,  by  some  regarded  as  a  form  of  C.  alo'pe,  occasion- 
ally occurring  in  New  Jersey,  is  a  southern  species  in  which  one  of 
the  large  ocelli  of  the  fore  wings  is  obsolete. 


Other  genera  of  this  subfamily  occurring  in  our  district  are: 
(1)  Neonympha,  of  which  there  are  three  species:  N.  'phocion,  a 
southern  species  which  has  occurred,  rarely,  in  New  Jersey;  N,  Cor- 
nelius, also  a  southern  species,  taken  as  far  north  as  West  Virginia 
and  southern  Illinois;  and  N.  onitcJiellii,  known  only  in  southern 
Michigan  and  New  Jersey.  (2)  Coenonympha  with  one  species,  G.  inor- 
nata,  a  northwestern  form  which  has  been  taken  on  Lake  Winnipeg 
and  even  in  Newfoundland.  And  (3)  Oeneis,  an  interesting  boreal 
and  alpine  genus,  of  which  we  have  no  less  than  four  species:  Oe. 
Calais,  a  boreal  form  found  as  far  south  as  the  southeastern  extremity 
of  Hudson  Bay  and  southern  Newfoundland;  Oe .  macounii,  known 
only  from  Nepigon  on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior  and  at  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  Alberta;  Oe.  jutta,  a  boreal  and  cir- 
cumpolar  species  which  has  been  taken  in  some  numbers  in  restricted 
localities  as  far  south  as  Ottawa  and  Quebec  in  Canada  and  near 
Bangor,  Maine;  and  finally  Oe.  semidca,  an  alpine  form  found  on  the 
barren  summits  of  the  White  Mountains,  N.  H.,  above  5000  feet,  and 
on  the  highest  peaks  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  Colorado  above 
12,000  feet. 


ITi/patus  hacJimanii,  of  the  subfamily  of  Long-Beaks,  is  a  southern 
species,  very  erratic  in  appearance,  which  has  sometimes  occurred  in 
considerable  numbers  in  our  district,  especially  in  the  West,  and  even 
so  far  north  as  Wisconsin;  it  has  on  very  rare  occasions  been  taken 


in  New  England. 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.    113 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED   BUTTERFLIES. 

Tlie  subfamily  of  Erjcinids  is  represented  in  our  district  by  the 
genus  Calephelis,  with  a  single  species,  C.  horealis,  which  has  once 
or  twice  been  taken  in  New  York.  All  our  other  members  of  this 
family  are  Lycaenids. 

TRIBE   HAIR-STREAKS. 
23.  Genus  Strtmon. 

STRYMON   TITUS— THE   CORAL   HAIR  STREAK. 

(Thecla  titus,  Thecla  mopsus.) 

Butterfly. — The  hind  wings  are  slightly  lobed  at  the  anal 
angle  in  the  male,  rounded  in  the  female.  Upper  surface  of 
wings  uniform  blackish  brown,  the  fore  wings  of  the  male  with  a 
stigma  at  the  end  of  the  cell.  Under  surface  with  a  sinuous 
series  of  very  small,  pale-edged,  black  spots  across  the  middle  of 
the  outer  half  of  both  wings,  and,  on  the  hind  wings,  a  submar- 
ginal  series  of  larger  coral-red  spots,  bordered  within  and  without 
with  black.     Expanse  \\  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  black.  Body 
naked,  with  fine  pile,  dull  yellowish  green,  with  a  rosy  patch  on 
the  back  of  the  thoracic  and  a  larger  one  on  that  of  the  hinder 
abdominal  segments.     Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Pale  glossy  brown,  dotted  everywhere  with  dark 
brown  and  blackish,  the  dots  forming  a  faint  dorsal  stripe  on  the 
hinder  abdominal  segments.     Length  nearly  ^  inch. 

TMs  lively  butterfly  is  spread  over  most  of  our  territory, 
though  rarely  found  as  far  north  as  Canada  and  never  east 
of  western  Maine;  it  is  to  be  found  about  flowers  in  open 
places  near 'thickets.  Winter  is  passed  in  the  Qgg  state, 
the  eggs  being  deep  green,  broadly  domed,  and  thickly 
covered  with  raised  prominences ;  they  are  laid  singly  upon 


114  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

a  twig  of  the  food-plant  (wild  clierry  is  the  only  one  cer- 
tainly known,  but  the  caterpillars  will  eat  plum),  tucked 
into  some  protected  spot,  and  hatch  just  as  the  foliage 
begins  to  open  in  the  spring.  The  caterpillar  bites  a  round 
hole  in  the  top  of  the  egg  to  escape,  does  not  further  disturb 
it,  and  at  first  eats  circular  holes  in  the  parenchyma  of  the 
leaf,  then  ploughs  jagged  tracks  through  it;  it  will  hang 
by  a  thread  when  disturbed,  at  least  when  young.  It 
reaches  maturity  by  the  last  of  June  or  later,  the  chrysalis 
state  continues  for  twelve  days,  and  the  first  butterflies 
appear  about  the  middle  of  July;  they  become  abundant 
by  the  last  of  the  month,  and  continue  to  fly  throughout 
August.     There  is  but  a  single  brood. 

24.  Genus  Incisalia. 

INCISALIA  NIPHON— THE  BANDED  ELFIN. 

(Thecla  niplion.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  glossy  brown,  in  the 
female  deeply  tinged  except  at  base  by  ferruginous,  the  fore  wings 
of  the  male  with  an  obscure  stigma  at  the  end  of  the  cell.  Under 
surface  of  fore  wings  yellowish  brown  with  some  transverse  mark- 
ings mostly  confined  to  the  upper  half,  according  with  those  of 
the  hind  wings,  which  are  cinnamon-brown,  crossed  before  the 
middle  by  an  exceedingly  broad  slightly  darker  band,  the  borders 
of  which  are  still  darker  and  very  irregular,  the  outer  edged  with 
white ;  between  it  and  the  margin  an  almost  equally  irregular 
series  of  large  ferruginous  spots,  capped  inwardly  with  blackish. 
Expanse  about  1  inch. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  yellowish  brown. 
Body  naked,  with  fine  pile,  green,  with  two  distinct  whitish-yel- 
low lines  along  each  side.     Length  fully  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Mingled  blackish  and  yellowish  browm,  the  dark 
markings  of  the  abdomen  extending  over  the  whole  surface 
above  the  spiracles,  the  delicate  raised  reticulation  black ;  a 
slender  dorsal  ridge  on  mesothorax.     Length  nearly  |  inch. 

This  active  butterfly  is  often  seen  at  a  considerable  height 
above  the  ground,  as  about  the  tops  of  trees,  and  is  to  be 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.    115 

looked  for  in  open  places  in  the  neighborhood  of  pine 
woods.  In  our  district  it  has  not  been  taken  west  of  New 
York,  but  it  extends  north  into  Canada.  Winter  is  passed 
in  the  chrysalis  state,  and  the  butterfly,  which  is  single- 
brooded,  appears  at  the  very  end  of  April  or  early  in  May 
and  seldom  flies  beyond  this  month.  The  eggs  are  regu- 
larly turban-shaped,  rather  pale  green  with  white  raised 
reticulation,  are  laid  singly  in  the  latter  part  of  May  and 
hatch  in  ten  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  upon  pines  and 
one  was  once  found  eating  into  the  pod  of  a  garden-pea; 
they  may  take  a  long  time  to  mature,  for  the  chrysalis  is 
sometimes  not  formed  until  September. 

INCISALIA  IRUS-THE  HOARY  ELFIN. 
(Thecla  irus,  Thecla  arsace,  Thecla  henrici.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  glossy  brown,  occa- 
sionally, especially  in  female,  with  slight  ferruginous  tints,  the 
fore  wings  of  the  male  with  an  obscure  stigma  at  the  end  of  the 
cell.  Under  surface  reddish  brown,  darkest  on  basal  half  of  hind 
wings,  the  fore  wings  with  slight  markings  consonant  with  those 
of  the  hind  wings,  the  latter  with  the  basal  color  outwardly  lim- 
ited by  a  strongly  indented  line,  beyond  which,  especially  on  the 
inner  side,  a  hoary  bloom  is  conspicuous  by  a  sprinkling  of  lilac 
scales ;  an  arcuate  series  of  dusky  lunules  in  middle  of  outer  half. 
Expanse  fully  1  inch. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  yellowish  green. 
Body  naked,  with  fine  pile,  yellow-green  above,  red-brown  on 
sides,  threaded  by  a  faint  green  line,  green  on  the  lateral  fold. 
Length  ^  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Black  or  brown-black  with  obscure  red  bands;  a 
narrow  black  stripe  on  each  side  in  the  middle  of  the  abdomen, 
not  extending  to  the  thorax ;  a  slender  dorsal  ridge  on  mesotho- 
rax.     Length  f^  inch. 

This  butterfly  is  about  the  least  active  of  the  lively  group 
of  Hair-Streaks  and  is  found  about  shrubbery  in  roads  or 
open  spots.     It  is  a  southern  form,  but  occurs  as  far  north 


116  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES, 

as  southern  Wisconsin  in  the  West  and  central  New  York 
in  the  East.  It  hibernates  as  a  chrysalis,  and  the  but- 
terfly, which  is  single-brooded,  appears  about  the  last  week 
in  April,  the  females  about  a  week  later  than  the  males, 
though  some  do  not  make  their  appearance  much  before 
June,  after  the  middle  of  which  month  they  disappear. 
The  eggs  are  regularly  turban-shaped,  deep  green,  with  pale- 
green  raised  reticulation,  and  are  laid  early  in  June,  per- 
haps earlier,  at  the  base  of  the  flower-stem  of  the  food- 
plant,  and  hatch  in  less  than  a  week.  The  caterpillar  feeds 
upon  the  wild  plum  and  possibly  other  plants,  boring  into 
the  fruit  and  inserting  its  body  as  far  as  needed  until  the 
entire  inside  of  the  fruit  is  devoured. 


INCISALIA  AUGUSTUS— THE  BROWN  ELFIN. 

(Thecla  augustus.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  slate-brown,  the  fore 
wings  of  the  male  with  an  obscure  stigma  at  the  end  of  the  cell. 
Under  surface  of  fore  wings  reddish  tawny  at  base,  ochraceous 
beyond,  separated  by  a  nearly  straight  extramesial  brown  stripe ; 
of  hind  wings  dark  reddish  tawny,  much  infuscated  on  basal 
half,  which  is  limited  by  a  deeply  indented  line  ;  a  series  of  faint 
dusky  dots  in  middle  of  outer  half.     Expanse  about  1  inch. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute.  Body  naked,  with 
fine  pile,  carmine-red.     Length  ^  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Pitchy  brown  with  sparsely-scattered  fuscous  spots, 
on  the  abdomen  forming  two  rows  on  each  side  ;  tracery  of  raised 
lines  obscure  fuscous;  a  slender  dorsal  ridge  on  mesothorax. 
Length  f  inch. 

The  butterfly  inhabits  shrubby  rocky  heaths,  alights  by 
preference  on  dead  vegetation  or  rocks,  a  protective  resem- 
blance to  which  will  be  found  in  its  coloring,  and  at  once 
on  alighting  (like  many  other  Hair-Streaks)  slides  the  up- 
raised hind  wings  repeatedly  past  each  other,  while  it  sidles 
about  in  a  twitching  manner.    It  is  a  northern  insect  found 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.     117 

mostly  in  Canada  and  extending  southward  over  the  whole 
of  New  England  and  along  the  Appalachian  chain,  but 
not  known  elsewhere  in  the  East.  The  butterfly  is  single- 
brooded  and  appears  from  the  wintering  chrysalis  toward 
the  end  of  April  or  very  early  in  May,  preceding  by  a  few 
days  the  last  species  (where  both  occur),  and  flying  till  the 
middle  of  June.  Eggs  are  laid  in  May  or  June,  but  what 
the  caterpillar  feeds  on  is  unknown;  it  probably  matures 
by  the  middle  of  July,  and  the  rest  of  the  year  is  spent  in 
chrysalis. 

25.  Genus  Uranotes. 

URANOTES  MELINUS— THE  GRAY  HAIR-STREAK. 

(Strymon  melinus,  Thecla  melinus,  Thecla  hyperici,  Thecla  favonius, 

Thecla  liumuli.) 

Butterfly. — Hind  wings  with  a  very  long  thread-like  tail  and  a 
smaller  secondary  one.  Upper  surface  of  wings  bluish  black,  the 
hind  wings  with  a  large  orange  lunule  seated  on  a  marginal  black 
spot,  between  which  latter  and  the  anal  angle  is  a  similar  blue- 
edged  black  spot.  Under  surface  pearly  clay-brown,  the  hind 
wings  with  two  orange  spots  near  anal  angle,  more  or  less  enclos- 
ing marginal  black  spots,  separated  by  blue  and  interrupting  the 
submarginal  series  of  blackish  spots  which  crosses  both  wings  ; 
an  estramesial  series  of  nearly  connected  slender  black  bars  edged 
without  with  white,  within  faintly  with  orange,  nearly  straight  on 
fore  wings,  faintly  W-shaped  on  hind  wings.     Expanse  1^^  inches. 

Caterpillar.— Onisciform.  Head  minute.  Body  naked,  pur- 
plish white  without  markings.     Length  f  inch  or  more. 

Chrysalis. — Testaceous,  discolored  and  flecked  with  dark 
fuscous  ;  abdomen  much  wider  than  thorax,  its  longest  hairs 
nearly  half  as  long  as  the  segments.     Length  fully  ^  inch. 

This  is  the  only  one  of  our  Hair-Streaks  which  flies 
almost  continuously  from  May  to  September;  it  is  found 
throughout  our  district,  although  it  has  very  rarely  been 
taken  in  any  part  of  Canada;  it  is  to  be  looked  for  about 
shrubbery  and  vines.     The  insect  is  double-brooded  and 


118  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

long-lived,  which  accounts  for  its  continuous  presence;  it 
first  appears  in  the  early  days  of  May  and  this  brood  con- 
tinues some  way  into  June,  while  the  second  brood  appears 
early  in  July  and  flies  throughout  August  and  sometimes 
far  into  September.  The  eggs  are  shaped  like  sea-urchins, 
and  are  very  delicately  reticulate  with  raised  lines  and  pea- 
green.  The  caterpillars  feed  on  the  heads  of  hops  and  on 
the  pods  of  beans,  Cynoglossum  and  other  plants;  they 
are  very  active  when  young  and  change  their  form  con- 
siderably, leech-like,  when  moving  about.  It  is  altogether 
probable  that  the  insect  winters  in  the  chrysalis. 

26.   Genus  Mitura. 

MITURA   DAMON— THE   OLIVE  HAIR-STREAK. 

(Thecla  damon,  Thela  smilacis,  Thecla  auburniana.) 

Butterfly. — Fore  wings  of  male  with  a  gray  stigma  at  tip  of 
cell ;  hind  wings  with  a  moderately  long  thread-Uke  tail.  Upper 
surface  of  wings  blackish  brown,  the  larger  part  of  the  disk, 
excepting  the  veins,  dull  tawny.  Under  surface  green,  the  fore 
wings  with  a  submarginal  white  stripe  edged  within  with  reddish, 
the  hind  wings  with  two  basal  white  bars  edged  without,  and  a 
very  tortuous  extramesial  white  stripe  edged  within,  with  reddish, 
besides  a  slender  white  margin  and  a  marginal  series  of  powdery 
spots  enlarging  toward  the  anal  angle  and  made  up  of  mingled 
white,  black,  and  red  scales  in  suboceliate  form.  Expanse  fully 
1  inch. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  pale  green.  Body 
naked,  pilose,  dark  green,  with  three  rows  of  white  or  whitish 
slightly  oblique  dashes  on  each  side.     Length  |  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Wood-brown,  heavily  and  irregularly  marked  with 
blackish  fuscous,  the  abdomen  much  wider  than  the  thorax, 
tinged  with  ferruginous,  its  longest  hairs  not  more  than  a  third 
the  length  of  the  segments.     Length  fully  \  inch. 

This  is  a  southern  butterfly,  flying  about  as  far  north  as 
the  latitude  of  42°  and  in  the  West  a  little  further.  It 
seems  to  occur  only  in  the  vicinity  of  red  cedars,  on  which 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.     119 

the  caterpillar  feeds,  and  prefers  a  height  of  about  twenty 
feet  from  the  ground,  near  the  tops  of  the  cedars,  where 
its  active  play  with  its  fellows  is  a  very  pretty  sight.  The 
insect  is  partly  single-,  partly  double-brooded,  and  hibernates 
in  the  chrysalis  state;  the  earliest  butterflies  appear  about 
the  first  of  May  and  continue  on  the  wing  throughout 
June.  The  eggs,  which  are  turban-shaped  with  a  broad 
saucer-like  depression  above,  pale  bluish  green  in  color  and 
studded  with  knobs,  are  laid  singly  near  the  tips  of  the 
blossoming  twigs,  tucked  into  chinks,  and  hatch  in  about 
a  week.  The  caterpillar  is  of  precisely  the  color  of  the 
cedar,  feeds  on  the  tips,  its  head  while  feeding  covered  by 
the  segment  behind  as  by  a  cowl,  and  takes  about  five 
weeks  to  mature.  The  caterpillars  begin  to  go  into 
chrysalis  toward  the  end  of  June;  some  of  these  chrysalids 
hibernate,  while  others  give  out  the  butterfly  in  about  a 
fortnight,  the  new  brood  of  butterflies,  much  less  abundant 
than  the  first,  appearing  toward  the  end  of  July  and  con- 
tinuing through  August. 

27.   Genus  Thecla. 

THECLA   IIPAROPS— THE   STRIPED  HAIR  STREAK. 

(Thecla  strigosa.) 

Butterfly. — Fore  wings  of  male  with  a  discal  stigma ;  hind 
wings  with  a  short  thread-like  tail  and  the  indication  of  a  supple- 
mentary one.  Upper  surface  of  wings  blackish  brown.  Under 
surface  dark  brown,  the  disk  crossed  by  four  subequidistant 
more  or  less  complete  and  subcontinuous  white  threads  shifted  in 
position  below  the  median  veins,  besides  the  red,  blue,  and  black, 
white-edged,  lunulate  marginal  markings  common  to  the  genus. 
Expanse  li  inches. 

Caterpillar.— Onisciform.  Head  minute,  pale  brown  with  a 
transverse  facial  black  belt.  Body  naked,  pilose,  grass-green, 
very  faintly  and  obliquely  striped  with  greenish  yellow.  Length 
nearly  I  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Dull    yellowish    brown,    dotted    with    brownish 


120  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

fuscous,  the  reticulation  darker ;  abdomen  scarcely  wider  than 
the  thorax,  its  hairs  half  as  long  as  the  segments.  Length  fully 
i  inch. 

This  pretty  butterfly  is  widely  distributed  throughout 
nearly  all  our  district,  failing  in  the  northernmost  parts 
and  nowhere  very  abundant;  it  has  an  active  nervous 
flight  and  is  to  be  looked  for  in  the  vicinity  of  thickets. 
It  is  single-brooded,  hibernating  in  the  egg  state.  The 
eggs  are  laid  on  the  terminal  twigs  of  the  food-plant  under 
the  lea  of  some  prominence  like  a  leaf-scar  and  hatch  early 
in  May.  The  food-plants  of  the  caterpillar  are  various: 
thorn,  shadbush,  and  other  Rosaceous  plants,  the  common 
swamp  blueberry  and  doubtless  other  species  of  Vaccinium, 
oaks  and  willows;  Vaccinium  and  shadbusli  are  probably 
its  favorites.  At  first  the  young  caterpillar  eats  little  holes 
through  the  leaf;  afterwards  eats  holes  or  bites  the  edge 
indifferently,  or  it  may  bore  into  fruit  like  plums  and 
extract  the  softer  parts;  it  matures  late  in  June,  the 
chrysalis  state  lasts  from  twelve  to  sixteen  days,  and  the 
first  butterflies  appear  early  in  July,  sometimes  not  until 
the  middle  of  the  month,  and  remain  on  the  wing  but  a 
very  short  time,  being  rarely  seen  in  August. 

THECLA   CALANUS— THE   BANDED   HAIR  STREAK. 

(Thecla  falacer,  Thecla  inorata.) 

Butterfly. — Fore  wings  of  male  with  a  discal  stigma  ;  hind 
wings  with  a  short  thread-like  tail.  Upper  surface  of  wings 
blackish  brown.  Under  surface  slate-brown,  the  disk  crossed  by 
four  subcontinuous  white  threads  in  two  distant  pairs,  the  inner 
pair  brief,  the  outer  crossing  the  wing  with  tolerable  regularity 
but  in  a  broken  fashion,  each  pair  including  a  darker  ground ; 
besides  which  are  the  marginal  markings  peculiar  to  the  genus. 
Expanse  1\  inches. 

Ca,terpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  very  pale  green. 
Body  naked,  pilose,  nearly  equal  and  tapering  but  little  behind, 
bright  grass-green,  with    lighter  and  darker  green  longitudinal 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.     121 

lines,   or  pinkish  brown  without  markings  or  with  heavy  dark 
markings  in  front  and  behind.     Length  ^  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Lighter  or  darker  brown,  more  or  less  sprinkled 
with  blackish  fuscous  dots  and  blotches  and  with  an  obscure 
dorsal  stripe  on  abdomen  ;  reticulation  with  larger  meshes  than 
in  the  other  species  and  not  elevated  at  points  of  intersection  ; 
abdomen  scarcely  wider  than  the  thorax,  its  hairs  not  more  than 
one  fourth  the  length  of  the  segments.     Length  about  f  inch. 

This  butterfly  is  found  about  shrubbery  in  all  joarts  of  our 
district,  and  is  single-brooded,  hibernating  in  all  probabil- 
ity in  the  Qgg,  though  eggs  have  been  known  to  hatch  the 
same  season,  so  that  it  may  also  hibernate  in  an  early  larval 
stage.  The  eggs  are  pale  green,  of  a  turban  shaj^e  and 
studded  profusely  with  knobs;  they  hatch  in  a  few  days  if  in 
the  same  season,  or  mature  early  in  the  spring;  the  cater- 
pillars, which  feed  on  oaks,  hickory,  and  butternut,  eat 
holes  in  the  leaves  and  mature  the  last  of  June  and  early 
in  July,  the  chrysalis  state  continues  from  fourteen  to 
twenty  days,  and  the  butterflies  appear  at  the  end  of  June 
or  early  in  July,  and  are  to  be  found  through  August  and 
occasionally  in  September.  Eggs  are  known  to  be  laid  all 
through  July  and  early  in  August. 

THECLA  ED WARDSII— EDWARDS'S  HAIR- STREAK. 

Butterfly. — Fore  wings  of  male  with  a  discal  stigma;  hind 
wings  with  a  short  thread-like  tail.  Upper  surface  of  wings  very 
dark  brown.  Under  surface  slate-brown,  the  extremity  of  the 
cell  marked  by  a  dark  bar  edged  with  white,  and,  besides  the 
marginal  markings  peculiar  to  the  genus,  an  extramesial  series  of 
transversely  oval,  dark  brown,  white-ringed  spots.  Expanse  1| 
inch. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  black.  Body  naked, 
pilose,  tapering  but  little  posteriorly,  dark  brown  marked  with 
yellowish  brown,  with  a  broad  dorsal  dark  stripe.  Length 
^  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Yellowish  brown,  streaked  and  blotched  with 
darker  brown,  with  a  dark  obscure  band  on  the  sides;  reticula- 


122  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

tion  with  smaller  meshes  than  usual,  elevated  at  points  of  inter- 
section ;  abdomen  scarcely  wider  than  thorax,  its  hairs  not  more 
than  one  fourth  the  length  of  the  segments.     Length  f  inch. 

So  far  as  known,  this  butterfly  inhabits  only  a  narrow 
strip  across  the  Eastern  United  States,  being  rarely  found 
north  of  lat.  42°  or  south  of  40°;  but  it  is  reported  in  the 
extreme  West  beyond  our  district  at  widely  remote  spots, 
even  in  the  Canadian  Rockies.  It  is  an  exceedingly  lively 
insect,  especially  the  male,  and  the  story  of  its  life  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  last  species.  It  hibernates  in  the 
Qgg  state,  feeds  on  oak,  biting  holes  in  the  leaves,  and  flies 
from  July  to  September.  As  in  T.  calanus,  eggs  have  been 
known  to  hatch  the  same  season. 

THECLA  ACADICA— THE  ACADIAN  HAIR-STREAK. 

(Thecla  calif ornica,  Thecla  souhegan,  Thecla  borus,  Thecla  cygnus.) 

Butterfly. — Fore  wings  of  male  with  a  discal  stigma;  hind 
wings  with  a  long  thread-like  tail.  Upper  surface  lustrous  dark 
slate-brown,  with  an  orange  lunule  on  outer  margin  of  hind 
wings.  Under  surface  pearl-gray  with  a  white-edged  narrow 
bar  at  end  of  cell,  an  extramesial  series  of  white-edged,  round, 
occasionally  oval,  black  spots,  and  the  usual  marginal  markings 
of  the  genus,  here  more  conspicuous,  more  continuous,  and  with 
more  orange  than  usual.    Expanse  1|  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  pale  greenish  brown. 
Body  naked,  pilose,  tapering  considerably  behind,  grass-green, 
with  many  oblique  yellowish  stripes  on  the  sides.     Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Dull  yellowish  brown,  spotted  with  blackish  brown, 
and  with  a  dark  dorsal  stripe;  reticulation  with  larger  meshes  than 
usual,  elevated  at  intersection;  abdomen  scarcely  wider  than 
thorax,  its  hairs  but  little  more  than  a  fourth  the  length  of 
the  segments.    Length  |  inch. 

The  distribution  of  this  butterfly  in  the  East  is  similar  to 
that  of  the  preceding  species  excej^t  that  the  belt  is  removed 
a  little  further  north,  the  butterfly  being  found  a  short 
distance  only  on  either  side  of  the  Canadian  border;  it  is 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER- WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.     123 

to  be  found  about  thickets  on  the  borders  of  streams  where 
willows,  the  food-plant  of  the  caterpillar,  abound.  The 
caterpillars  are  very  supple  in  their  movements,  much  like 
a  snail,  and  eat  the  willoAV  leaves  from  the  edges  inward. 
The  butterfly  generally  appears  just  before  the  middle  of 
July,  occasionally  earlier,  and  remains  upon  the  wing 
during  August  and  joossibly  later.  The  eggs  then  remain 
unhatched  until  spring,  w^hen  the  caterpillars  attack  the 
tender  foliage;  they  mature  at  the  usual  rate,  and  after 
from  eight  to  fourteen  days  in  the  chrysalis,  the  butter- 
flies appear. 


Thecla  Ontario  is  another  species  of  tlie  genus  occurring  in  our 
district,  but  is  exceedingly  rare,  and  is  known  chiefly  from  Ontario 
and  New  England;  and  T.  lorata,  a  great  rarity  known  only  from 
Virginia,  possibly  not  distinct  from  T.  inorata. 


Other  genera  of  Hair-Streaks  found  in  our  territory  are  :  Erora, 
with  one  species, ii/.  lactn,2i  great  rarity  though  found  in  widely  distant 
places  and  to  be  looked  for  anywhere;  Callicista,  represented  by 
C.  columella,  a  species  of  the  Gulf  States,  once  taken  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ; 
Calycopis,  with  one  species,  G.  cecrops,  a  southern  species  occurring 
as  far  north  as  Kentucky  and  West  Virginia;  Eupsyche,  one  southern 
species  of  which,  E.  m-album,  has  occasionally  been  taken  in  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio;  and  Atlides,  with  one  species,  A. 
halesus,  a  somewhat  common  species  of  the  extreme  South,  which  has 
been  taken  in  Illinois. 


TRIBE  BLUES. 

28.  Genus  Everes, 

EVERES  COMYNTAS— THE  TAILED  BLUE. 

(Polyommatus  comyntas,  Argus  comyntas,  Lycaena  comyntas.) 

Butterfly. — Hind  wings  with  a  short  thread-like  tail.  Upper 
surface  of  wings  either  dark  violet  (male)  or  dark  brown  (female), 
the  hind  wings  with  a  marginal  series  of  dark  spots,  of  which  the 
one  next  the  tail  is  surmounted  with  orange.  Under  surface 
satin-gray,  with  a  very  delicate  extramesial  series  of  dark  brown 


124  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

spots,  and  with  marginal  spots  much  as  above.  Expanse  about 
1  inch. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  black.  Body  naked, 
pilose,  dark  green  specked  with  pale  points,  with  a  fuscous  dorsal 
stripe,  and  on  either  side  obscure  oblique  fuscous  markings;  last 
segment  broad  and  flattened.     Length  nearly  ^  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  more  than  three  times  as  long  as  broad,  pale 
green,  the  abdomen  brownish  yellow,  with  an  interrupted  blackish 
dorsal  stripe,  and  on  each  side  a  row  of  oblique  blackish  dashes. 
Length  fully  J  inch. 

This  butterfly,  found  everywhere,  is  a  lively  insect,  often 
difficult  to  follow  in  its  motion  among  the  herbage,  above 
which,  unless  very  low,  it  is  seldom  seen.  Its  eggs,  which 
are  sea-urchin-shaped,  pea-green,  and  studded  with  pale 
prominences,  are  laid  singly,  tucked  into  crevices  about  the 
inflorescence  of  flowers  of  the  Leguminous  plants  on  which 
the  caterpillar  feeds — Lespedeza,  Desmodium,  clover,  etc. — 
and  hatch  in  four  days  or  less;  the  caterjjillar  seems  to  pre- 
fer the  flower-heads  and  tender  leaves  for  food  and  will 
burrow  into  the  calyx  in  search  of  nutriment.  The  insect 
is  triple-brooded :  the  first  butterflies  appear  early  in  May, 
soon  become  plenty,  and  disaj^pear  some  time  in  the  first 
half  of  June;  the  caterpillars  attain  their  growth  rapidly, 
the  chrysalis  state  is  short,  and  in  the  first  half  of  July 
the  butterflies  of  the  second  brood  appear  and  continue  to 
emerge  throughout  the  month;  the  same  story  is  again  re- 
peated, the  chrysalis  continuing  from  nine  to  eleven  days, 
and  the  third  generation  makes  its  appearance  after  the 
middle  of  August  while  some  worn  butterflies  of  the  second 
brood  are  still  on  the  wing;  the  third  brood  may  still  be 
found  until  after  the  middle  of  September.  How  the 
winter  is  passed  is  not  known,  but  probably  as  a  full-grown 
caterpillar.  Further  north  it  is  probable  that  there  are  but 
two  broods,  as  is  the  case  in  the  White  Mountains  of  New 
Hampshire. 

In  southern  regions,  and  as  far  north  as  Long  Island, 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES    125 

there  are  two  kinds  of  females,  one  almost  uniformly  dark 
on  the  upper  surface  as  described  above,  the  other  more 
nearly  resembling  the  male,  being  blue  with  broad  black 
margins. 

29.  Genus  Cyaniris. 
CYANIRIS  PSEUDARGIOLUS— THE  SPRING  AZURE. 

(Lycaena  pseudargiolus,  Cupido  pseudargiolus,  Polyommatus  lucia, 
Lycaena  violacea,  Lycaena  neglecta.) 

Butterfly. — Hind  wings  with  do  tails.  Upper  surface  of  wings 
either  pale  violet  with  a  slight  brownish  rim  or  slate-brown 
(male),  or  else  pallid,  more  or  less  tinged  with  violet,  with  a  very 
broad  brown  edging  to  the  fore  wings  both  on  costal  and  outer 
margins  (female).  Under  surface  pale  ash-gray  with  brown 
markings  very  variable  in  extent,  especially  upon  the  hind  wing, 
the  markings  of  the  disk  here  varying  from  a  thread  terminating 
the  cell  and  an  extramesial  series  of  delicate  dots,  to  a  large  ir- 
regularly-margined blotch  covering  most  of  the  surface,  and  only 
separated  from  similarly  heavy  marginal  markings  by  a  slender, 
dentate,  extramesial,  pallid  band.     Expanse  1-1^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  dark  brown.  Body 
naked,  pilose,  white,  with  a  dusky  dorsal  line  and  marked  with 
greenish  on  the  sides  ;  last  segment  comparatively  slender  and  but 
moderately  depressed.     Length  |  inch. 

Chrysalis.— Body  less  than  three  times  as  long  as  broad,  light 
brownish  yellow,  with  a  faint  dusky  dorsal  line,  and  more  or  less 
marked  minutely  with  blackish.    Length  nearly  ^  inch. 

This  highly  variable  butterfly  is  found  over  an  immense 
territory  (much  more  than  our  district),  and  the  distribution 
and  times  of  appearance  of  the  different  forms  which  it 
assumes  are  mentioned  in  the  Introduction  (see  p.  18).  It 
occurs  in  and  at  the  borders  of  open  deciduous  woods  or  by 
roadsides  through  them,  often  settling  (with  much  waver- 
ing) in  crowds  about  damp  spots.  The  eggs,  which  closely 
resemble  those  of  Everes  comyntas  in  color  and  markings, 
but  are  not  so  flat,  are  laid  singly  on  the  buds  or  the  calyx 
of  the  flowers  of  the  plant  on  which  the  caterpillar  is  to 


126  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

feed,  tucked  in  between  the  flowers  well  out  of  sight,  and 
hatch  in  from  four  to  eight  days,  according  to  the  season. 
The  plants  used  as  food  by  the  caterpillars  are  extremely 
various,  those  already  known  belonging  to  as  many  as  fif- 
teen different  families,  but  their  principal  food  is  thought 
to  be  Cornus  in  the  early  spring,  Cimicifuga  in  June,  and 
Actinomeris  later  in  the  season,  a  plant  in,  or  soon  to  be 
in,  flower  being  chosen  by  the  parent;  the  caterpillars  eat 
buds,  flowers,  and  leaves  indiscrimiiuitely,  but  preferably 
bore  into  the  calyx  of  flowers  and  eat  out  the  heart;  they 
are  accompanied  by  ants,  which  tend  them  carefully  and 
caress  them  with  their  antennae  to  induce  them  to  emit 
from  their  abdominal  glands  the  honeyed  secretions  thence 
exuded  and  which  the  ants  lap  up.  The  butterfly  is  one 
of  the  first  to  appear  fresh  from  the  chrysalis  in  the  spring; 
the  earliest  (form  lucia)  generally  appear  about  the  middle 
of  April,  and  in  the  first  week  of  May  the  numbers  are 
materially  increased  by  the  advent  of  the  form  violacea, 
and  both  fly  together  through  this  month,  further  accom- 
panied, after  the  middle  of  May,  by  the  third  form,  neglec- 
ta,  so  that  in  the  last  half  of  this  month  all  may  be  taken 
together.  In  June,  lucia  is  rarely  seen  and  the  others  dis- 
appear one  after  the  other;  but  in  July  the  second  brood 
proper  appears,  consisting  wholly  of  neglecta,  and  contin- 
ues to  emerge  from  the  chrysalis  all  through  this  month; 
it  is  not  so  abundant,  however,  as  the  preceding,  though 
butterflies  may  be  found  even  into  September.  The  cater- 
pillars of  the  second  brood  when  full-fed  go  into  chrysalis, 
in  which  state  they  pass  the  winter;  the  summer  chrysalids 
give  birth  to  butterflies  generally  in  ten  or  eleven  days. 
The  above  statement  is  made  for  southern  New  England 
only;  there  is  probably  some  variation  for  these  dates  for 
places  with  cooler  or  warmer  climates,  for  some  points  re- 
garding which  see  the  Introduction. 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.    127 

Two  other  genera  of  Blues  also  occur  in  our  district,  each  with  two 
species  :  Nomiades,  represented  by  a  boreal  species,  N.  couperi,  not  un- 
common about  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  a  southern  form, 
N.  lygdamiis,  sometimes  found  in  Ohio  and  even  in  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin  ;  and  Rusticus,  likewise  represented  by  a  boreal  species, 
R.  scudderii,  taken  as  far  south  as  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  a  southern, 
R.  striatus,  first  described  from  Texas  and  little  known,  but  said  to 
have  been  also  taken  at  Kacine,  Wisconsin. 

TRIBE  COPPERS. 

30.  Genus  Ciirysopitanus. 
CHRYSOPHANUS  THOE— THE  BRONZE  COPPER. 

(Polyommatus  thoe,  Chrysophanus  hyllus.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  coppery  brown  (male)  or 
blackish  brown  (female),  the  female  with  all  but  the  outer  border 
of  the  fore  wings  orange  fulvous  and  marked  with  rows  of  small 
black  spots  which  are  smaller  and  obscure  in  the  male;  both  sexes 
have  an  orange  band  next  the  outer  border  of  the  hind  wings. 
Under  surface  of  fore  wings  fulvous,  of  hind  wings  silvery  gray, 
bordered  as  above;  both  wings  have  a  double  submarginal  series 
and  an  extramesial  tortuous  series  of  blackish  spots,  besides  a 
number  of  others,  mostly  round,  nearer  the  base.  Expanse  1^ 
inches  or  more. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  pale.  Body  bright 
transparent  yellowish  green  having  a  velvety  appearance,  with  a 
dark  green  dorsal  stripe  edged  with  yellow,  the  whole  profusely 
dotted  with  minute  white  mushroom -shaped  appendages.  Length 
nearly  1  inch.     (From  unpublished  notes  of  J.  Fletcher.) 

Chrysalis. — Light  yellowish  brown,  the  abdomen  with  six  longi- 
tudinal series  of  obscure  fuscous  dots  on  each  side  (including 
those  beneath)  and  a  few  other  dots  on  the  thorax.  Length  more 
than  i  inch. 

This  butterfly,  now^here  abundant,  is  nevertheless  found 
throughout  our  district  except  in  the  eastern  half  of  New 
England,  and  eastward;  it  frequents  moist  places  and  flies 
with  less  activity  than  its  sprightly  allies.  It  is  double- 
brooded,  Avintering  in  the  egg  state,  the  butterflies  aj^pear- 
ing  late  in  June,  laying  their  eggs  early  in  July  and  con- 
tinuing through  the  month.  The  second  brood  flies  from 
the  middle  of  August  to  the  middle  of  September.     The 


128  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

pale-green  eggs  are  shaped  like  a  tiny  sea-urchin  and  are 

laid  singly  on  the  seed-pods  of  the  food-plants,  Polygonum 

and  Rumex. 

31.  Genus  Epidemia. 

EPIDEMIA  EPIXANTHE— THE  PURPLE  DISK. 

(Polyommotus  epixanthe,  Chrysoplianus  epixanthe,  Lycaena  epix- 

anthe.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  brown,  the  male  hav- 
ing a  burnished  chocolate  tint  with  violaceous  reflections  on  the 
basal  half,  with  three  or  four  blackish  dots  on  the  disk.  Under 
surface  pale  straw-yellow  with  blackish  markings,  heavier  on  the 
fore  than  on  the  hind  wings,  similar  to  those  of  Chrysoplianus 
thoe,  and  on  the  hind  wings  a  marginal  series  of  slight  orange 
lunules.     Expanse  fully  1  inch. 

Caterpillar  and  Chrysalis  unknown. 

This  is  a  very  local  butterfly,  found  only  in  peaty 
meadows,  but  there  often  very  abundant.  It  is  found 
all  over  New  England  and  its  borders  and  near  the  Cana- 
dian boundary  westward  to  the  Great  Lakes  and  beyond, 
but  its  distribution  there  is  imperfectly  known;  it  is  said 
to  have  been  taken  in  Kansas.  It  seems  to  be  single- 
brooded,  appearing  at  the  end  of  June,  continuing  to 
emerge  from  the  chrysalis  until  beyond  the  middle  of  July 
and  flying  until  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  August.  The 
eggs,  which  are  very  similar  to  those  of  Chrysoplianus  thoe, 
are  laid  in  July,  singly,  and  apparently  do  not  hatch  until 
the  next  season.  The  caterpillar  will  i^robably  be  found  to 
feed  upon  some  dock  or  knot-weed. 


Two  other  species  of  Epidemia  inhabit  our  district:  E.  dorcas,  found 
in  its  northernmost  limits,  and  E.  helloides,  a  Pacific  coast  species  re- 
ported to  be  found  in  Iowa. 

32.  Genus  Heooes. 

HEODES  HYPOPHL.kAS— THE  AMERICAN  COPPER 

(Cbrysophanus  hypophlaeas,  Chrysophanus  americanus.) 
Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  the  fore  wings  fiery  red,  the  outer 
border  blackish  brown;  this  is  reversed  on  the  hind  wings,  though 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINOED  BUTTERFLIES.    129 

here  the  red  border  is  interrupted  by  dark  marginal  spots;  the 
fore  wings  are  also  furnished  with  two  black  bars  in  the  cell  and 
an  extramesial  series  of  similar  oblique  bars.  Under  surface 
light  brown,  tinged  on  the  disk  of  the  fore  wings  with  red  and 
spotted  as  above  ;  the  hind  wings  are  traversed  by  a  submarginal 
sinuous  red  stripe,  an  extramesial  sinuous  series,  and  an  intra- 
mesial  straight  series  of  black  dots.     Expanse  1-li  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Onisciform.  Head  minute,  yellowish  green. 
Body  naked,  pilose,  grass-green  with  a  faint  dusky  dorsal  line  and 
darker,  sometimes  roseate,  along  the  middle  of  the  sides.  Length 
nearly  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Light  brown  or  livid,  tinged  slightly  with  yellow- 
ish green,  dotted  with  blackish,  the  dots  on  the  abdomen  arranged 
longitudinally  in  a  dorsal  series  and  on  either  side,  above  and  in- 
cluding the  spiracles,  five  series,  sometimes  faint.  Length  nearly 
I  inch. 

This  lively  and  pugnacious  butterfly  is  found  everywhere 
in  our  district,  always  in  the  full  sunshine.  Even  the 
lovers  of  nature  shut  up  w^ithin  the  avails  of  our  large  cities 
can  enjoy  in  any  public  park  a  sight  of  these  ubiquitous 
flutterers,  can  watch  them  in  their  hymeneal  dance  as  they 
toss  themselves  up  and  down  in  contra-unison  and  then 
dash  away  to  repeat  the  sport  elsewhere;  they  are  fearless 
little  brilliants  and  heed  not  an  approaching  footstep  until 
just  upon  them.  They  are  double-brooded  in  the  northern, 
triple-brooded  in  the  southern,  part  of  our  district,  changing 
in  New  England  at  about  the  latitude  of  Concord,  N.  H. 
In  the  double-brooded  district,  the  first  brood  usually  ap- 
pears in  the  first  week  of  June  and  lasts  until  the  middle 
of  July;  the  second  appears  at  about  the  close  of  the  first 
week  of  August  and  flies  nearly  through  September.  In 
the  triple-brooded  district  it  first  appears  about  the  middle 
of  May  and  continues  nearly  to  the  end  of  June;  the  next 
brood  flies  from  about  the  end  of  the  first  week  of  July 
until  the  middle  or  latter  part  of  August;  the  third  appears 
toward  the  end  of  August  and  flies  through  September. 
Winter  is  passed  in  the  chrysalis  state,  or  possibly,  in  some 


180  THE  COMMONER  BUTTmFLIES. 

cases,  the  full-grown  caterpillar  may  hibernate.  The  eggSj 
which  are  pale  green,  nearly  hemispherical,  with  very  large 
white-walled  cells,  are  laid  singly  on  the  stem  or  leaf  of  the 
sorrel,  the  food-plant  of  the  caterpillar,  and  hatch  in  from 
six  to  ten  days  according  to  the  season.  In  escaping  from 
the  Qgg,  the  caterpillar  eats  only  a  small  hole  at  the  top, 
and  then  feeds  on  the  thick  parenchyma  of  the  leaf, 
ploughing  its  way,  first  on  the  under,  afterwards  indiffer- 
ently on  the  upper  or  the  under  surface.  It  goes  to  the 
under  surface  of  stones  to  change  to  chrysalis,  and  this 
state  continues,  except  in  winter,  from  ten  to  nineteen  days 
according  to  the  season. 

33.  Genus  Feniseca. 

FENISECA   TARQUINIUS-THE  WANDERER. 

(Polyommatus  tarqiiinius,  Chrysoplianus  tarquinius,   Polyommatus 
porsenna,  Polyommatus  crataegi.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  pale  fulvous,  broadly  and, 
especially  on  the  fore  wings,  irregularly  marked  with  dark  brown, 
marginal  on  the  fore  wings,  basal  on  the  hind  wings,  varying 
greatly  in  the  amount  of  encroachment  on  the  fulvous  disk. 
Under  surface  pale  reddish  brown,  the  fore  wings  pale  on  the 
disk,  and  both  wings,  but  especially  the  hind  pair,  mottled  with 
pretty  large,  white-edged,  dark  spots,  arranged  on  the  hind  wings 
in  transverse  series.     Expanse  nearly  1|  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  small,  pale  green.  Body  largest  in  the 
middle  and  tapering  in  each  direction,  naked  except  for  rather 
short  hairs  arranged  in  transverse  patches  across  each  segment, 
and  smoky  brown  marked  with  smoky  stripes.  Length  nearly  ^ 
inch. 

Chrysalis.-  -Plump  with  swollen  abdomen,  which  is  covered 
with  slight  bosses  and  the  hinder  extremity  flattened  and  lateral- 
ly expanded ;  pallid  on  the  thorax,  flecked  with  brown,  dark 
greenish  brown  on  the  abdomen,  flecked  or  blotched  with  cream 
yellow.    Length  ^  inch. 

This  is  a  southern  butterfly,  which,  however,  extends  to 
the  northernmost  parts  of  our  district  in  the  East,  but  in 


FAMILY  GOSSAMER-WINGED  BUTTERFLIES.     131 

the  West  has  not  been  found  nearly  so  far  north.  It 
occurs  only  in  the  vicinity  of  water  where  alders  flourish 
and  is  consequently  a  local  insect  and  flies  but  short  dis- 
tances. The  most  remarkable  feature  in  its  life-history  is 
the  food  of  the  caterpillar,  it  being  the  first  and  almost  the 
only  case  known  among  butterflies  in  any  part  of  the  world 
of  a  strictly  carnivorous  habit;  its  food  is  confined  to  plant- 
lice  (aphides)  and  especially  those  kinds  which  exude  a 
fluffy  secretion  and  live  in  close  colonies;  into  these 
colonies  the  caterpillar  intrudes,  ploughing  its  way  into 
the  mass,  and  as  one  after  another  of  the  bodies  of  its  vic- 
tims are  sucked  dry,  their  skins  are  utilized  by  being 
involved  in  the  thin  loose  lining  of  silken  tissue  which  the 
caterpillar  weaves  as  it  works  its  way.  With  a  view  to  this 
life  the  butterfly  lays  its  eggs  singly  upon  the  twigs  of  the 
plant  infested  by  the  colonies  of  plant-lice  and  in  their  im- 
mediate vicinity  or  even  directly  among  them.  These  eggs 
are  of  a  flattened  spheroidal  shape  with  exceedingly  delicate 
reticulation  and  of  a  faint  green  color,  nearly  pellucid,  and 
hatch  in  three  or  four  days.  The  caterpillars  attain  their 
growth  with  unusual  rapidity  and  moult  but  three  times, 
so  that  sometimes  the  chrysalis  state  is  assumed  within  a 
fortnight  of  the  laying  of  the  eggs  from  which  the  cater- 
pillars are  born ;  the  chrysalis,  however,  hangs  an  ordinary 
length  of  time,  from  eight  to  eleven  days.  In  our  district 
there  seem  to  be  three  broods  of  this  butterfly,  which 
hibernates  as  a  chrysalis,  though  possibly  also  as  a  butter- 
fly; farther  south  the  number  of  broods  is  probably  greater. 
With  us  the  first  brood  flies  from  the  latter  part  of  May  to 
the  middle  of  June;  the  second  brood  appears  early  in 
July  and  flies  into  August;  the  third  from  the  middle  of 
August  until  near  the  end  of  September. 


Another  and  western  genus  of  Coppers,  Gaeides,  is  represented  in 
our  district  by  O,  diojie,  which  occurs  from  Missouri  to  Iowa. 


132  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTEEFLIES. 
Subfamily  Piekids. 

TRIBE  RED-HORNS  OR  YELLOWS. 

34.  Genus  Callidryas. 

CALLIDRYAS   EUBULE— THE   CLOUDLESS   SULPHUR. 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  canary-yellow,  the  tips  of 
the  nervules,  especially  in  the  females  and  on  the  fore  wings, 
touched  with  dark  brown.  Under  surface  of  a  similar  but  less 
pure  color  more  or  less,  in  the  female  often  very  much,  marked 
by  scattered  flecks  of  ferruginous  in  somewhat  definite  transverse 
series ;  at  the  tip  of  the  cell  a  more  distinct  small  ferruginous 
spot,  silver-pupilled  on  the  hind  wing.    Expanse  2|-3  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  pale  green.  Body  naked  but  sparsely  pilose, 
pale  green  with  a  bluish  tinge,  especially  above,  and  a  yellow 
stigmatal  band  ;  each  section  of  the  segments  with  a  straight 
transverse  row  of  small,  black,  distant  papillae.  Length  If 
inches. 

Chrysalis.  —Body  as  a  whole  distinctly  bent  in  the  middle ; 
wing-cases  excessively  protuberant ;  frontal  horn  very  long ;  color 
usually  pale  glaucous  green  with  yellow  stripes,  but  sometimes 
pale  yellowish  green  or  roseate,  minutely  dotted  on  back  with 
lighter  points.     Length  1^  inches. 

This  is  a  southern  butterfly,  very  abundant  in  our  South- 
ern States  and  extending  northward  into  the  southern  por- 
tions of  our  district,  occasionally  as  far  north  as  southern 
New  York.  In  the  South  it  sometimes  migrates  in  flocks, 
apparently  always  in  a  southern  direction.  It  seems  to  be 
double-brooded,  the  second  brood  much  more  abundant 
than  the  first,  and  as  the  latter  is  the  only  one  which  has 
been  seen  in  the  North  (in  August),  its  occurrence  in  our 
district  may  be  entirely  due  to  migration,  which  its  known 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  133 

habits  render  not  improbable;  in  what  stage  it  hibernates 
is  unknown^  but  probably  as  a  butterfly,  or  else  as  a  cater- 
pillar. The  eggs,  which  are  yellow,  subfusiform,  about 
twice  as  high  as  broad  and  with  about  seventeen  vertical 
ribs,  are  laid  singly  on  the  more  tender  leaves  of  the  food- 
plant.  Cassia.  The  chrysalis  hangs  ten  or  twelve  days. 
The  male  butterfly  has  an  odor  like  violets. 


Two  other  species  of  Callidryas  occur  rarely  in  the  extreme  south- 
ern limits  of  our  district,  in  the  West:  G.  sennae  and  G.  philea. 

35.  Genus  Zerene. 
ZERENE   CAESONIA— THE   DOG'S   HEAD. 

(Colias  caesonia,  Meganostoma  caesonia,  Zerene  cesonia.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  lemon-yellow,  the  fore 
wings  having  the  outer  border  very  broadly  margined  with  black, 
its  inner  limit  so  deeply  indented,  especially  in  the  male,  that, 
with  the  black  dusting  of  the  basal  part  of  the  cell  and  a  large 
round  black  spot  at  the  tip  of  the  cell,  a  dog's  head  is  vividly 
outlined,  the  round  spot  forming  the  eye.  Under  surface  almost 
uniform  yellow,  more  or  less  edged  and  dotted  with  roseate,  the 
black  spot  of  the  fore  wings  repeated,  here  with  a  silvery  pupil, 
and  the  hind  wings  with  a  pair  of  silver  spots  enclosed  in  a 
roseate  or  ferruginous  nebula.     Expanse  2l-2|  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  yellow-green.  Body  naked  but  sparsely 
pilose,  yellow-green,  usually  with  narrow  transverse  bands  of 
yellow  or  black  or  both,  and  studded  on  each  segment  with  a 
single  transverse  series  of  black  or  concolorous  papillae.  Length 
nearly  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  not  bent  in  the  middle,  the  wing-cases  only 
moderately  protuberant,  frontal  horn  short;  bluish  green  with 
whitish  creases  and  above  with  two  longitudinal  rows  of  black 
dots,  the  wings  dark  green.     Length  nearly  f  inch. 

This,  a  common  species  in  the  Southern  States  and 
especially  in  the  West,  occurs  in  some  abundance  in  the 
southernmost  parts  of  our  district,  and  has  been  found  as 
far  north  as  Pennsylvania,  southern  Ontario,  Wisconsin, 


134  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

and  Kansas.  The  eggs,  which  are  thick  fusiform,  with 
about  eighteen  low  vertical  ribs  and  yellow-green  in  color, 
are  laid  singly  on  the  under  side  of  the  tender  end-leaflets 
of  Amorpha  and  hatch  in  about  four  days.  The  chrysalis 
hangs  from  seven  to  thirteen  days.  The  butterfly  is 
apparently  at  least  double-brooded  and  shows  some  indi- 
cations of  seasonal  dimorphism,  the  later  brood  or  broods 
having  much  more  roseate  on  the  under  surface  than  the 
earliest.  It  is  on  the  wing  during  every  month  from  April 
to  November,  but  much  is  still  to  be  learned  of  its  exact 
life-history. 

36.  Genus  Eurymus. 

EURYMUS   PHILODICE— THE    CLOUDED    SULPHUR. 

(Colias  philodice,  Zerene  antbyale.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  yellow,  the  fore  wings  with 
a  broad,  blackish  brown  outer  margin,  incurved  at  the  extremi- 
ties (and  in  the  female  broken  by  yellow  spots),  together  with  a 
small  black  spot  at  the  tip  of  the  cell;  hind  wings  with  a  similar 
border  narrowing  at  the  extremities  and  in  the  female  much 
narrower  and  less  pure  than  in  the  male,  in  addition  to  which  is 
a  pale  orange  circular  spot  at  the  tip  of  the  cell.  Under  surface 
sulphur-yellow,  the  spots  at  the  tip  of  the  cells  repeated,  on  the 
fore  wings  black  with  a  transverse  white  dash  in  the  centre,  on  the 
hind  wings  ferruginous  with  a  large  silver  j^upil  and  sometimes 
accompanied  above  by  a  similar  satellite.  Expanse  about  2 
inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  grass-green  with  white  dots.  Body  naked, 
pilose,  grass-green,  with  a  faint  darker  dorsal  line  and  a  pale 
roseate  stigmatal  band,  usually  bordered  beneath  in  the  middle 
of  most  of  the  segments  wdth  velvety  black;  whole  body  covered 
with  raised  points.     Length  more  than  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  not  bent  in  the  middle,  the  wing-cases  but 
little  protuberant;  frontal  horn  short  conical,  the  colors  on  either 
side  of  its  lateral  ridge  similar;  color  of  body  grass- green,  ver- 
miculate  with  yellowish  white,  with  a  narrow  yellowish  stigmatal 
stripe.     Length  f  inch. 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  135 

This  is  our  commonest  butterfly,  found  everywhere  in 
open  fields,  flj'ing  rapidly  in  a  zigzag  course  but  little 
above  the  herbage,  and  delighting  to  assemble  in  flocks  at 
the  edges  of  pools  of  standing  water,  particularly  in  road- 
ways. It  has  three  broods  each  year,  and  probably  hiber- 
nates as  a  nearly  full-grown  caterpillar.  The  first  brood, 
which  is  the  least  numerous,  appears  at  the  end  of  April 
unless  delayed  by  inclement  weather,  the  males  about  ten 
days  before  the  females;  its  period  of  greatest  abundance 
is  toward  the  end  of  May,  and  early  in  June  only  worn 
specimens  can  be  found;  the  second  brood  appears  at  the 
end  of  June  and  flies  until  the  third  brood  appears  in  the 
latter  half  of  August,  and  this  last  is  on  the  wing  until  the 
first  severe  frosts  appear.  The  eggs  are  laid  singly  on  the 
upper  side  of  clover-leaves  near  the  middle,  and  hatch  in 
four  or  five  days;  they  are  fusiform  with  about  eighteen 
vertical  ribs  and  numerous  cross  lines;  when  laid  whitish, 
then  faint  yellowish  green,  they  turn  to  a  salmon-color, 
at  first  faint,  afterwards  deep,  and  just  before  hatching 
become  of  a  leaden  hue.  The  escaping  caterjoillar  eats  its 
way  out  at  the  side,  devours  a  small  additional  portion  of 
the  shell,  and  then  attacks  the  leaf,  resting  always  upon 
the  midrib  while  young,  on  the  stalk  when  older.  The 
chrysalis  hangs  from  nine  to  eleven  days. 

The  females  are  dimorphic,  many  being  of  a  pallid 
whitish  hue  instead  of  yellow,  a  distinction  rarely  found  in 
the  first  brood.  One  or  two  instances  have  occurred  of 
pallid  males. 

EURYMUS   EURYTHEME— THE   ORANGE   SULPHUR. 

(Colias  eurytheine,  Colias  clirysotheme,  Colias  keewaydin,  Colias 

ampbidusa,  etc.) 

Butterfly. — Differs  principally  from  the  foregoing  in  having 
the  upper  surface  of  the  wings  orange  instead  of  yellow,  and  in 
being  tinged  with  orange  beneath,     Expanse  nearly  2|  inches. 


136  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

Caterpillar. — Head  grass-green  with  black  dots.  Body  naked, 
pilose,  grass-green  with  a  faint  dorsal  line  and  a  white  stigmatal 
stripe,  which  is  tracked  through  the  middle  by  a  discontinuous 
thread  of  yellow  or  red  and  followed  beneath  by  scattered  dusky 
markings,  sometimes  collected  in  the  middle  of  the  segments  into 
inky  spots;  whole  body  covered  with  raised  points.  Length  1^ 
inches. 

Chrysalis. — Body  not  bent  in  the  middle,  the  wing-cases  but 
little  protuberant;  frontal  horn  short  conical,  the  colors  on  either 
side  of  its  lateral  ridge  contrasted;  color  of  body  pea-green,  ver- 
miculate  with  pallid  and  having  a  yellow  stigmatal  band.  Length 
I  inch. 

This  is  a  wide-spread  and  abundant  western  and  southern 
species,  in  our  district  rarely  found  east  of  Ohio  (though  it 
has  been  taken  even  in  Maine),  with  habits  like  those  of 
the  preceding  species,  but  more  active  in  flight  and  more 
often  flying  liigh  in  the  air.  In  our  district  it  is  triple- 
brooded,  with  seasons  much  as  in  the  preceding  species  or 
perhaps  a  trifle  later,  and  is  said  to  hibernate  both  as  a 
caterpillar  and  as  a  butterfly.  The  eggs  closely  resemble 
those  of  E.  phUodice  but  have  less  numerous  cross  lines, 
and  hatch  in  from  four  to  nine  days.  The  caterjoillar 
feeds  on  clover,  and  the  chrysalis  hangs  from  nine  to 
fifteen  days. 

This  butterfly  is  remarkable  for  the  extraordinary  variety 
of  forms  which  it  assumes,  a  brief  account  of  which  will  be 
found  in  the  Introduction,  page  19. 


A  third  species  of  the  genus,  E.  interior,  closely  resembling  E. 
phUodice  and  sometimes  mistaken  for  it,  is  found  in  high  northern 
regions,  is  abundant  on  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  and  has 
occasionally  been  taken  in  northern  New  England. 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  137 

37.  Genus  Xanthidia. 
XANTHi'dIA   NICIPPE— the   BLACK-BORDERED   YELLOW. 

(Terias  nicippe,  Eurema  nicippe.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  bright  orange,  the  fore 
wings  with  a  little  dark  mark  at  tip  of  cell  and  the  outer  border 
broadly  margined  with  blackish  brown,  which  extends  above  to 
the  middle  of  the  costal  margin;  in  the  male  it  is  narrowest  in  the 
middle  and  bends  inward  on  the  inner  margin;  in  the  female  it  is 
broader  and  fails  to  reach  the  inner  margin;  hind  wings  with  a 
similar  bordering  broadest  in  the  middle  and,  in  the  female  only, 
nearly  obliterated  in  the  lower  half.  Under  surface  bright  yellow, 
the  fore  wings  with  an  orange  tinge,  the  hind  wings  with  some 
short  transverse  streaks  of  ferruginous,  especially  in  the  female, 
where  the  centre  of  the  disk  is  often  dingy  white.  Expanse 
about  2  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  pea-green  dotted  with  black,  the  papillae 
high  and  numerous.  Body  naked,  pilose,  the  black  papillae  not 
transversely  arranged,  the  color  green,  darkest  above,  with  a 
broad  yellow  stigmatal  band,  edged  slightly  below  with  blue. 
Length  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  not  bent  in  the  middle,  the  wing  cases  very 
protuberant;  frontal  horn  rather  long  conical;  color  green,  the 
raised  corrugations  white,  more  or  less  sprinkled,  especially  on 
the  wings,  with  fuscous.     Length  f  inch. 

This  southern  butterfly  occurs  in  the  southern  part  of 
our  district  as  far  north,  though  not  abundantly,  as  the 
southern  borders  of  New  York;  it  is  common  enough  in 
southern  but  not  in  'northern  Ohio.  It  is  found  in  open 
fields  and  has  an  active  flight.  It  is  apparently  double- 
brooded  and  lives  a  long  time  as  a  butterfly,  flying  in  the 
South  from  the  time  of  its  first  appearance  fresh  from  the 
chrysalis  about  the  middle  of  May  until  the  middle  of 
November,  with  a  notable  accession  in  numbers  about  the 
middle  of  August,  marking  the  apparition  of  the  second 
brood.  In  keeping  with  this  longevity,  the  butterfly  hiber- 
nates and  is  seen  again  in  the  earliest  days  of  spring.  The 
eggs,  which  are  fusiform,  with  about  thirty  vertical  ribs 


138  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

and  of  a  yellowish-green  color,  are  laid  singly  (but  often 
many  upon  the  same  branch)  on  the  leaves  of  Cassia  and 
usually  upon  the  under  side;  they  hatch  in  two  or  three 
days.  The  cater23illars  eat  first  the  extreme  leaflets  of  the 
Cassia,  beginning  at  the  tip  of  the  leaf;  the  chrysalis  hangs 
from  five  to  eight  days.  As  the  larval  stages  are  passed 
rapidly,  at  least  in  midsummer,  it  is  possible  that  the 
broods  may  be  much  more  numerous  than  stated  above; 
but  if  so,  the  striking  accession  to  the  numbers  in  flight  in 
August  remains  to  be  explained. 

38.  Genus  Eurema, 
EUREMA  LISA— THE  LITTLE  SULPHUR. 

(Xanthidia  lisa,  Terias  lisa.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  canary-yellow,  the  apex 
and  whole  outer  margin  (the  latter  not  quite  to  the  outer  angle 
in  the  female)  broadly  bordered  with  blackish  brown  on  the  fore 
wings ;  hind  wings  rather  narrowly  margined  with  the  same  in 
the  male,  with  a  large  spot  at  the  upper  angle  only  in  the  female. 
Under  surface  duller  yellow,  sparsely  sprinkled  with  brownish 
dots,  especially  on  the  hind  wings,  which  are  more  or  less  flecked 
with  ferruginous  and  have  also  a  ferruginous  spot  in  both  sexes 
opposite  the  blackish  spot  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  female. 
Expanse  1^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  grass-green,  the  white  papillae  moderately 
high  and  not  numerous.  Body  naked,  pilose,  the  white  papillae 
not  in  transverse  lines ;  color  grass-green,  deepening  in  color 
down  the  sides,  with  a  white  stigmatal  line.  Length  more  than 
f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  not  bent  in  the  middle,  wing-cases  but  little 
protuberant ;  frontal  horn  slender,  conical ;  translucent  green, 
sparsely  dotted  with  blackish.     Length  |  inch. 

The  distribution  of  this  butterfly  is  almost  precisely  that 
of  the  preceding  species,  but  it  has  been  found  in  the  East 
a  little  farther  north  than  it,  having  apparently  a  permanent 
foothold  on  the  southern  shores  of  New  England.    Probably 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  139 

triple-brooded  in  the  South,  it  seems  within  our  district  to 
be  only  double-brooded,  and  probably  hibernates  every- 
where as  a  butterfly.  In  the  North  the  first  brood  of  fresh 
butterflies  appears  about  the  middle  of  June  and  flies  for 
five  or  six  weeks;  the  second  and  much  more  numerous 
brood  appears  early  in  August,  receives  accessions  through- 
out the  month,  and  flies  through  September.  The  eggs, 
which  are  light  green,  slender  fusiform,  and  with  very 
numerous  vertical  ribs,  are  laid  singly  on  the  upper  side  of 
the  midrib  between  the  leaflets  of  Cassia,  species  with 
small  and  finely-divided  leaflets  being  preferred,  and  hatch 
in  five  or  six  days.  The  caterpillar  escapes  from  the  side 
of  the  Qgg,  and  generally  devours  a  considerable  part  of  the 
rest  before  touching  the  leaves,  when  it  crawls  to  the  under 
surface  and  remains  there,  at  first  eating  only  holes  in  the 
leaf  so  as  to  leave  the  skeleton  of  the  leaf  untouched;  it 
rests  on  the  midrib  of  the  leaf  or  on  the  stalk,  and  is  then 
difficult  to  detect,  so  closely  does  its  color  accord  with  that 
of  the  plant;  if  much  disturbed  it  will  drop  from  the  leaf 
by  a  thread.  In  the  autumn  the  chrysalids  hang  for  a 
month. 

An  immense  swarm  of  these  delicate  butterflies,  thou- 
sands in  number,  was  once  blown  like  a  cloud  to  Bermuda 
from  the  mainland,  fully  six  hundred  miles  away. 

39.  Genus  Nathalis. 

NATHALIS  lOLE— THE  DAINTY  SULPHUR. 

(Xathahs  Irene.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  pale  canary-yellow  with  dark  brown  mark- 
ings, which,  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  fore  wings,  consist  of  a 
large  apical  spot  bounded  by  an  obHque  line  connecting  the 
costal  and  outer  margins  near  their  middle,  and  a  broad  bar 
along  the  inner  margin,  not  reaching  the  outer  margin  ;  this 
bar  is  repeated  on  the  under  surface  accompanied  by  a  couple  of 
blackish  spots  above  its  outer  extremity ;  under  surface  of  the 


140  FEE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

hind  wings,  except  next  outer  margin,  much  besprinkled  with 
dusky  scales.     Expanse  1  inch  or  more. 

Caterpillar. — Head  green.  Body  green  with  a  purple  dorsal 
stripe  and  on  each  side  a  double  stigmatal  stripe  of  purple  and 
yellow;  a  pair  of  reddish,  conical,  forward-projecting  processes  on 
back  of  Urst  thoracic  segment.     Length  |  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  not  bent  in  the  middle,  wing-cases  but  little 
protuberant;  front  rounded,  with  no  distinct  horn;  yellow-green, 
thickly  dotted  with  yellow-white.     Length  |  inch. 

This  pretty  butterfly  is  very  common  indeed  in  the  Sonth- 
western  States  and  occurs  in  our  district  in  southern 
Illinois  and  Missouri.  Its  transformations  have  been  fol- 
lowed by  Mr.  AV.  H.  Edwards,  through  whom  the  above 
as  yet  unpublished  details  are  given.  The  caterpillar 
feeds  on  Tagetes,  but  its  seasons  are  not  yet  known  except 
that  the  butterfly  flies  at  the  end  of  June  and  in  July  and 
again  very  late  in  the  season ;  doubtless  also  at  other  times. 


Two  other  genera  of  Red-Horns  occur  in  the  district:  Fhoebis,  with 
one  species,  P.  agarithe,  an  extreme  southern  type  said  to  have  been 
taken  in  Nebraska;  and  Pyrisitia,  also  with  a  single  southern  species, 
P.  mexicana,  which  has  been  taken  occasionally  in  the  West,  as  far 
north  as  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  and  once  even  in  southern  Ontario. 

TRIBE   ORANGE-TIPS. 

40.  Genus  Anthocharis. 

ANTHOCHARIS  GENUTIA— THE  FALCATE  ORANGE  TIP. 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dull  white,  the  fore  wings 
with  a  minute  black  spot  at  the  tip  of  the  cell,  the  edge  of  the 
falcate  portion  of  the  wing  brown  with  white  dots,  and,  in  the 
male,  the  whole  apex  orange.  Under  surface  of  fore  wings  like 
the  upper,  but  with  no  orange  tip  in  either  sex;  hind  wings 
flecked  with  light  brown  collected  into  large  open  blotches. 
Expanse  If  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  pallid  with  greenish  inky  blotches,  crowned 
with  papillae.  Body  very  slender,  naked,  pilose,  numerously 
striped  with  orange,  green,  dark  blue,  white,  and  yellow,  but 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  141 

principally  bluish  green,  the  broader  lighter  bands  being  dorsal 
and  stigmatal;  numerous  black  papillae  of  two  different  sizes,  the 
larger  arranged  in  series.     Length  |  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Fusiform,  pointed  at  each  end;  frontal  horn 
plumbeous,  thorax  pallid,  wing-cases  .yellowish,  abdomen  pale 
yellow,  the  whole  dotted  with  black.     Length  f  inch. 

A  southern  and  eastern  butterfly,  found  also  in  the 
eastern  half  of  the  southern  portion  of  our  district,  even 
into  New  England;  it  occurs  also  in  southern  Illinois 
and  Ohio.  It  is  found  in  open  woods  and  flies  leisurely  in 
a  somewhat  zigzag  course  and  rarely  alights.  It  is  single- 
brooded  and  hibernates  as  a  chrysalis.  It  appears  with  the 
first  foliage  early  in  May  and  flies  only  through  this  month 
or  for  a  few  days  into  June.  The  eggs  are  tall  sugar-loaf - 
shaped  with  about  fourteen  vertical  ribs  and  of  an  orange 
color  and  hatch  in  four  or  more  days;  they  are  laid  singly 
on  the  stems  and  leaves  of  Cruciferous  plants  of  a  slender 
habit,  Sisymbrium  and  Arabis,  and  the  caterpillars  feed  on 
the  flowers  and  buds,  and  later  on  the  seed-pods.  The 
change  to  chrysalis  is  somewhat  curious,  as  related  by 
AY.  H.  Edwards. 


Another  of  the  Orange-tips,  Synchloe  olympia,  has  been  found  at 
distant  intervals  and  in  scanty  numbers  in  the  western  and  southern 
parts  of  our  district — Kansas,  Nebraska,  Missouri,  Illinois,  Indiana, 
and  West  Virginia. 

TRIBE    WHITES. 
41.  Genus  Pontia. 

po'ntia  protodice— the  checkered  white. 

(Pieris  protodice,  Pieris  vernalis,  Pieris  occidentalis.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  white,  the  fore  wings  marked  above  with 
grayish  brown  by  a  broad  bar  across  the  end  of  the  cell,  an  inter- 
rupted, transverse,  unequal  belt  across  the  outer  third  of  the 
wing  (subobsolete  in  the  male)  and  triangular  marginal  spots  at 


142  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

the  nervure  tips,  especially  the  ujoperones;  the  hind  wings  have 
somewhat  similar  markings  in  the  female.  Under  surface  with 
similar  but  heavier  markings,  both  sexes  as  in  the  female,  but 
inclining  to  yellowish  brown.     Expanse  about  2  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  pale  straw-yellow,  dotted  with'dark  ferru- 
ginous. Body  slender,  naked,  pilose,  striped  with  golden  yellow 
and  dark  greenish  purple,  dotted  with  black  papillae,  which  are 
broader  than  high.     Length  nearly  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — With  compressed  conical  elevations  above  on  mid- 
dle of  thorax  and  on  sides  of  third  abdominal  segment,  the  frontal 
projection  not  longer  than  broad,  the  wing-cases  not  protruding 
beneath  ;  light  bluish  gray  with  yellowish  dorsal  and  side  stripes 
and  dotted  with  black.    Length  f  inch. 

This  is  a  southern  and  western  butterfly,  flying  in 
abundance  farther  north  in  the  West  than  in  the  East, 
where  it  is  rarely  found  north  of  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  southern  seashore  of  New  England.  It  has  a  rapid 
flight  and  is  most  common  about  vegetable  gardens  near 
cities,  the  caterpillar  being  destructive  to  cabbages;  since 
the  introduction  of  Pieris  rajjae  to  this  country,  however, 
it  has  been  largely  superseded  in  this  respect  by  that  pest. 
It  is  triple-brooded,  each  succeeding  generation  more 
abundant  than  the  preceding,  and  hibernates  as  a  chrysalis; 
the  first  brood  appears  in  May,  the  second  late  in  June  or 
early  in  July,  the  third  the  last  of  August.  The  eggs,, 
which  are  very  tall  and  regular  in  form  and  vertically 
marked  with  about  fourteen  ribs,  are  laid  singly  and  hatch 
in  four  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  upon  various  Crucifer- 
ous plants,  and  in  the  case  of  the  cabbage  devour  only  the 
outer  leaves  of  the  head  and  are  thus  much  less  destructive 
in  habit  than  Pieris  rapae. 

The  spring  butterflies  are  more  heavily  marked  than 
those  of  the  subsequent  broods. 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  143 

43.  Genus  Piekis. 

PIERIS   OLERACEA— THE   GRAY-VEINED   WHITE. 

(Pontia  oleracea,  Pontia  casta,   Pieris  napi,   Pieris   frigida,  Pieris 

cruciferarum. ) 

Butterfly. — Wings  white  without  markings,  or  with  the  veins 
more  or  less  broadly  mapped  beneath  with  gray,  especially  on  the 
hind  wings  and  on  the  tips  of  the  fore  wings,  and  the  same  regions 
washed  with  pale  yellow.     Expanse  about  2  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  green.  Body  slender,  naked,  pilose,  green, 
minutely  dotted  with  black,  except  on  a  dorsal  stripe  which  is  not 
otherwise  distinguished.     Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — With  compressed  conical  elevations  above  on  the 
middle  of  the  thorax  and  on  sides  of  second  and  third  abdominal 
segments,  those  of  the  third  distinctly  flaring,  the  frontal  projec- 
tion much  longer  than  broad,  the  wing-cases  not  protruding  be- 
neath ;  color  green,  the  elevated  portions  infuscated.  Length 
fully  f  inch. 

This  northern  species  occurs  throughout  all  but  the 
southern  parts  of  our  region,  though  in  scanty  numbers 
except  in  mountainous  districts;  it  appears,  however, to  be 
absent  from  the  prairies  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
wherever  it  has  come  in  contact  with  P.  rajjae,  it  has  be- 
come relatively  rare;  it  seems  to  be  more  commonly  found 
in  open  places  in  the  vicinity  of  woods  than  about  farms 
(where  P.  rapae  is  most  common)  and  is  in  every  respect 
more  feral  than  the  introduced  pest.  It  is  triple-brooded, 
wintering  in  the  chrysalis;  the  first  brood  appears  at  the 
end  of  April  or  early  in  May,  according  to  the  season,  and 
flies  somewhat  into  June;  the  second  at  the  very  end  of 
June  or  early  in  July  and  flies  nearly  to  the  end  of  the 
latter  month ;  the  third  early  in  August  or  occasionally  at 
the  end  of  July  and  disappears  early  in  September.  The 
eggs,  which  are  Florence-flask-shaped,  tapering  from  the 
middle  upward  and  with  about  thirteen  vertical  ribs,  are 
pale  greenish  yellow,  and  are  laid  singly  on  the  under  sur- 
face of  leaves,  often  several  on  a  leaf,  and  hatch  in  from  five 


144  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES, 

to  eight  days.  The  cater|)illar  feeds  on  various  Crucifer- 
ous plants,  of  which  turnip  appears  to  be  the  favorite,  and 
eats  to  repletion,  the  skin  of  the  body  being  tense  and 
glistening  after  a  meal;  it  feeds  only  on  the  under  surface, 
biting  holes  through  the  leaves  and  never  attacking  them 
at  the  edges.  The  chrysalis,  when  not  hibernating,  hangs 
from  seven  to  eleven  days. 

The  summer  broods  are  almost  pure  white  beneath,  while 
the  spring  brood  is  heavily,  often  (especially  in  northern- 
most localities)  very  heavily,  marked. 

PIERIS  RAPAE— THE    CABBAGE   BUTTERFLY. 

Butterfly.^Wings  dull  white,  the  hind  wings  pale  lemon-yel- 
low beneath,  flecked  uniformly  with  griseous;  fore  wings  with  the 
extreme  apex  blackish  brown  above,  more  broadly  washed  with 
yellow  beneath  ;  besides,  on  both  surfaces  is  a  round  black  spot 
on  the  middle  of  the  outer  half  of  the  fore  wing  and  beneath  it, 
on  the  under  surface,  a  small  spot  on  the  inner  margin,  opposite 
which,  on  the  costal  margin  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  hind 
wings,  is  a  short  black  bar.     Expanse  about  2  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  green.  Body  slender,  naked,  pilose,  green, 
with  a  yellowish  dorsal  band  and  a  similar  but  slender  and  inter- 
rupted stigmatal  band.     Length  nearly  |  inch. 

Chrysalis. — With  compressed  conical  elevations  above  on  the 
middle  of  the  thorax  and  the  sides  of  the  second  and  third  ab- 
dominal segments,  the  latter  not  flaring,  the  frontal  projection 
much  larger  than  broad,  the  wing-cases  not  protruding  beneath  ; 
color  green,  the  elevated  portions  infuscated  at  tip.  Length 
nearly  |  inch. 

This  butterfly  was  introduced  into  this  country  from 
Europe  at  Quebec  about  1860,  and  again  at  New  York  in 
1868,  and  has  thence  spread  over  our  entire  region  and  far 
beyond,  largely  displacing  our  native  butterflies,  Ponlia 
protoclice  and  Pieris  oleracea,  apparently  from  the  earlier 
appearance  of  some  of  the  broods  and  its  extreme  fecun- 
dity; there  is  no  cultivated  spot  where  it  cannot  be  found. 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  145 

aud  it  L'speciixlly  abounds  about  vegetable  gardens  both  in 
countiT  and  city.  It  is  triple-brooded  and  hibernates  as  a 
chrysalis;  the  earlier  broods  appear  in  any  locality  where 
P.  oJeracea  also  occurs,  about  a  week  or  a  little  less  before 
that  species,  but  the  last  brood  is  apparently  contempora- 
neous. The  eggs,  which  are  Florence-flask-sha23ed,  taj^er 
only  on  the  upper  third,  have  about  twelve  vertical  ribs, 
are  pale  yelloAV  and  are  laid  erect  in  large  numbers,  but 
not  in  close  proximity  (except  accidentally),  on  the  under 
surface  of  leaves;  they  hatch  in  about  a  week.  Tlie  cater- 
pillar feeds  on  a  great  variety  of  Cruciferous  plants,  espe- 
cially on  cabbage  (to  which  it  is  very  destructive,  often 
totally  ruining  a  crop),  but  also  on  some  other  plants  and 
especially  mignonette;  in  cabbages  it  bores  into  the  heart 
and  fills  the  passages  with  its  excrement.  When  not  hi- 
bernating, the  chrysalis  state  lasts  ten  or  twelve  days.  The 
male  butterfl}^  has  a  very  faint  but  agreeable  odor.  . 

Seasonal  dimorphism  is  shown  in  the  heavier  markings 
of  the  first  brood  of  the  season;  and  a  variety  sometimes 
occurs  (and  was  especially  prevalent  when  it  was  first  in- 
troduced) of  a  pale  canary-yellow  throughout. 

Subfamily  Swallows-tails. 
43.  Genus  Laertias. 

LAERTIAS  PHILENOR— THE  BLUE  SWALLOW-TAIL. 

(Papilio  pliileuor.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  blackish  brown  with  yel- 
lowish lunules  ill  the  fringe  and  a  submarginal  series  of  pearl-gray 
spots.  Under  surface  of  fore  wings  nearly  the  same  with  larger 
markings;  of  hind  wings  slate-bro\Yn  at  base,  beyond  varying 
from  metallic  green  to  blue  with  seven  large  premarginnl  rounded 
orange  spots;,  broadly  bordered  with  black  and  tipj^ed  above 
with  white.     Expanse  about  4^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black.  Body  naked,  nearly  cylindrical, 
nearly  black,  with  two  series  of  small  orange  spots  on  each  side, 
and  at  both  ends  of  the  body,  on  either  side,  a  series  of  long  black 


146  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

fleshy   filaments,  those   of   the   first   thoracic   segment   longest. 
Length  fully  2  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Body  greatly  expanded  laterally  at  the  third  ab- 
dominal segment,  where  the  wings  form  a  sharp  ridge ;  a  similar 
compressed  ridge  on  each  side  of  the  back  of  the  middle  abdomi- 
nal segments;  of  a  dead  leaf  color,  more  or  less  infuscated  on  the 
elevations.     Length  more  than  1  inch. 

A  southern  butterfly,  found  over  the  southern  half  of 
our  district  almost  or  quite  to  the  southern  extremities  of 
the  Great  Lakes,  fond  of  the  blossoms  of  trees  and  the 
damp  spots  in  roads,  flying  low  and  rather  slowly.  It  is 
double- brooded  and  appears  to  hibernate  as  a  butterfly,  the 
fresh  butterflies  appearing  in  July  and  September.  The 
eggs,  which  are  subspherical  and  covered  with  a  gummy  red 
substance,  are  laid  in  small  clusters,  generally  of  two  or 
three  roM^s  of  three  or  four  each,  but  sometimes  as  many  as 
thirty  or  more,  on  the  upper  side  of  leaves  or  more  gen- 
erally on  the  smaller  stems  or  tendrils  of  the  food-j^lant, 
and  hatch  in  from  seven  to  nine  days.  The  caterpillars 
feed  mostly  on  Dutchman's  pijje  (Aristolochia),  but  some- 
times on  other  members  of  the  family,  like  Asarum,  or  even 
on  Polygonum  and  Ipomoea,  neighboring  plants;  they  do 
not  devour  their  egg-shells  and  at  first  feed  side  by  side  in 
close  company,  lying  at  right  angles  to  the  edge  of  the  leaf, 
heads  out ;  afterwards  they  are  semigregarious,  living  near 
together  but  aj^art  and  without  concealment.  The  odor 
from  the  scent-organs  behind  the  head  is  much  slighter  and 
less  disagreeable  than  with  our  other  swallow-tails.  The 
chrysalis  state  lasts  three  or  four  weeks. 

44.  Genus  Iphiclides. 
IPHICLIDES  AJAX— THE  ZEBKA  SWALLOW-TAIL. 

(Papilio  ajax,  Papilio  marcellus,  Papilio  telamonides.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  black,  transversely  marked  with  broad  and 
narrow  whitish  stripes,  partly  common  to  both  wings,  narrowing 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  147 

from  above  downward,  and  with  a  large  blood-red  spot  on  inner 
margin  of  hind  wings  before  the  anal  angle,  generally  accom- 
panied within  by  another.  Besides  these  markings  the  under 
surfaces  of  the  hind  wings  show  adjacent  median  red  and  white 
stripes  across  the  wing,  and  both  surfaces  blue  submarginal 
lunules  in  the  interspaces  below  the  long  tails.  Abdomen  with 
yellow  sides.     Expanse  3-3f  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  green.  Body  naked,  largest  at  the  third 
thoracic  segment,  pea-green,  with  transverse  markings,  consist- 
ing of  black  dots  and  lines  and  slender  lemon-yellow  stripes, 
besides  a  conspicuous  broad  velvety  black  stripe  on  the  third 
thoracic  segment,  edged  with  lemon-yellow.  Length  more  than 
2  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Compact,  with  relatively  low  prominences  except 
the  triquetral  elevation  on  dorsum  of  thorax ;  a  slender  median 
carina  on  thorax  and  a  similar  pair  on  upper  side  of  abdomen  ; 
dead-leaf  brown,  or  bright  green  with  slight  infuscated  markings. 
Length  nearly  1  inch. 

This  butterfly,  a  southern  form,  is  confined  to  the  eastern 
half  of  the  continent  and  is  found  only  in  the  southern 
part  of  our  district  witli  about  the  same  limits  as  the  pre- 
ceding species;  it  flies  low^  and  rapidly  among  thickets. 
The  insect  winters  as  a  chrysalis  and  has  several  broods  a 
season;  the  first  brood  is  dimorphic,  one  form,  marcellus, 
appearing  with  the  peach-blossoms  ;  the  other,  telamoni- 
des,  some  weeks  thereafter;  the  second  and  later  broods, 
ajax  proper,  also  differ  from  either  of  the  preceding;  mar- 
cellus disappears  about  the  first  of  June,  telamonides  during 
the  same  month,  while  the  earliest  ajax  appear  by  the  time 
that  marcelltis  has  gone,  flying  with  telamonides;  there- 
after the  broods  seem  to  overlap  so  that  they  are  not  easy 
to  distinguish.  The  eggs,  which  are  oblate  spheroidal  in 
shape  and  pea-green  in  color,  afterward  turning  black,  are 
laid  singly,  usually  on  the  upper  surface  of  a  leaf  and  in 
from  four  to  eight  days  according  to  the  time  of  year.  The 
young  caterpillar  usually  devours  most  of  its  egg-shell  be- 
fore feeding  on  the  2")apaw  (Asimina)  on  which  it  is  to  live. 


148  THE  COMMONER  BUTTEBFLIES. 

wliicli  it  does  without  concealiiient.  The  chrysalis  hangs 
from  ten  to  fourteen  days,  when  it  hatches  the  same  season, 
but  an  increasing  number  of  each  brood  do  not  disclose 
their  inmates  at  all  until  the  next  season ;  whether  this  has 
any  definite  relation  to  the  dimorphism  of  the  first  brood 
is  not  yet  known.  The  odor  from  the  scent-organs  of  the 
caterpillar  is  particularly  nauseating. 

45.  Genus  Jasoniades. 
JASONIADES  GLAUCUS— THE  TIGEK  SWALLOW-TAIL. 

(Papilio  glaucus,  Papilio  turniis,  Jasoniades  tiiruus.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  bright  straw-yellow  (paler  beneath)  with 
a  very  broad  black  outer  margin  in  which  are  yellow  lunules  and 
on  the  fore  wings  four  black  bars  descending  from  the  costal 
margin,  the  innermost  of  which,  tapering  throughout,  nearly 
crosses  also  the  hind  wings;  besides  there  is  an  orange  lunule  next 
the  anal  angle  of  the  hind  wings  and  much  dusting  with  metallic 
blue,  particularly  on  the  under  surface  on  the  inner  portion  of 
the  black  border  of  the  same.  Abdomen  with  yellow  sides.  Ex- 
panse 3f-4^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  ferruginous.  Body  naked,  largest  at  the 
division  between  thoracic  and  abdominal  segments,  deep  green, 
paler  below,  with  a  black  transverse  stripe  above  at  front  edge 
of  second  abdominal  segment,  bordered  in  front  by  yellow;  upper 
sides  of  third  thoracic  segment  with  a  small  black-edged  greenish 
yellow  spot  having  a  black-edged  turquoise  pupil.  Length  2 
inches. 

Ch.rysalis. — Koughened  and  straight,  the  wing-cases  not 
prominent  beneath,  all  the  higher  projections  anterior  and 
directed  more  or  less  forward;  griseous  with  a  yellow  olivaceous 
tinge,  often  with  greenish  patches  in  front  and  specked  and 
lined  with  blackish.     Length  \\  inches. 

Pound  everywhere  in  our  district  and  far  beyond  it, 
often  swarming  in  abundance  particularly  in  hilly  regions 
and  especially  in  narrow  wooded  valleys,  often  also 
assembling  in  vast  numbers  about  damp  spots  or  ordure  or 
decaying  animal  substances.     It  Vv^inters  as  a  chrj^salis  and 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  149 

IS  double-brooded,  tlie  first  butterflies  of  the  season  appear- 
ing about  the  last  of  May  and  flying  into  July,  often  until 
the  middle  of  the  month,  when  the  second  brood,  which  is 
less  abundant  than  the  first,  makes  its  appearance.  The 
eggs,  which  are  subspherical  and  leaf -green,  are  laid  singly 
on  the  ujtper  surface  of  leaves  and  usually  hatch  in  about 
eight  days.  The  caterpillar  feeds  on  a  greater  variety  of 
plants  than  any  yet  recorded;  in  all  about  a  dozen  families 
and  thirty  or  more  s^^ecies  are  already  known,  among  which 
birch,  poplar,  ash,  and  Liriodendron  appear  to  be  the  favor- 
ites; when  young  it  feeds  at  the  edge  of  the  leaf  and 
retires  after  feeding  to  the  middle  of  the  upper  side  of  the 
drooping  leaf,  where  it  spins  a  silken  carpet  Avhereon  to 
rest  head  upward ;  as  soon  as  it  moults  it  chooses  a  fresh 
leaf  for  its  residence  and  spins  a  new  carpet,  going  to  some 
neighboring  leaf  to  feed;  when  it  grows  larger  (having 
moulted  three  times)  it  spins  a  web  across  a  new  leaf  so 
tightly  as  to  draw  the  opposite  sides  somewhat  together 
and  to  make  of  the  leaf  a  sort  of  trough,  the  web  touching 
the  leaf  only  at  the  sides  and  forming  an  elastic  bed  where 
the  caterpillar  rests,  concealed  on  a  side  view.  The  chrysa- 
lis state  lasts  two  or  three  weeks  in  the  summer. 

This  butterfly  is  remarkable  for  being  dimorj^hic,  but 
with  curious  restrictions,  the  dimorphism  being  limited 
sexually  and  geographically;  for  in  the  most  southern 
parts  of  our  district  and  southward  there  are  two  forms  of 
female,  one  resembling  the  male,  as  is  invariably  the  case 
in  the  north,  the  other  one  in  which  the  black  has  sup- 
planted the  yellow  to  such  an  extent  that  the  stripes  can 
only  be  vaguely  seen. 


150  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

46.  Genus  Euphoeades, 

EUPH(EADES  TKOILUS— THE  GREEN-CLOUDED  SWALLOW- 
TAIL. 

(Papilio  troilus.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  blackish  brown,  the  upper  surface  with  a 
submarginal  series  of  spots,  which  are  round  and  pale  straw-color 
on  the  fore  wings,  larger,  semilunate,  and  pale  blue-green  on  the 
hind  wings,  which  have,  besides,  an  orange  spot  next  the  middle 
of  the  costal  margin,  an  orange  and  green  spot  next  the  anal 
angle,  and  the  middle  of  the  wing  dusted  with  green  and  metallic 
blue  in  varying  quantity.  On  the  under  surface  of  the  hind 
wings  this  last  is  replaced  by  an  arcuate  series  of  broad  orange 
lunules,  edged  within  with  yellow  and  without  with  black,  and 
followed  outwardly  by  metallic  blue  dusting ;  but  the  series  is 
interrupted  in  the  middle  by  one  of  the  lunules  and  its  appurte- 
nances becoming  a  comet-like  mass  of  green  scales.  Expanse 
about  4  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  pale  green.  Body  naked,  largest  at  the 
third  thoracic  segment,  dark  green,  paler  beneath,  the  sides  of 
the  third  thoracic  segment  with  a  large,  circular,  finely  black- 
edged,  buff  spot,  containing  above  a  small  turquoise  spot  and 
below  a  larger  velvety  black  spot ;  first  abdominal  segment 
above  with  a  pair  of  approximated,  finely  black-edged,  large 
ovoid  buff  spots  having  a  small  turquoise  spot  within  ;  and  the 
hinder  abdominal  segments  with  transverse  series  of  six  small, 
ovoid,  black-edged,  turquoise  spots.     Length  1|^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Kelatively  smooth  with  no  striking  prominences 
except  the  divergent  frontal  projections  and  moderate  thoracic 
elevation;  a  lateral  ridge  the  whole  length  of  the  body,  the  wing- 
cases  protuberant  beneath  ;  pale  yellowish  green  above,  all 
prominences  and  ridges  reddish  brown,  pale  green  beneath ;  or 
griseous  with  mingled  yellowish  and  brown  dottings  above. 
Length  1^  inches. 

This  thongli  a  southern  butterfly  extends  north  to  about 
the  43d  degree  of  latitude,  though  it  appears  to  be  limited 
westward  by  about  the  95tli  degree  of  longitude.  Its  flight 
is  rather  swift  and  unwearied,  in  long  zigzags,  usually  only 
just  above  the  low  bushes  which  it  frequents.     It  winters 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  151 

as  a  chrysalis  and  is  double-brooded;  the  first  butterflies 
appear  in  the  last  part  of  May  and  continue  far  into  July; 
the  second  brood  is  on  the  wing  by  the  middle  of  August 
or  earlier,  but  does  not  become  abundant  until  toward  the 
end  of  August.  The  eggs,  which  are  subspherical  and 
pale  green,  are  laid  singly  on  the  under  surface  of  leaves 
and  hatch  in  probably  a  week's  time.  The  caterpillar 
feeds  upon  various  Lauraceae  and  some  other  plants,  but 
spice-bush  and  sassafras  appear  to  be  the  favorites;  after 
eating  its  egg-shell  it  bites  a  channel  through  one  side  of 
the  leaf  not  far  from  the  tip  down  to  the  midrib,  and  folds 
the  end-flap  over  to  form  a  concealment ;  it  does  not  fasten 
the  edge  itself  in  any  way,  but  keeps  the  flap  in  place  by 
numerous  transverse  strands  of  silk  upon  the  fold  of  the 
leaf,  and  does  it  so  neatly  that  the  edge  of  the  flap  just 
touches  the  opposite  side  of  the  leaf;  later  in  life  it  brings 
the  two  edges  of  an  entire  leaf  together  in  the  same  way 
and  lives  therein,  feeding  upon  the  neighboring  leaves. 
The  chrysalis  state  lasts  about  a  fortnight. 


A  second  species  of  Euphoeades,  E.  i^nlamedes,  equally  common  at 
tlie  South,  does  not  extend  so  far  nortli  as  E.  troilus,  but  has  been 
taken  in  Virginia  and  Missouri  and  probably  may  occur  at  any  point 
on  the  extreme  southern  border  cf  our  district. 


47.   Genus  Heracltdes. 

HERACLIDES   CEESPHONTES— THE   ORANGE   DOG,  OR   GIANT 

SWALLOW-TAIL. 

(Papilio  cresphontes,  Papilio  thoas.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  black-brown  with  two  very 
arcuate  series  of  very  heavy  yellow  discontinuous  markings 
crossing  each  other,  one  passing  from  the  tips  of  I'.e  fore  wings 
to  the  base  of  the  inner  margin  of  the  hind  pair,  the  other,  more 
curved,  from  beyond  the  middle  of  the  costal  margin  of  the  fore 
wings  to  the  anal  angle  of  the  hind  pair,  just  above  which  is  an 


152  THE  COMMOXER  BUTTERFLIES. 

orange  lunule.  Under  surface  mostly  clay-yellow,  the  markings 
of  the  upper  surface  repeated  considerably  modified,  with  great 
extension  of  yellow,  the  hind  wings  with  a  median  lunulate  black 
belt,  marked  with  blue  and  centrally  with  orange.  Abdomen 
with  yellow  sides.     Expanse  4-5 1  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  brown.  Body  naked,  much  swollen 
anteriorly,  ferruginous  brown  with  a  lateral  stripe  in  front,  the 
hinder  end  of  which  (including  two  or  three  segments  and  a  broad 
saddle  in  the  middle)  is  cream  yellow,  flecked  with  brownish,  as 
other  parts  of  the  back  are  slenderly  streaked  with  dirty  yellow. 
Length  more  than  2  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Body  roughened  and  a  little  bent,  the  wing-cases 
protuberant  beneath,  all  the  larger  projections  anterior  and 
directed  forward  ;  griseous  or  dead-leaf  brown,  often  tinged  with 
green  and  more  or  less  marked  with  dark  brown,  especially  in 
front,  on  the  wings  except  apically,  and  on  the  sides  of  the  basal 
segments  of  the  abdomen.     Length  more  than  H  inches. 

This  largest  of  our  butterflies  is  a  tropical  species^  but 
it  extends  far  northward  and  in  recent  years  has  invaded 
our  district,  where  it  is  now  occasionally  found  in  scattered 
localities  in  all  the  southern  portions,  having  even  occurred 
within  thirty  miles  of  Montreal.  It  rests  with  its  wings 
expanded  and  a  little  dej^ressed  and  has  a  sailing  flight. 
It  hibernates  as  a  chrvsalis  and  in  our  district  is  double- 
brooded,  the  first  brood  appearing  early  in  June  and  the 
second  at  the  end  of  July  and  much  later,  flying  through 
September.  The  eggs,  which  are  subspherical  and  overlaid 
by  a  brownish -yellow  secretion,  are  deposited  singly  on  the 
tips  of  the  budding  leaves  in  spring,  on  the  older  leaves  and 
the  twigs  later  in  the  year,  and  hatch  in  ten  or  twelve 
days,  or  sooner  according  to  some.  The  caterpillar  will 
probably  feed  upon  any  plants  of  the  Eue  family  and  is 
particularly  addicted  to  the  orange,  which  it  sometimes 
defoliates;  it  has  also  been  found  on  plants  of  allied 
families;  it  eats  leaves  and  also  the  tenderer  shoots,  and 
when  young  remains  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  and 
devours  only  the  tenderer  parts  between  the  ribs  of  older 


FAMILY  TYPICAL  BUTTERFLIES.  153 

leaves:  later  it  devours  the  whole  leaf,  but  even  when  old 
it  excej^ts  the  midrib  and  rests  on  the  twigs  and  branches. 
The  summer  chrysalids  ordinarily  hang  from  six  to  six- 
teen days. 

48.   GExrs  Papilio. 

PAPILIO    POLYXENES— THE    BLACK   SWALLOW-TAIL. 

(Papilio  asterias.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  black  with  markings  mainly  yellow  ;  fore 
wings  with  two  straight  rows  of  spots  parallel  to  the  outer 
margin,  the  outer  rounded,  the  inner  triangular  ;  upper  surface 
of  hind  wings  with  a  median  row  of  spots,  in  the  male  forming  a 
maculate  band,  and  a  submarginal  series  of  lunules,  between 
which,  e.speciaUy  in  the  female,  are  many  congregated  blue 
scales ;  at  the  anal  angle  a  black-pupilled  orange  demi-ocellus  ; 
on  the  under  surface  of  the  hind  wings  the  yellow  markiugs 
become  mostly  orange  and  are  heavier.  Abdomen  with  two  rows 
of  yellow  dots  on  each  side.     Expanse  3^-4^  inches. 

Caterpillaj. — Head  green,  broadly  striped  vertically  with 
black.  Body  naked,  nearly  cylindrical,  pea-green,  marked  with 
black  in  transverse  bands  on  each  segment,  broadening  into 
rounded  spots  at  regular  intervals  by  enclosing  small,  round, 
yellow  spots  at  their  anterior  margins.     Length  nearly  2  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Roughened,  with  the  front  half  bent  backward  by 
the  protrusion  beneath  of  the  wing-cases,  all  the  higher  pro- 
jections anterior  and  directed  more  or  less  forward  ;  dirty  yellow- 
ish brown,  more  or  less  marked  with  griseous  and  dotted  with 
black  or  blackish  points.     Length  1 J  inches. 

Found  everywhere  in  our  district  in  cultivated  fields  and 
hilly  pastures,  tlying  rather  swiftly  near  the  ground  and 
often  half  doubling  on  its  course.  "Winter  is  passed  in  the 
chrvsalis  state  and  there  are  two  broods  annually,  the  first 
making  its  appearance  in  the  latter  half  of  May,  the  second 
about  the  middle  of  Julv.  and  each  brood  flying  about  two 
months.  The  eggs,  which  are  subspherical  and  honey- 
yellow,  afterward  changing  in  parts  to  reddish  brown,  are 
laid  singly  on  the  finely-cut  leaves  of  the  food-plant  and 


154  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

hatch  in  from  five  to  nine  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  on 
any  Umbelliferous  plants,  and  seem  to  be  found  on  carrot 
and  parsley  as  often  as  on  anything  else;  they  eat  vora- 
ciously and  live  fully  exposed,  and  do  not,  like  most  of 
our  Swallow-tail  caterpillars,  devour  their  cast  skins  after 
moulting.  The  chrysalis  state  varies  in  the  summer  from 
nine  to  eighteen  days. 

A  second  species  of  PapiUo,  P.  hrevicaudit,  remarkable  for  its  short 
tails,  lias  been  found  in  Newfoundland  and  along  the  sliores  of  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  155 


FAMILY   SKIPPERS. 

TRIBE   LARGER  SKIPPERS. 

49.  Genus  Epargyreus. 

EPARGYREUS   TITYRUS— THE   SILVER  SPOTTED   HESPERID. 

(Eadamus  tityriis,  Goniloba  tityrus,  Thymele  tityrus.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  chocolate-brown,  the 
fore  wings  with  a  belt  of  four  large,  contiguous,  gleaming,  amber- 
yellow  spots,  with  another  smaller  one  outside  of  them,  and  three 
little  fenestrate  white  spots,  one  below^  the  other  next  the  costal 
border  a  little  before  the  tip.  Under  surface  blackish  brown, 
with  a  faint  gray  bloom  next  the  outer  margins,  the  markings  of 
the  fore  wings  repeated,  and  across  the  middle  of  the  hind  wings, 
but  not  reaching  either  border,  a  very  large  unequal  silvery 
white  patch.     Expanse  2-2^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  ferruginous  with  a  large  orange  spot  at 
base  of  mandibles.  Body  naked,  briefly  pilose,  greenish  yellow, 
marked  with  transverse  lines,  blotches,  and  dots  of  grassy  green, 
the  lines  encircling  the  body  above,  the  blotches  abundant  at  the 
sides,  and  the  dots  at  the  anterior  edge  of  each  segment ;  first 
thoracic  segment  orange-red  with  brown  shield.  Length  nearly 
\^  inches. 

Chrysalis. — Very  stout  and  plump,  the  abdomen  (exclusive  of 
tail-piece)  no  longer  than  the  rest  of  the  body  ;  prothoracic 
spiracle  with  posterior  lip  flat ;  tongue-case  not  extending  beyond 
the  w'ings ;  dark  brown,  marked  with  blackish  and  testaceous. 
Length  nearly  1  inch. 

This  butterfly  is  found  throughout  all  of  our  district 
except  the  northernmost  portions  and  the  eastern  provinces; 
it  is  found  about  gardens  and  has  a  dashing  impetuous 
flight,  starting  and  stopping  abruptl}^  being  perhaps  our 
most  robust  and  vigorous  butterfl3\  It  winters  in  the 
chrysalis  and  is   single-brooded,  although   there  are  two 


156  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

broods  in  the  Southern  States,  and  this  may  be  the  case  in 
the  southern  parts  of  our  district.  The  butterflies  make 
their  appearance  with  us  early  in  June,  sometimes  late  in 
May,  and  continue  to  emerge  from  the  chrysalis  throughout 
June  and  fly  throughout  July  and  often  into  August. 
The  eggs,  which  are  domed,  heavily  ribbed  and  cross-lined, 
and  of  a  grass-green  color,  are  laid  singly,  from  the  middle 
of  June  on,  upon  the  upper  surface  of  leaves,  and  hatch  in 
about  four  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  uj)on  a  number  of 
different  plants  of  the  Pulse  family  (proper),  and  very 
likely  will  eat  any  of  them,  but  they  seem  to  prefer  locusts 
and  especially  the  rose-acacia;  during  its  first  two  stages 
the  caterpillar  makes  a  nest  by  nearly  cutting  a  rounded 
piece  out  of  a  leaf,  folding  it  over  and  binding  the  edges 
to  the  leaf  at  a  few  points  with  silken  cords  so  that  it  is 
open  at  the  sides;  when  larger  it  connects  two  leaves  or 
sometimes  more  in  a  similar  manner,  and  often  changes  to 
chrysalis  therein,  first  making  the  nest  more  secure  by  a 
silken  interior  lining;  at  other  times  it  makes  a  cocoon  of 
dead  leaves  or  bits  of  rotten  wood  entangled  with  its  silk. 

50.  GrENUs  Thorybes. 

THORYBES  PYLADES— THE  NORTHERN  CLOUDY-WING. 

(Eudamus  pylades.) 

Butterfly.  — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  glistening  brown,  the 
fore  wings  with  a  few  very  small,  slender,  mostly  transverse, 
fenestrate  spots,  three  just  beyond  the  middle  in  a  triangle,  and 
two  sets  on  the  costal  margin,  one  at  the  middle,  the  other  half 
way  from  there  to  the  tip.  Under  surface  as  above,  but  with 
pale  clouds  next  the  margin,  and  the  hind  wings  crossed  by  a 
pair  of  dark-edged,  light-brown,  narrow,  tremulous  bands.  Ex- 
panse li-lf  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black.  Body  naked,  briefly  pilose,  rather 
dark  green,  with  a  slender  darker  dorsal  stripe,  a  dull  salmon 
lateral  stripe  and  the  infrastigmatal  fold  pale  salmon  ;  first  tho- 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  157 

raeic  segment  black,  edged  in  front  with  red  or  orange  and  red  on 
the  sides  below.     Length  more  than  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Rather  slender-bodied,  the  abdomen  (exclusive  of 
tail-piece)  shorter  than  the  rest  of  the  body,  theprothoracic  spir- 
acle with  elevated  posterior  lip,  the  tongue-case  not  extending 
beyond  the  wings;  fusco-luteous  speckled  profusely  with  blackish 
fuscous,  becoming  blackish  transverse  broken  bands  on  the 
abdomen.     Length  f  inch. 

This  butterfly  occurs  throughout  our  district  unless  we 
except  the  eastern  i^roviuces,  from  which  it  has  not  yet 
been  recorded;  it  is  found  in  open  fields  and  meadows  and 
flies  with  extreme  rapidity  and  uncertain  direction,  gener- 
ally two  or  three  feet  only  above  the  ground.  It  Avinters 
as  a  chrysalis  and  is  double-brooded,  the  first  brood  appear- 
ing the  last  week  in  May,  becoming  abundant  in  less  than 
a  week,  and  not  wholly  disappearing  until  some  time,  often 
late,  in  July;  the  second- brood  is  much  less  abundant  than 
the  first,  appears  in  August,  usually  not  until  the  middle 
of  the  month  and  flies  till  the  middle  of  September  or  later. 
The  eggs,  which  are  subglobular  but  Avith  a  broad  base  and 
with  moderately  low  vertical  ribs  to  the  number  of  fifteen, 
are  very  pale  green,  almost  white,  and  are  laid  on  the  under 
side  of  leaves,  singly,  and  hatch  in  from  five  to  eleven, 
generally  about  six,  days.  The  caterpillar  feeds  on  almost 
any  Leguminous  plant,  but  appears  to  prefer  clover  and 
bush  clover  (Lespedeza);  on  emerging  the  caterpillar 
usually  devours  about  half  its  egg-shell  and  then  travels  to 
another  leaf  to  prepare  its  nest,  which  it  makes  by  cutting 
two  parallel  channels  inwards  from  the  edge  of  the  leaf  and 
folding  over  and  securing  by  silken  strands  the  fiap  thus 
formed ;  later  in  life  it  makes  a  larger  nest  from  one  or 
more  leaves  after  the  habit  of  Epargyreus;  it  is  very  clean- 
ly, always  ejecting  its  excrement  outside  its  nest  with  a 
snap  which  sends  it  to  a  distance.  The  chrysalis  state  in 
summer  lasts  about  twenty  days. 


158  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

A  southern  species  of  Thorybes,  T.  hathyllas,  very  close  to  tliis  but 
with  larger  spots,  has  been  occasionally  found  far  north,  even  as  far 
as  Massachusetts  and  Wisconsin  ;  and  another  species,  T.  electra,  is 
known  only  from  Hamilton,  Ontario. 


51.    GrENUS   ThANAOS. 

THANAOS  LUCILIUS-LUCILIUS'S  DUSKY- WING. 

(Nisoniades  lucilius.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  grayish  brown,  the 
fore  wings  with  the  basal  half  blackish,  a  double  row  of  premar- 
ginal  gray  spots  and,  next  the  costal  margin  beyond  the  blackish 
base,  a  large  and  distinct  cinereous  patch,  followed  outwardly  by 
three  minute  vitreous  spots  one  above  the  other.  Under  surface 
fuliginous  brown  with  pallid  spots  and  dots  in  submarginal  series. 
Expanse  about  1^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  with  the  summits  considerably  elevated, 
black  with  three  reddish  spots  and  streaks  on  the  sides.  Body 
naked,  briefly  pilose,  with  a  slender  pale  yellowish  lateral  line. 
Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Slender,  the  abdomen  (exclusive  of  tail-piece) 
longer  than  the  rest  of  the  body,  the  posterior  lip  of  thoracic 
spiracle  scarcely  raised,  not  flaring,  the  tongue-case  scarcely  ex- 
tending beyond  the  wings  ;  pale  green.  Length  somewhat  more 
than  I  inch. 

This  butterfly  probably  occurs  throughout  our  district, 
but  it  has  never  been  reported  from  Canada  excepting  in 
southern  Ontario,  nor  west  of  this  locality  except  in  distant 
Dakota;  nor  in  New  England,  where  it  is  best  known,  has 
it  been  found  north  of  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  nor  in  Maine 
or  beyond  that;  it  occurs  in  wooded  rocky  spots  and  win- 
ters as  a  full-fed  caterpillar.  It  is  partly  single-,  partly 
double-,  and  partly  triple-brooded,  there  being  annually 
three  apparitions  of  the  butterfly  in  decreasing  numbers : 
early  in  May,  the  middle  of  July,  and  the  middle  of  August, 
some  of  the  caterpillars  of  each  of  the  first  two  broods  as 
well  as  all  of  the  last  ceasing  to  feed  after  they  are  full 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  159 

grown  and  passing  the  winter  in  the  larval  nest,  closing  it 
tightly,  and  only  changing  to  chrysalis  very  early  in  the 
following  spring;  bnt  the  last  brood  of  the  season  is  made 
up  not  only  by  direct  descent  from  the  second,  but  also  by 
a  certain  proportion  of  the  lethargic  caterj^illars  of  the  first 
brood,  which,  when  the  regular  time  for  change  in  the  sec- 
ond brood  of  caterpillars  occurs,  change  tlien  to  chrysalis, 
instead  of  doing  so  as  soon  as  full  fed  or  of  waiting  still 
longer  until  the  succeeding  spring.  The  eggs,  which  are 
subspherical  with  broad  base  and  twelve  to  fifteen  com- 
pressed and  not  very  high  vertical  ribs,  are  at  first  whitish 
green,  afterwards  salmon-red,  and  are  laid  singly  on  the 
under  surface  of  the  leaves  of  the  food-plant  and  hatch  in 
about  ten  days  in  June.  The  caterpillar  feeds  on  wild 
columbine,  Aquilegia  canadensis,  and  has  also  been  found 
in  the  South  on  Chenojjodiurn  album;  although  it  does  not 
eat  much  of  its  egg-shell,  it  generally  takes  the  caterpillar 
about  twenty-four  hours  to  eat  its  way  out,  and  this  delib- 
erate manner  it  retains  through  life;  it  makes  its  first  nest 
much  after  the  manner  of  Thorybes,  and  after  it  has  bitten 
the  channels  requires  three  or  four  hours  of  continuous 
work  to  bring  the  flap  to  the  proper  angle  required  for  the 
nest;  when  it  leaves  a  nest  to  form  a  larger  one  it  always 
first  bites  off  the  strands  which  have  kept  the  old  flap  in 
place;  it  goes  to  another  leaf  to  feed,  and  when  mature 
makes  a  nest  of  a  whole  leaf  or  of  several  leaves.  The 
chrysalis  state  in  summer  lasts  from  eleven  to  fifteen  days. 

THANAOS  PERSIUS— PERSIUS'S  DUSKY- WING. 

(Nisoniades  persius.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  fore  wings  dark  grayish  brown, 
the  basal  half  and  a  band  across  the  middle  of  the  outer  half 
blackish;  between  the  two,  next  the  costal  margin,  an  indistinct 
cinereous  patch,  followed  outwardly  by  a  descending  row  of  four 
or  five  minute  vitreous  spots ;   hind   wings   chocolate  -  brown. 


160  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

Under  surface  dark  fuliginous,  with  the  vitreous  spots  of  the 
fore  wings  repeated  and  a  cinereous  apex.  Expanse  about  If 
inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  with  summits  rounded  and  slightly  ele- 
vated, ferruginous  brown  with  pale  vertical  streaks,  or  piceous 
marked  with  ferruginous.  Body  naked,  briefly  pilose,  pale  green 
with  pale  yellowish  lateral  lines  and  sprinkled  profusely  with 
white  dots.     Length  more  than  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Dull  olivaceous  green,  much  infuscated,  abdomen 
pinkish  brown,  mottled  faintly  with  pale  dots,  the  rest  as  in  the 
preceding  species.     Length  somewhat  more  than  ^  inch. 

Probably  found  over  the  whole  of  our  region,  but  not 
yet  noticed  in  the  northernmost  portions;  it  occurs  mostly 
in  shady  roadsides  by  woods  and  is  strong,  rapid,  and 
restless  in  fliglit,  often  flying  in  little  circles  as  if  about  to 
alight  and  then  darting  ofl:  again.  It  hibernates  as  a  full- 
grown  caterpillar  and  changes  to  chrysalis  before  vegetation 
has  started.  It  first  appears  as  a  butterfly  early  in  May 
and  continues  to  emerge  from  the  chrysalis  throughout  the 
month,  after  spending  sixteen  days  or  more  in  chrysalis; 
by  the  middle  of  June  it  has  disappeared.  It  is  possible 
that  there  is  a  second  brood,  as  fresh  specimens  have  been 
taken  in  the  latter  half  of  July ;  but  if  so,  it  is  but  a  small 
one  and  the  insect  partly  single-,  partly  double-brooded, 
most  of  the  caterpillars  of  the  first  brood  remaining  un- 
changed until  the  succeeding  year.  The  eggs,  which  are 
shaped  as  in  the  preceding  species  with  from  eleven  to 
fourteen  vertical  ribs,  more  elevated  above  than  in  T. 
htcilius,  are  yellowish  green  in  color,  changing  afterwards 
to  blood-red ;  they  are  laid  singly  on  the  upper  surface  of 
tender  terminal  leaves  and  hatch  in  about  a  week.  The 
caterpillar  feeds  upon  willows  and  poplars,  and  on  emerging 
from  the  ^gg  eats  only  the  crown;  it  constructs  a  flap-nest 
like  the  last  species,  the  flap  being  at  first  folded  downward, 
later  ones  upward;  when  very  young  it  eats  only  the 
parenchyma  of  the  surface  of  the  leaf  near  its  nest;  later 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  161 

little  holes  tliroiigli  the  leaf,  giving  it  a  riddled  appearance ; 
Avhen  half  grown  it  always  rests  with  the  two  ends  of  its 
body  bent  at  right  angles. 

THANAOS  JUVENALIS— JUVENAL'S  DUSKY- WING. 

(Nisoniades  juvenalis,  Nisouiades  enniiis.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  fore  wings  dark  grayish  brown, 
paler  in  the  female,  much  besprinkled  with  gray  scales,  with  a 
vitreous  spot  at  tip  of  cell  and  a  transverse  series  of  similar  spots 
in  the  middle  of  the  outer  half,  interrupted  beyond  the  cell, 
and  those  beneath  duller,  all  set  in  a  broken  obscure  blackish 
band,  distinct  only  at  their  margins  ;  hind  wings  cloudy  blackish 
brown,  the  outer  half  obscurely  marked  with  slightly  paler  spots. 
Under  surface  dark  purplish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge,  the 
spots  of  the  upper  surface  repeated  more  distinctly,  and  besides, 
on  tlie  hind  wings,  a  pair  of  small  brown-edged  yellowish  spots 
near  upper  outer  angle.     Expanse  about  If  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  with  summits  rounded  and  somewhat  ele- 
vated, varying  from  greenish  fuscous  to  fawn  color,  heavily 
marked  on  the  sides  with  pale  orange.  Body  naked,  briefly 
pilose,  light  or  dark  green,  with  slender  pale  -  lemon  lateral 
stripes,  and  dotted  profusely  with  pale  yellow.  Length  1  inch 
or  a  little  less. 

Chrysalis. — P^le  or  livid  above,  the  abdomen  faintly  tinged 
with  salmon  above  and  below,  the  metathorax  slightly  infuscated; 
all  the  appendages  in  great  part  black  or  blackish  fuscous,  the 
disk  of  the  wings  dark  olivaceo-fuscous,  the  rest  as  in  the  other 
species.     Length  more  than  ^  inch. 

Found  throughout  our  district,  except  in  some  of  the 
northernmost  portions,  in  open  oak  thickets  flying  vigor- 
ously. The  winter  is  passed  as  a  full-fed  caterpillar  and 
the  species  is  probably  both  single-  and  double-brooded, 
the  second  brood  of  butterflies  being  very  much  less  nu- 
merous than  the  first.  The  butterflies  first  appear  on  the 
wing  at  the  very  beginning  of  May  and  fly  until  the  middle 
of  Jane,  being  most  abundant  about  the  middle  of  May; 
the  second  brood  appears  after  the  middle  of  July  and  flies 


162  TEE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

through  August.  The  eggs  are  shaped  as  in  the  other 
species,  with  about  sixteen  vertical  ribs,  highest  above,  and 
are  pea-green,  changing  after  two  days  to  a  salmon-red; 
they  are  laid  singly  on  the  stems  and  perhaps  also  on  the 
leaves  of  the  food-plant  and  hatch  in  eight  or  nine  days. 
The  caterpillar  feeds  principally  ujion  oaks,  but  also  upon 
some  Leguminous  plants,  and  makes  a  nest  like  the  pre- 
ceding species,  but  always,  even  when  young,  travels  to  a 
distance  for  its  food.  AVhen  winter  approaches,  the  hiber- 
nating caterpillar  takes  on  a  vinous  tint.  In  the  spring 
the  chrysalis  state  lasts  a  full  month. 

THANAOS  BRIZO— THE  SLEEPY  DUSKY- WING 

(Nisoniades  brizo.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  very  dark  grayish  brown, 
the  fore  wings  flecked  with  white  scales  especially  toward  the 
apex,  with  no  vitreous  spots,  but  crossed  by  two  distant  dark 
bands  with  jagged  black  edges,  the  outer  band  the  more  distinct; 
hind  wings  with  a  few  small  obscure  pallid  spots  on  outer  half. 
Under  surface  dark  fuliginous  brown,  the  fore  wings  gray 
apically  and  both  with  a  marginal  and  premarginal  series  of  small 
whitish  spots.     Expanse  somewhat  more  than  \^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  dark  brown,  paler  above,  with  an  orange 
spot  at  base  of  mandibles.  Body  naked,  briefly  pilose,  pale  green 
with  an  indistinct  paler  lateral  stripe  and  dotted  with  darker 
green.     Length  more  than  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Green,  the  appendages  infuscated,  the  rest  as  in 
the  other  species.     Length  ^  inch. 

Occurs  in  every  part  of  our  district  in  moist  shady  spots 
and  forest  openings,  flying  swiftly  about  three  feet  from 
the  ground  with  sudden  lateral  movements.  It  hibernates 
as  a  full-grown  caterpillar  and  is  single-brooded,  appearing 
on  the  wing  very  early  in  May,  becoming  abundant  by  the 
tenth  of  the  month  and  flying  until  the  middle  of  July. 
The  eggs,  shaped  as  in  the  other  species,  have  fifteen  ribs 
of  uniform  height.     The  caterpillar  feeds  upon  scrub  oak 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  163 

and  perhaps  Galactia,  and  its  liabits  are  in  general  like 
those  of  the  other  species  of  the  genus.  In  the  spring  the 
chrysalis  state  lasts  but  nine  days  m  the  Southern  States, 
probably  longer  in  the  Northern. 

THANAOS  ICELUS— THE  DREAMY  DUSKY-WING. 

(Nisoniades  icelus.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  very  dark  grayish  brown, 
the  fore  wings  heavily  flecked  with  cinereous,  especially  on  the 
apical  half  and  in  a  large  roundish  patch  next  the  costal  margin 
between  the  two  dark  bands  which  traverse  the  wing  and  which 
it  shares  with  JY.  brizo,  but  the  inner  of  which  is  usually  less  dis- 
tinct than  in  that  species;  between  the  outer  band  and  the  mar- 
gin is  a  uniform  series  of  small  round  brown  spots  ;  otherwise  as 
in  iV.  bri2o.     Expanse  1^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  light  reddish  brown,  with  slightly  raised 
summits.  Body  naked,  pilose,  pale  green  dotted  with  white, 
giving  a  gray-green  appearance,  and  with  a  pallid  lateral  stripe. 
Length  nearly  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Anterior  portion  of  body  reddish  or  yellowish 
brown,  the  abdomen  pale  flesh-color,  the  rest  as  in  the  other  spe- 
cies.    Length  fully  ^  inch. 

Found  everywhere  in  our  district  in  damp  wooded  re- 
gions, especially  among  the  hills,  rarely  flying  at  all  in 
companies.  It  is  single-brooded  and  hibernates  as  a  full-fed 
caterpillar,  changing  to  chrysalis  in  the  spring,  remaining 
in  that  state  at  least  tw^o  or  three  weeks  and  appearing  on  the 
wing  about  the  middle  of  May;  it  becomes  quickly  abun- 
dant and  flies  until  and  into  July.  The  eggs  are  very  pale 
green  with  from  ten  to  fourteen  vertical  ribs,  highest  above, 
and  are  laid  singly  upon  the  upper  surface  of  leaves,  those 
tolerably  young  but  fully  expanded  being  preferred;  they 
hatch  in  about  ten  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  upon  aspen, 
willow,  and  witch-hazel,  and  make  nests  like  the  other  spe- 
cies, but  wdth  the  attaching  strands  of  silk  unusually  long, 
shortening   them   wdien   they  wish  to  change  their  skin 


164  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

witliiu  before  desertion  for  another  nest;  they  line  this  nest 
within  with  silk  for  winter  quarters.  All  the  species  of 
Thanaos  rest  with  fully  expanded  wings. 


Otlier  species  of  Thanaos  tliat  occur  within  our  district  are  T.  ho- 
ratius,  a  southern  form  which  has  been  found  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  as  far  north  as  Massachusetts,  but  is  very  rare;  T.  tererdius,  a 
much  rarer  species,  of  which  the  same  may  be  said;  T.  martialis,  a 
wide-spread  species  occurring  in  at  least  the  southern  half  of  our  dis- 
trict from  Massachusetts  to  Kansas,  but  which  seems  to  be  nowhere 
common  except  in  the  Southern  States  ;  and  T.  ausonius,  which  is  so 
far  certainly  known  only  from  Albany,  N.  Y. 

52.  Genus  Pholisora. 

PHOLISORA  CATULLUS— THE  SOOTY  WING. 

(Nisoniades  catullus.) 

Butterfly. — Wings  nearly  black,  the  fore  wings  with  an  oblique 
descending  series  of  three  small  white  spots  just  before  the  tip, 
followed  by  an  arcuate  series  of  five  white  dots  beginning  at  right 
angles  with  the  former  (frequently  obsolete  beneath),  and  a  sim- 
ilar white  dot  in  the  cell.     Expanse  1.^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  summits  rounded.  Body  naked, 
briefly  pilose,  dull  pale  green  ;  thoracic  shield  velvety  black, 
slender,  pallid  at  the  edges  ;  second  pair  of  legs  resembling  the 
third  pair  more  than  the  first.     Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  slender,  the  abdomen  (exclusive  of  tail-piece) 
longer  than  the  rest  of  the  body,  posterior  lip  of  thoracic  spiracle 
elevated,  flaring ;  equal  apical  portion  of  tail-piece  as  seen  from 
above  scarcely  longer  than  broad  ;  color  yellowish  green,  with 
brownish  dorsal  line,  and  similar  ventral  line  on  abdomen. 
Length  i  inch. 

Found  in  all  our  district  except  perhaps  some  northern- 
most portions,  from  few  of  wliicli  it  has  been  reported, 
flying  in  gardens  and  fields.  It  hibernates  like  the  species 
of  Thanaos  as  a  full-fed  caterpillar  and  is  apparently  double- 
hrooded  in  our  district,  but  triple-brooded  in  the  Southern 
States;  it  first  appears  about  the  middle  of  May  and  again 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  165 

late  in  July,  then  flying  until  September.  The  eggs  are 
very  broad  sugar-loaf-shapecl,  broader  than  high  and  with 
vertical  ribs  which  are  very  coarse  and  thick  at  summits, 
of  a  yellow  color  inclining  to  carneous,  and  are  laid  singly 
on  the  upper  surface  of  leaves;  they  hatch  in  about  five 
days.  The  caterpillar  feeds  princij^ally  upon  Chenopodia- 
ceae  and  Aramantaceae,  especially  Chenopodium  and  Ara- 
mantus ;  when  young,  nests  are  made  like  those  of  t.he  young 
Thanaos;  later  a  whole  leaf  is  used,  bent  at  the  midrib 
and  the  edges  fastened  at  wide  intervals  by  very  short 
strands  of  white  silk;  these  nests  are  entirely  closed  with 
silk  previous  to  a  moult,  and  similarly  closed  and  lined 
when  prepared  for  the  winter's  sojourn.  The  chrysalis 
state  lasts  seven  or  eight  days. 


Anotlier  species  of  tliis  genus,  P.  haylmrdii,  found  in  tlie  Southern 
States,  occurs  as  far  north  as  Kansas,  West  Virginia   and  Maryland. 

53.  Genus  Hesperia. 

HESPERIA  MONTIVAGA— THE  VAUIEGATED  TESSELLATE. 

(Pyrgus  monti vagus,  Hesperia  tessellata,  Syrichtus  communis.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  blackish  brown,  largely 
checkered  with  white  spots,  prominent  among  which  is  a  broad 
median  series  of  squarish  spots,  longer  than  broad,  a  premar- 
ginal  series  of  small  triangidar  or  squarish  spots,  followed  by  a 
row  of  dots ;  and  on  the  fore  wings,  between  the  two  principal 
series  in  the  upper  half  of  the  wing,  two  series  of  elongate  white 
spots.  On  the  under  side  of  both  wings  these  markings  are 
repeated,  but  on  the  hind  wings,  the  ground  of  which  is  greenish 
brown,  there  is  also  a  basal  white  band.     Expanse  1^  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  piceous,  the  summits  rounded.  Body 
naked,  brietiy  pilose,  green  with  a  dark  interrupted  dorsal  line, 
dark  lateral  bands,  and  a  pallid  band  below  the  spiracles  ;  tho- 
racic shield  blackish  brown  ;  second  pair  of  legs  resembling  the 
first  pair  rather  than  the  second.     Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Body  slender,  the  abdomen  (exclusive  of  tail-piece) 
longer  than  the  rest  of  the  body,  posterior  lip  of  thoracic  spiracle 
elevated,  flaring ;  equal  apical  portion  of  tail-piece  as  seen  from 


166  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

above  twice  as  long  as  broad  ;  yellowish  white,  dotted,  above  with 
black.     Length  nejirly  f  inch. 

A  southern  and  western  species  found  in  nearly  or  quite 
all  the  western  part  of  our  district  (but  sparingly  in  the 
North),  and  in  the  East  hardly  occurring  north  of  southern 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania;  in  the  far  West  it  is  perhaps  the 
commonest  of  butterflies;  its  flight  is  very  rapid  and  close 
to  the  ground.  Its  life-history  is  insufflciently  knoAvn,  but 
it  appears  to  winter  in  the  chrysalis  and  to  be  triple- 
brooded,  the  successive  broods  appearing  early  in  spring, 
again  in  June  and  July,  and  once  more,  and  more  abun- 
dantly, in  August  and  September,  actually  flying  continu- 
ously from  early  spring  until  late  autumn.  The  eggs 
which  are  nacreous-white,  nearly  S2:>herical,  with  twenty- 
four  prominent  vertical  ribs,  are  laid  singly  upon  the  upper 
surface  of  leaves.  The  caterpillar  feeds  uj)on  various  mal- 
lows :  Sida,  Malva,  Althaea,  and  Abutilon.  In  summer  the 
chrysalis  state  lasts  from  eight  to  twelve  days. 


Another  species  of  Hesperia,  H.  centaureae,  a  high  boreal  and  cir- 
cumpolar  form,  has  been  taken  in  one  or  two  instances  in  the  extreme 
east  of  our  district  even  as  far  south  as  West  Virginia. 


Other  genera  of  Larger  Skippers  found  in  our  district  are  Eudamus, 
with  one  species,  E.  proteus,  a  tropical  type  occasionally  found  on  the 
Atlantic  border  as  far  north  as  New  York  ;  Achalarus,  represented 
by  A.  lycidas,  a  southern  form  which  has  been  occasionally  taken  in 
Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Michigan,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  and  southern 
New  England  ;  and  Rhabdoides,  with  one  species,  R.  cellus,  again  a 
southern  type  which  is,  found  at  least  as  far  north  as  West  Virginia 
and  Kentucky. 

TRIBE   SMALLER  SKIPPERS. 
54.  Genus  Ancyloxipha. 

ANCYLOXIPHA  NUMITOR— THE  LEAST  SKIPPER. 

(Thymelicus  numitor,  Heteropterus  marginatus.) 
Butterfly. — Antennal   club   with   no    recurved    hook   at  tip 
Upper  surface  of  wings  tawny,  very  broadly  bordered  with  dark 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  167 

brown,  the  fore  wings  so  broadly  as  to  be  almost  wholly  brown  ; 
male  with  no  discal  dash.  Under  surface  golden  tawny,  all  but 
the  broad  costal  and  outer  margins  of  fore  wings  blackish  fuligi- 
nous.    Expanse  about  1  inch. 

Caterpillar. — Head  blackish  brown.  Body  naked,  pale  green- 
ish yellow,  dotted  with  fuscous,  the  thoracic  shield  brownish 
fuscous  (immature  ;  full  grown  caterpillar  unknown). 

Chrysalis. — Reddish  ash  color,  minutely  sprinkled  with  brown 
dots,  the  tongue-case  reaching  the  base  of  the  tail-piece. 

Known  from  all  but  the  northernmost  portions  of  our 
district,  northern  New  England  and  the  Eastern  Provinces; 
it  occurs  in  the  vicinity  of  running  water  and  in  marshy 
meadows  and  flies  in  a  lancruid  leisurelv  manner  close  to 
the  ground.  It  is  triple-brooded  and  passes  the  winter 
either  as  a  mature  caterpillar  or  as  a  chrysalis;  probably 
the  latter.  The  butterflies  come  early  in  June  and  disap- 
pear before  the  end  of  the  month;  again  late  in  July,  dis- 
appearing by  the  middle  of  August  or  soon  after  it;  and 
once  more  in  the  last  week  of  xlugust,  flying  nearly  to  the 
end  of  September.  The  eggs,  which  are  low  hemispheri- 
cal, smooth  and  shining  yellow,  afterward  orange-red,  are 
laid  singly  and  hatchi  in  from  five  to  ten  days  according  to 
the  season.  The  caterpillar  feeds  upon  common  grasses, 
probably  in  nature  upon  some  semiaquatic  species;  when 
first  hatched  it  makes  a  nest  in  a  blade  of  grass  by  pulling 
the  edges  partially  together  with  five  or  ten  strong  strands 
of  silk,  broadest  at  their  bases,  and  lives  behind  the  strands; 
later  it  fills  in  the  interstices  with  a  finer  web.  The 
chrysalis  state  in  summer  lasts  in  Georgia  about  ten  days. 

55.  Genus  Atrytone. 

ATRYTONE  ZABULON— THE  MORMON. 

(Pamphila  zabulon,  Hesperia  hobomok,  Hesperia  pocahontas.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  blackish  brown,  heavily 
marked  centrally  with  tawny,  forming  on  the  hind  wings  a  large, 
central,  more  or  less  angular  patch,  on  the  fore  wings  a  number 


168  THE  COMMONER  BUTTEHFLIES. 

of  irregular  and  very  unequal  spots  in  the  interspaces  ;  male  with 
no  discal  dash.  Under  surface  dark  cinnamon-brown,  on  the 
outer  margin  flecked  with  lilac,  and  centrally  marked  heavily 
with  lemon-tawny  as  above,  but  the  markings  on  the  fore  wings 
are  blended  with  an  oblique  black  line  at  the  end  of  the  cell,  and 
on  the  hind  wings  form  a  definite  transverse  band  abruptly  and 
considerably  broadened  in  the  middle.     Expanse  about  If  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  dark  ferruginous,  scabrous.  Body  naked, 
briefly  pilose,  yellowish  brown,  with  dark  dorsal  and  lateral  lines 
and  dotted  with  fuscous  ;  a  narrow,  interrupted,  fuscous  thoracic 
shield,  in  front  of  which  the  segment  is  greenish.     Length  f  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Uniformly  livid,  somewhat  infuscated  on  head  and 
thorax,  the  appendages  with  a  whitish  bloom ;  tongue-case  ex- 
tending to  the  eighth  abdominal  segment.     Length  nearly  |  inch. 

This  butterfly  is  found  throughout  our  district,  in 
meadows,  flying  swiftly  and  abruptly,  close  to  the  ground. 
It  is  single-brooded  and  passes  the  winter  sometimes  as  a 
full-grown  caterpillar,  sometimes  as  a  chrysalis.  The  but- 
terfly appears  the  last  week  in  May,  becomes  abundant 
early  in  June,  and  disappears  before  the  end  of  that  month. 
The  eggs,  which  are  smooth,  hemispherical,  and  of  a  very 
pale  green  color,  are  laid  singly  and  hatch  in  from  eleven 
to  thirteen  days.  The  caterpillar  feeds  on  grasses;  it  is  a 
long  time,  sometimes  several  days,  in  making  its  exit  from 
the  shell,  which  it  then  devours  and  next  proceeds  to  make 
a  rude  nest  near  the  joint  of  a  blade  of  grass  by  drawing  the 
edges  nearly  together  by  silken  threads;  if  at  any  time  it  is 
at  all  disturbed,  it  quits  its  habitation  and  makes  a  new  nest, 
occupying  much  time  in  its  construction,  the  edges  of  the 
blade  being  drawn  closer  and  closer  by  contiinially  shorten- 
ing threads;  when  about  to  change  to  chrysalis,  it  forms  a 
tube  for  its  concealment  by  uniting  adjoining  grass-blades 
and  lines  the  cavity  closely  with  silk. 

The  female  of  this  species  is  dimorphic,  one  form  re- 
sembling the  male  in  color,  the  other  (pocahontas)  melanic, 
all  the  darker  markings  being  extended  and  the  briclitor 
ones  obscured. 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  169 

Another  species  of  this  genus,  A.  lagan,  a  southern  form,  is  found 
over  nearly  the  same  parts  of  our  district  as  A.  zabulon,  but  is  far  less 
abundant,  though  it  is  not  uncommon  in  the  West  and  especially  be- 
yond the  Mississippi  ;  and  another  species,  found  in  New  Jersey  and 
described  under  the  name  of  Paiiiphila  aaroni,  is  said  to  be  closely 
allied  to  these  two  species  and  may  belong  in  the  same  genus. 

56.  Genus  Erynnis. 

ERYNNIS  SASSACUS— THE  INDIAN  HESPERID. 

(Hesperia  sassacus,  Pamphila  sassacus.) 
Butterfly, — Upper  surface  of  wings  tawny,  the  outer  margin  of 
the  fore  wings  and  all  the  margins  of  the  hind  wings  heavily  bor- 
dered with  blackish  brown,  the  bordering  of  the  fore  wings  in- 
dented beyond  the  cell  as  if  to  receive  the  dark  longitudinal  patch 
lying  just  outside  it  ;  discal  dash  of  the  male  velvety  black, 
slender,  slightly  arcuate,  tapering  a  little  at  each  end.  Under 
surface  pale  greenish  buff,  the  markings  of  the  fore  wings  ob- 
scurely traced,  and  beyond  the  middle  of  the  hind  wings  a  faint 
bent  row  of  five  not  very  large,  square,  pallid  spots.  Expanse 
about  If  inches. 
Caterpillar  and  Chrysalis  uudescribed. 

This  butterfly  is  found  everywhere  in  the  southern  half 
of  our  district  in  fields  and  meadows.  It  is  single-brooded 
and  probably  winters  as  a  chrysalis.  The  butterfly  appears 
about  the  last  of  May  and  disappears  by  the  middle  of  July. 
The  eggs,  which  are  smooth,  hemispherical,  and  almost 
chalk-white  when  laid,  become  dirty  yellow  afterwards; 
they  are  laid  singly  and  hatch  in  about  twelve  or  fifteen 
days.  The  cater2:>illar  is  very  plump  at  birth  and  feeds  on 
grasses, — Panicum  and  doubtless  others;  it  is  very  sluggish 
and  less  cleanly  than  others  of  the  tribe  and  makes,  at  least 
at  first,  scarcely  an  apology  for  a  nest,  living  near  the  joints 
of  grasses  where  the  blade  embraces  the  stem. 


Several  other  species  of  this  genus  are  found  in  our  district  : 
E.  manitoba,  sparingly  in  its  northernmost  limits  ;  E.  metea,  known 
only  in  a  few  localities  in  southern  New  England  and  in  Wisconsin  ; 
E.  attains,  a  southern  species  occasionally  occurring  in  our  southern 
borders  ;  and  E.  uncas,  which  has  been  taken  in  Pennsylvania  and 
extends  to  Colorado. 


170  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

57.  Genus  Anthomaster. 

ANTHOMASTER  LEONARDUS— LEONARD'S  HESPERID. 

(Pampliila  leonardus.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  brown,  the  fore  wings 
with  an  extramesial  series  of  tawny  spots,  all  but  the  uppermost 
large  ;  discal  dash  of  male  black,  largest  and  arcuate  at  base, 
very  long  and  slender  ;  hind  wings  with  a  moderately  broad  ex- 
tramesial pale  tawny  band,  crossed  by  dark  nervures.  Under 
surface  cinnamoneous,  the  markings  of  the  upper  side  repeated 
but  paler,  on  the  hind  wings  white  and  the  band  narrowed, 
lengthened,  and  more  definite.     Expanse  more  than  1|  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black.  Body  naked,  briefly  pilose,  pale 
green  dotted  with  black,  the  thoracic  shield  fuscous  with  black 
margins  (immature  ;  full-grown  caterpillar  unknown). 

Chrysalis. — Unknown. 

Found  throughout  most  or  all  of  our  district  in  open 
country,  but  unrecorded  from  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin, 
eastern  Maine  and  eastward.  It  hibernates  as  a  partly-grown 
caterpillar,  possibly  before  moulting,  and  is  single-brooded, 
flying  at  the  end  of  August  and  in  September.  The  eggs, 
which  are  high  hemispherical,  smooth  and  white,  are  laid 
upon  the  blades  of  the  food-plant  singly  and  hatch  in  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  days.  The  caterpillar  feeds  upon  Agrostis 
and  doubtless  other  grasses,  wandering  about  the  blades  in 
the  autumn  and  constructing  then  no  nest  of  any  kind. 

58.   Genus  Polites. 

POLITES  PECKIUS— THE   YELLOW-SPOT. 

(Pamphila  peckius,  Hesperia  wamsutta.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  brown,  marked  with 
tawny  in  an  extramesial  series  of  elongate  spots,  reduced  to  dots 
and  removed  outwardly  beyond  the  cell  of  the  fore  wings,  and 
crossing  but  half  of  the  hind  wings  ;  discal  dash  of  male  velvety 
black,  sinuous  and  interrupted  before  the  middle.  Under  surface 
cinnamoneous,  the  markings  of  the  fore  wings  repeated  in  yellow, 
on  the  hind  wings  consisting  of  a  very  large  and  very  irregular 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  Ill 

polypoid  patch  of  lively  yellow,  made  up  of  an  oblique  basal  and 
a  very  broad  transverse  extramesial  band  which  is  abruptly 
broadened  in  the  middle  and  thus  blends  with  the  basal  band. 
Expanse  li  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  piceous,  rugulose.  Body  naked,  briefly 
pilose,  pale  brown,  thickly  dotted  with  inky  black,  giving  the 
whole  a  griseous  appearance  ;  a  blackish  dorsal  line  ;  thoracic 
shield  broad  and  black  (immature ;  full-grown  caterpillar  un- 
known). 

Chrysalis. — Unknown. 

Found  everywhere  in  our  district  in  open  country,  and 
one  of  our  commonest  butterflies.  It  probably  hibernates 
either  as  a  full-grown  caterpillar  or  as  a  chrysalis;  it  is 
single-brooded  in  the  northernmost  parts  of  our  district, 
flying  from  the  last  of  June  to  the  middle  of  August,  while 
in  the  other  portions  it  is  double-brooded,  flying  first  from 
the  end  of  May  to  the  middle  of  July  or  later,  and  again 
in  August  and  September.  The  eggs,  which  are  smooth, 
hemispherical,  at  first  white  with  a  greenish  tinge,  after- 
wards decorated  with  coarse  red  dendritic  markings,  are 
laid  singly  and  hatch  in  from  ten  to  fifteen  days  according 
to  the  season.  The  caterjiillar  feeds  on  grasses  and  is  very 
uneasy,  roaming  about  a  great  deal,  making  very  slight  and 
delicate  nests,  otherwise  similar  to  those  of  its  allies,  and  is 
easily  alarmed. 

59.   Genus  Thymeltcus. 

THYMELICTJS   MYSTIC— THE   LONG-DASH. 

(Hesperia  mystic,  Pamphila  mystic.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  fore  wings  tawny,  brightest  in  the 
male,  with  a  very  broad  outer  margin  of  dark  brown  and  two 
large  dark  patches,  one  just  beyond  the  tip  of  the  cell,  the  other 
beneath  it  at  the  base  ;  discal  dash  of  male  very  slender,  slightly 
arcuate,  blackish  brown,  followed  below  by  a  rather  large, 
rounded,  soft  brown  patch  ;  hind  wings  dark  brown  with  an 
equal,  sliort,  oxtrnmesial  tawny  band  and  a  tawny  spot  at  base. 


172  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

Under  surface  orange  buff  (male)  or  tawny  cinnamoneous 
(female),  often  infuscated,  the  brighter  markings  of  the  upper 
surface  vaguely  repeated  and  paler,  the  band  of  the  hind  wings 
generally  indistinct  in  the  male.     Expanse  H  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  reddish  brown.  Body  naked,  briefly 
pilose,  dull  brownish  green,  sprinkled  with  darker  dots  and 
having  a  dark  dorsal  line ;  thoracic  shield  brownish  black,  in 
front  of  it  dirty  white.     Length  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Unknown. 

This  butterfly  is  undoubtedly  found  over  the  whole  of 
our  district,  though  it  is  recorded  from  few  localities  in  the 
West;  it  frequents  open  grassy  fields,  and  hibernates  as  a 
caterj^illar;  it  appears  to  be  single-brooded  ^n  the  northern- 
most parts  of  its  range,  flying  toward  the  end  of  June;  but 
over  most  of  our  district  it  is  double-brooded,  first  appear- 
ing very  early  in  June  or  even  late  in  May  and  rarely 
flying  into  July,  and  being  again  on  the  wing  from  the 
middle  of  July  to  September;  but  probably  in  somewhat 
scantier  numbers,  for  some  of  the  caterpillars  of  the  first 
brood,  though  full  fed,  have  not  changed  to  chrysalis  when 
winter  appears,  when  the  caterpillars  of  the  second  brood 
are  partly  grown.  The  eggs  are  smooth,  hemispherical,  and 
very  pale  green,  are  laid  singly  very  lightly  affixed  to  grass- 
blades^  and  hatch  in  from  eight  to  fourteen  days,  accord- 
ing to  place  and  season.  '  The  caterpillar  feeds  on  grasses, 
does  not  devour  its  forsaken  egg-shell,  and  makes  a  tubular 
nest  of  grass-blades,  to  which  it  retires  on  the  slightest 
alarm;  it  is  firmly  constructed  of  many  blades  and  many 
threads  and  the  interstices  covered  with  a  gauze-like  open 
framework.  

Other  species  of  this  genus  found  in  our  district  are  T.  aetna,  a 
southern  species  not  very  uncommon  as  far  north  as  Canada  ;  and 
T.  hrettus,  known  mostly  from  the  southern  coast,  but  extending 
northward  into  Connecticut,  and  reported  also  from  Wisconsin. 


FAMILY  SKIPPERS.  173 

60.   Genus  Limochores. 

LIMOCHORES    TAUMAS— THE    TAWNY-EDGED    SKIPPER. 

(Pamphila  cernes,  Hesperia  aliaton.) 

Butterfly. — Upper  surface  of  wings  dark  brown,  the  fore  wings 
with  a  large  costal  bright  tawny  patch  (male),  or  an  obscure 
tawny  streak  along  outer  half  of  cell  (female),  the  female  with  an 
extramesial  series  of  three  upper  small  yellow  dashes  and  two  or 
three  lower  large  squarish  yellow  spots,  sometimes  found  indi- 
cated in  the  male  ;  discal  dash  of  male  black,  sinuous,  heavy. 
Under  surface  rather  dark  brown,  flecked  uniformly  on  hind 
wings  with  greenish  yellow  giving  a  grayish  oli\aceous  effect, 
the  lighter  markings  of  fore  wings  repeated.  Expanse  scarcely 
\\  inches. 

Caterpillar. — Head  black,  coarsely  punctured.  Body  naked, 
briefly  pilose,  rich  purplish  brown  with  a  green  tinge,  finely 
mottled  with  gray  and  dark  purplish  brown ;  first  thoracic 
segment  milk-white  above,  the  shield  piceous.     Length  1  inch. 

Chrysalis. — Light  brown  with  slight  and  delicate  infuscations, 
the  thorax  darker,  the  head  black,  the  whole  dotted  sparsely  with 
fusco-ferruginous;  surface  vermiculate;  tongue  reaching  the 
eighth  abdominal  segment.     Length  fully  \  inch. 

EveryAvhere  a  common  insect  in  open  fields.  It  hiber- 
nates in  the  chrysalis  and  is  single-brooded  in  the  north- 
ernmost parts  of  our  district,  flying  late  in  June  and  in 
July;  but  double-brooded  over  most  of  it,  the  first  brood 
ap2:)earing  the  last  week  in  May,  abundant  in  June,  and 
seen  in  scanty  numbers  all  through  July ;  the  second  brood, 
less  abundant  than  the  first  (probably  because  some  chrys- 
alids  of  the  first  brood  winter  over),  appearing  pretty  early 
in  August  and  flying  through  Se23tember.  The  eggs, 
which  are  smooth,  hemispherical,  and  pale  green,  are 
attached  lightly  and  singly  to  grass-blades  and  hatch  in 
from  eleven  to  fifteen  days.  The  caterpillars  feed  upon 
grasses,  such  as  Panicnm  and  Triticum,  and  are  indolent, 
passive,  and  timorous,  feeding  only  by  day,  rarely  leaving 
their  nests   and  then  going  but  a  little   distance.     For 


174  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

change  to  chrysalis  they  make  a  light,  nearly  erect  cocoon 
about  an  inch  long  by  catching  a  few  blades  of  grass 
together  and  lining  them  with  silk. 


Other  sjDecies  of  tliis  genus  found  in  our  territory  are  L.  himacula 
and  L.  manataaqua,  both  found  throughout  its  southern  half  and 
tolerably  common;  L.  pontiac,  found  in  the  same  places  but  much 
rarer,  commoner  in  the  West  than  in  the  East;  and  L.  palatka,  found 
only  in  the  West — Nebraska,  Illinois,  and  Indiana — and  little  known. 


A  number  of  other  genera  of  the  Smaller  Skippers  are  found  in  our 
district,  some  of  them  not  uncommonly,  but  they  are  mostly  obscure 
forms  and  their  distribution  imperfectly  known,  and  they  have  there- 
fore been  omitted  from  consideration.  Such  are  Oarisma,  with  one 
species,  0.  jiowesliiek,  a  western  form  found  in  northern  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Nebraska,  and  westward;  Potanthus,  represented  by  P.  omaTia, 
known  only  from  West  Virginia  and  Colorado;  Pamphila,  a  highly 
interesting  type  with  one  species,  A.  man  dan,  found  in  the  high  north 
and  invading  our  northern  border;  Amblyscirtes,  with  two  species,  A. 
vialis,  found  sparingly  over  all  our  region,  and  A.  samosei,  known 
mostly  from  New  England  but  also  from  as  far  west  as  Iowa  and 
south  as  Georgia;  Poanes,  with  a  single  conspicuously  marked  species, 
P.  massasoit,  occurring  here  and  there  in  the  southern  half  of  our 
district;  Phycanassa,  with  one  species,  P.  mator,  a  southern  form 
which  has  once  or  twice  occurred  far  north  at  widely  separated  local- 
ities; Hylephila,  represented  by  H.  phylaeus,  a  very  abundant  south- 
ern type  which  occasionally  invades  our  southern  borders,  even  as 
far  as  southern  New  England;  Atalopedes,  with  one  species,  A.  huron, 
a  southern  form  reaching  northward  over  half  of  our  district;  Euphyes, 
with  three  species  :  E.  metacomet,  found  over  all  but  the  extreme  east- 
ern part  of  our  district  and  sometimes  pretty  common;  E.  mrna,  which 
ranges  nearly  as  far  and  is  rarer;  and  E.  osyka,  a  southern  species 
which  has  been  taken  in  northern  Indiana;  Lerodea,  one  species  of 
which,  L..  fusca,  a  southern  form,  is  said  to  be  common  about  Phil- 
adelphia, Penn. ;  Prenes,  with  two  species,  P.  ocola  and  P.  panoquin, 
both  southern  types  but  occasionally  taken  in  our  district,  the  former 
in  Indiana  and  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  in  New  Jersey;  Calpodes,  with 
one  species,  C  etliliits,  a  tropical  form  which  has  been  once  taken  in 
New  York;  Oligoria,  represented  by  0.  maculata,  a  southern  type 
also  once  taken  in  New  York;  and  finally  Lerema,  represented  by  two 
species,  L.  accius,  a  southern  coast  species  occurring  rarely  as  far 
north  as  Massachusetts,  and  L  Jdanna,  which  has  been  found  in 
scanty  numbers  from  Massachusetts  to  Nebraska. 


EXPLANATION  OF  SOME  TERMS.    '  175 


EXPLANATION  OF   SOME  TERMS. 

Other  words  are  explained  by  the  context. 

Acutangulate:  forming  less  than  a  right  angle. 

\nal  angle  (of  the  wing) :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 

Antennae  (of  the  butterfly) :  the  two  long  slender  rods  pro- 
jecting from  the  top  of  the  head. 

Armature  (of  the  legs) :  the  corneous  attachments  or  ap- 
pendages, spines,  claws,  etc. 

iVtavistic :  pointing  backward  to  ancestry. 

Bifurcate :  with  two  prongs. 

Blind  (said  of  ocelli  on  wings) :  with  no  pupil. 

Border  and  Margin  are  used  interchangeably. 

Cell,  or  Discoidal  cell:  see  Figure,  p.  60. 

Coronal:  at  the  summit. 

Corneous :  of  a  horny  texture. 

Costa  or  Costal  margin :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 

Costal  vein :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 

Crenate :  wavy  or  scalloped. 

Crenulate :  the  same,  but  to  a  less  degree. 

Cycle :  regularly  recurring  series. 

Denticulate:  covered  with  tooth-like  points,  or  with  a 
toothed  margin. 

Dimorphic :  appearing  under  two  distinct  forms. 

Discal  dash  or  stigma:  a  small  spot  (peculiar  to  the  male 
of  some  Hair-Streaks  and  Skippers)  on  the  fore  wings, 
at  the  end  of  the  cell. 

Discoidal  cell :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 

Disk :  central  portion  of  the  wing. 

Dorsal  shield  (of  the  caterpillar) :  the  thickened  plate  on 
top  of  first  thoracic  segment. 

Emargination :  a  notch  or  rounded  excision. 


176  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

Entire  (of  a  margin) :  whole  and  even. 

Environment :  surroundings  and  their  influence. 

Eversible :  capable  of  being  turned  inside  out. 

Extramesial :  beyond  the  middle. 

Falcate :  sickle-shaped,  convex  on  one  side,  concave  on  the 

other. 
Fenestrate:  resembling  a  window  or  opening. 
Frontal  triangle  (of  the  caterpillar) :  the  large  triangular 

piece  on  the  face. 
Granulated  :  covered  with  small,  grain-like  elevations. 
Hemisphere  (of  the  caterpillar):  one  lateral  half  of  the 

head. 
Hibernaculum :  wintering  nest  of  the  caterpillar. 
Incisures :  impressed  lines,  separating  the  segments  of  the 

body. 
Infralateral:  just  below  the  lateral  line  or  a  line  midway 

between  the  middle  of  the  back  and  the  spiracles. 
Infrastigmatal :  just  below  the  spiracles,  or  the  spiracle- 
line. 
Inner  margin  (of  the  wing) :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 
Intergrades :  forms  intermediate  between  others. 
Internal  vein :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 
Interspace :  space  between  two  adjoining  nervules. 
Intramesial:  before  the  middle. 
Irrorate:  bedewed  or  uniformly  sprinkled. 
Isotherm:  line  of  equal  temperature. 
Lateral  (of  the   caterpillar) :  along  a  line  midway  between 

the  middle  of  the  back  and  the  spiracles.     Sometimes 

applied  loosely  to  the  sides  in  general. 
Laterodorsal :  situated  midway  between    the  lateral   and 

mediodorsal  (which  see). 
Lunulate :  in  the  form  of  lunules  or  moon-shaped  crescents. 
Mandibles  (of  the  caterpillar) :  the  biting  jaws. 
Margin  and  Border  are  used  interchangeably. 
Median  vein :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 


EXPLANATION  OF  SOME  TERMS.  177 

Mediodorsal :  lying  along  the  middle  line  of  the  back. 

Mesial  (of  the  wing) :  along  the  middle. 

Obsolete:  very  nearly  or  quite  wanting. 

Ocellar  tubercles  (of  the  chrysalis) :  the  prominences  aris- 
ing from  the  region  of  the  e3'es. 

Ocelli  (of  the  caterpillar) :  the  simple  eyes,  each  composed 
of  a  single  facet. 

Ocelli  (of  the  wing) :  eye-like  spots. 

Onisciform :  shaped  like  a  wood-louse  (Oniscus),  or  slug- 
shaped,  i.e.,  flattened  beneath  and  more  or  less  ovate  in 
outline. 

Outer  angle  (of  the  fore  w'ing) :  the  angle  at  the  lower 
limit  of  the  outer  margin. 

Outer  margin:  see  Figure,  p.  60. 

Papillae :  small,  pimple-like  elevations. 

Papillate :  covered  with  papillae. 

Parenchyma :  the  softer  cellular  tissue  of  a  leaf. 

Pilose:  covered  with  a  nap  of  short  hairs. 

Polymorphic :  appearing  under  many  different  forms. 

Polyphagous:  feeding  on  many  different  plants,  omnivo- 
rous. 

Prebasal  (of  the  wing) :  next  but  not  at  the  base. 

Precostal  vein :  see  Figure,  p.  60. 

Premarginal:  just  before  the  margin  (especially  outer 
margin). 

Process :  any  projecting  appendage  or  part. 

Produced:  extended. 

Kectangulate :  forming  a  right  angle. 

Saddle  (of  the  chrysalis) :  the  depressed  part  of  the  back 
at  the  base  of  the  abdomen. 

Shield:  see  Dorsal  shield. 

Stigma:  see  Discal  dash  or  stigma. 

Stigmata:  spiracles  or  breathing-pores. 

Stigmatal :  along  the  line  of  the  spiracles. 

Sub-  (as  a  prefix)  signifies  nearly,  as  subglobular  =  nearly 
globular. 


178  THE  COMMONER  BUTTERFLIES. 

Subcostal  vein :  see  Figure^  p.  GO. 

Submarginal :  next  to  but  not  on  the  margin;  usually  ap- 
plied to  the  outer  margin. 

Submedian  vein :  see  Figure,  p.  GO. 

Subobsolete:  present,  but  faint,  nearly  obsolete. 

Snpralateral :  just  above  the  lateral  line,  or  a  line  midway 
between  the  middle  of  the  back  and  the  spiracles. 

Tectate:  inclined  obliquely  on  opposite  sides,  like  the  roof 
of  a  tent. 

Thoracic  sliield:  see  Dorsal  shield. 

Tiarate:  shaped  like  a  turban. 

Trimorphic:  appearing  under  three  distinct  forms. 

Tubercles:  see  Wing-tubercles. 

Vermiculate:  resembling  interlacing  worm-tracks. 

AVing-tubercles  (of  the  clirysalis) :  elevations  at  the  base  of 
the  wing-cases;  the  front  one,  when  there  are  two, 
is  distinguished  as  the  basal  wing-tubercle. 


APPENDIX. 


INSTRUCTIONS   FOR   COLLECTING,   REARING, 
PRESERVING,   AND    STUDYING. 

(From  the  author's  "  Butterflies,  their  Structure,"  etc. ;  with  slight  clianges.) 

Happily  the  time  is  past  Avhen  butterfly-collectors  de- 
vote their  entire  attention  to  the  perfect  insect.  They  at 
least  rear  them  from  the  caterpillar  or  chrysalis  to  obtain 
fresher  and  more  beautiful  specimens  for  their  cabinets  ; 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  any  young  enthusiasts  who  may 
use  this  book  will  be  quite  as  ready  to  collect,  preserve,  and 
study  the  earlier  stages  as  the  full-grown  insect.  It 
therefore  needs  no  apology  from  me  in  giving  here  more 
space  to  instructions  concerning  the  pursuit  of  the  imma- 
ture than  of  the  mature  form. 

The  best  method  of  raising  butterflies  is  to  obtain  eggs 
from  the  parent  and  rear  them  to  maturity.  This  is  by 
no  means  difiicult  and  is  full  of  interest  ;  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  know  the  food -plant  of  the  caterpillar — and  that 
of  nearly  all  our  northern  species  is  ascertained;  or  if  it 
is  not  known,  it  may  often  be  inferred  from  that  of  neigh- 
boring species,  or  discovered  by  patiently  following  the 
female  as  she  flits  from  leaf  to  leaf,  and  noticing  the 
plants  she  chooses  Avhereon  to  lay  her  eggs.  The  butterfly 
generally  selects  the  middle  of  the  day  for  this  duty,  but 

179 


180  APPENDIX. 

the  eager  youth  must  uot  exj^ect  at  once  to  obtain  her 
secret,  for  he  will  find  himself  only  too  often  foiled.  Once 
known,  the  way  is  comparatively  easy  ;  catch  a  female, 
selecting  for  the  purpose  one  which  has  evidently  been  fly- 
ing for  at  least  a  few  days,  and  which  is  gravid  with  eggs, 
and  inclose  her  beneath  a  gauze  covering  upon  the  grow- 
ing plant.  If  it  be  a  tree  or  bush,  tie  a  bag  of  mosquito- 
netting  over  a  bough,  taking  care  that  there  are  some 
tender  leaves  upon  it  (and  no  ants),  and  so  arrange  the 
bag  that  the  butterfly  may  rest  naturally  upon  them  ;  in- 
close the  butterfly  and  she  will  pretty  certainly  deposit 
eggs  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two.  Or,  if  the  plant  be 
one  of  small  size,  use  a  headless  keg,  covered  at  one  end 
with  gauze  ;  even  a  discarded  vegetable-can  will  serve  the 
purpose  ;  or  again,  a  canopy  can  be  made  over  a  plant  by 
thrusting  the  ends  of  a  couple  of  bent  twigs  into  the 
ground  and  covering  with  gauze.  A  bit  of  sugared  apple 
or  other  fruit  should  be  inclosed  as  food. 

After  a  few  days'  confinement  the  prisoner  should  be 
set  free.  If  she  has  not  then  laid  eggs,  she  probably  can- 
not, and  she  should  be  released.  If  she  has  yielded  the 
desired  harvest,  she  should  be  rewarded  with  liberty. 
When  obtained,  the  leaves  or  twigs  upon  which  the  eggs 
are  found  may  either  be  left  where  they  are  or  carried 
home  to  more  convenient  quarters. 

It  is  not  easy  to  preserve  eggs  entire.  If  they  do  not 
hatch  they  are  apt  to  shrivel,  excepting  such  as  have  a 
dense  pellicle,  like  the  hemispherical  eggs  of  the  smaller 
skippers  or  the  tiarate  eggs  of  the  blues  and  cop|)ers;  it  is 
nearly  impossible,  too,  to  prick  the  egg  and  save  its  form. 
The  best  way  is  to  watch  for  the  egress  of  the  caterpillar 
and  the  moment  it  is  free  separate  it  from  the  shell, 
which  it  will  otlierwise  devour;  in  that  way  I  have  ob- 
tained a  considerable  collection  of  these  little  gems.  Or 
they  may  be  obtained  from  the  plants  on  which  they  have 


APPENDIX.  181 

been  laid  naturally,  by  searching  the  food-plants  care- 
fully ;  they  are  not  so  difficult  to  detect  as  might  be  sup- 
posed ;  many  of  these  will  be  found  attacked  by  minute 
parasites,  which  generally  make  their  exit  through  a  single 
minute  hole,  leaving  the  Qgg  in  an  admirable  condition 
for  the  cabinet.  The  eggs  can  then  be  gummed,  with  or 
without  the  leaf  on  which  they  are  laid,  upon  triangular 
bits  of  card-board,  pinned  and  transferred  to  the  cabinet. 
Inspissated  ox-gall,  diluted  with  an  equal  quantity  of 
tliick  gum  arable,  makes  the  best  material  for  attachment 
to  the  card. 

In  rearing  from  the  Qgg  the  greatest  difficulty  is  during 
early  life  ;  young  cater2:)illars  must  have  the  freshest  and 
tenderest  food  and  not  too  much  confinement.  With  all 
precautions  many  will  be  lost,  for  they  are  so  small  that 
it  is  difficult  to  keep  track  of  them,  and  some  are  very 
prone  to  wander  when  their  food  does  not  suit  them. 
Some  open  vessel  Avitli  the  growing  plant  is  the  best  re- 
ce2)tacle  ;  in  place  of  this  a  similar  vessel  (the  larger  the 
better)  holding  moist  sand  in  which  a  sprig  of  the  food- 
plant  is  plunged  may  be  used — covered  if  convenient 
with  gauze  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  caterpillar.  The 
vessel  should  be  placed  in  the  light,  but  not  in  the  sun, 
and  for  many  kinds  it  is  well  to  lay  chips  or  bits  of  bark 
upon  the  ground,  beneath  which  the  caterpillars  may  hide. 
At  each  moult  the  caterpillar  remains  motionless,  refusing 
to  feed  for  twenty-four  hours  or  more,  and  at  such  times 
it  should  not  be  disturbed.  It  is  best  never  to  touch 
them,  and,  when  necessary  to  change  the  food,  the  old  leaf 
with  the  caterpillar  upon  it  should  be  put  aside  or  upon 
the  fresh  food,  and  only  removed  when  deserted  by  the 
caterpillar.  When  older  the  creature  Avill  bear  rougher 
treatment  and  may  often  be  confined  in  a  nearly  tight 
tin  or  earthen  vessel  with  freshly-plucked  leaves;  but  all 
caterpillars  will  not  bear  this  treatment,  and  care  should 


182 


APPENDIX. 


always  he  taken  that  their  quarters  do  not  become  in  the 
least  foul. 

A  very  convenient  form  of  breeding-cage  or  vivarium 
is  shown  in  Fig.  2,  and  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Riley: 


Fig.  2.— Breeding-cage,  described  in  the  text. 


"It  comprises  three  distinct  parts:  first  the  bottom  board 
{a),  consisting  of  a  square  piece  of  inch-thick  walnut 
with  a  rectangular  zinc  pan  (//')  four  inches  deep  fastened 
to  it  above,  to  prevent  cracking  or  warping,  facilitate  lift- 
ing, and  allow  the  air  to  pass  underneath  the  cage. 
Second,  a  box  (/;),  with  three  glass  sides  and  a  glass  door 
in  front,  to  fit  over  the  zinc  pan.  Third,  a  cap  (c)  which 
fits  closely  to  the  box,  and  has  a  top  of  fine  wire  gauze. 


APPENDIX.  183 

To  the  centre  of  the  zinc  pan  is  soldered  a  zinc  tube  (d) 
just  large  enough  to  contain  an  ordinary  quinine  bottle. 
The  zinc  pan  is  filled  with  clean  sifted  earth  or  sand  (f), 
and  the  quinine  bottle  is  for  the  reception  of  the  food- 
plant.  The  cage  admits  of  abundant  light  and  air,  and 
also  of  the  easy  removal  of  excrement  and  frass  Avhich 
falls  to  the  ground;  while  the  insects  in  transforming 
attach  themselves  to  the  sides  or  the  cap  according  to 
their  habits.  The  most  convenient  dimensions  I  find  to 
be  twelve  inches  square  and  eighteen  inches  high  ;  the 
caj)  and  the  door  fit  closely  by  means  of  rabbets,  and  the 
former  has  a  depth  of  about  four  inches  to  admit  of  the 
largest  cocoon  being  spun  in  it  without  touching  the  box 
on  which  it  rests.  The  zinc  pan  might  be  made  six  or 
eight  inches  deep,  and  the  lower  half  filled  with  sand,  so 
as  to  keep  the  whole  moist  for  a  greater  length  of  time.  A 
dozen  such  cages  will  furnish  room  for  the  annual  breed- 
ing of  a  great  number  of  species,  as  several  having  dif- 
ferent habits  and  appearance,  and  which  there  is  no  dan- 
ger of  confounding,  may  be  simultaneously  fed  in  the 
same  cage.'' 

The  best  success  will  always  attend  efforts  to  place  the 
prisoner  in  conditions  as  nearly  natural  as  possible;  but 
in  rearing  out-of-doors  it  is  more  difficult  to  keep  track  of 
your  charges,  and  they  are  of  course  more  subject  to  their 
natural  enemies,  which  are  numerous  and  vigilant.  More- 
over it  is  then  nearly  impossible  to  obtain  the  cast-off 
heads  of  each  moult,  which  are  well  to  preserve  for  com- 
parative study  at  leisure,  or  to  complete  the  tangible 
marks  of  the  life-history  of  the  insect. 

Such  caterpillars  as  construct  nests  in  which  to  live 
when  not  feeding,  and  especially  such  as  then  live  a  great 
while  in  the  caterpillar  state,  as  for  instance  nearly  all  the 
skippers,  are  the  hardest  to  rear  satisfactorily  apart  from 
their  natural  homes;  they  do  not  like  to  live  in  a  dried-up 


184  APPENDIX. 

"  house,  nor  to  be  continually  wasting  their  energies  in  the 
construction  of  new  ones,  so  that  one's  ingenuity  is  often 
taxed  to  keep  them  happy;  but  patience  and  careful  at- 
tention to  their  natural  conditions  Avill  reap  their  reward, 
and  I  believe  it  is  possible  with  care  to  breed  any  of  our 
species  in  confinement.  Caterpillars  found  partly  grown 
in  a  state  of  nature  may  be  reared  in  confinement  for  the 
rest  of  their  lives  with  equal  ease  ;  only  one  labors  then 
under  the  disadvantage,  if  he  cares  only  for  the  butterfly, 
of  being  rewarded  for  his  pains  merely  by  a  fine  batch  of 
miuute  hymenopterous  parasites  or  a  bristling  fly  or  two. 
To  one,  however,  who  is  interested  in  the  entire  history 
of  these  creatures,  this  is  not  altogether  a  loss,  for  he  will 
add  perchance  to  his  stock  of  butterfly  parasites,  of  which 
for  some  species  many  different  kinds  are  already  known. 
The  search  for  caterpillars  in  their  haunts  is  often  very 
easy,  especially  if  their  food  plant,  habits,  and  seasons  are 
known  ;  to  search  for  a  caterpillar  out  of  season  is  an 
anachronism  one  will  not  enjoy.  Partly-eaten  leaves  are 
one  of  the  best  guides  to  the  discovery  of  caterpillars; 
while  such  as  construct  nests  of  any  sort  are  very  readily 
detected,  especially  when  the  nests  are  so  built  as  to  ex- 
pose the  under  surfaces  of  leaves,  where  their  upper  sur- 
faces would  be  expected,  as  in  the  case  of  many  of  the 
higher  skippers.  The  caterpillars  of  the  blues,  coppers, 
etc.,  are  perhaps  the  most  difficult  to  find,  l)ecause  they  so 
nearly  resemble  in  color  the  surfaces  on  which  they  rest  ; 
the  same  is  true  of  the  caterpillar  of  our  common  yellow 
butterfly  ;  but  when  one  has  once  discovered  them,  and 
knows  lioiv  tliey  looJc  in  their  natural  situations,  the  search 
becomes  much  easier.  Others  again  feed  mostly  by  night 
and  retire  by  day  to  the  covert  of  dead  leaves  on  the 
ground  or  beneath  sticks,  and  must  be  sought  by  the  aid 
of  the  lantern.  Such  in  particular  are  the  caterpillars  of 
our  satyrs  and  fritillaries. 


APPENDIX.  185 

Some  caterpillars  pass  the  winter  in  that  state,  either 
just  hatched,  half  groAvn,  or  nearly  mature.  To  keep 
these  safely  through  our  long  winter  and  2:)revent  their  re- 
covering from  their  dormancy  before  food  for  them  can 
be  obtained  in  the  spring  is  one  of  the  most  difficult 
tasks.  It  is  best,  as  a  general  rule,  to  place  them  in 
closed  or  nearly  closed  vessels,  not  too  small,  in  a  dry  but 
cool  cellar,  and  not  to  move  them  until  their  food-plant 
is  again  in  leaf.  Mr.  Edwards  has  succeeded  well  with  some 
of  those  which  have  eaten  little  or  nothing  before  going 
into  winter  quarters,  by  placing  them  through  the  winter 
in  an  ice-house,  which  would  seem  to  be  rather  heroic 
treatment  at  first  sight  ;  but  in  almost  any  other  situa- 
tion they  are  liable  to  rouse  from  their  lethargy  too  early 
in  the  spring,  the  critical  period,  no  doubt,  of  their  life. 
For  collecting  caterpillars,  pocket  tin  boxes  are  the  best 
receptacles. 

The  satisfactory  preservation  of  the  caterpillar  for  the 
cabinet  is  far  easier  than  is  generally  supposed.  For  ana- 
tomical purposes  it  is  much  better  to  dissect  fresh  speci- 
mens, but  very  much  may  be  done  with  specimens  that 
have  been  preserved  in  not  too  strong  alcohol,  or  in 
glycerine  and  carbolic  acid.  For  the  study  of  the  mark- 
ings or  of  the  external  features  or  form,  nothing  equals 
the  method  known  as  inflation,  where  only  the  pellicle 
and  its  appendages  are  preserved,  and  which  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  allowing  the  caterpillar  to  be  readily  placed  in 
an  ordinary  cabinet  beside  the  other  forms  of  the  creature's 
life;  also  of  preserving  in  their  natural  relations  all  the 
spines  and  hairs  which  clothe  the  body,  and  of  allowing 
these  to  be  studied  at  pleasure;  specimens  preserved  in 
any  fluid,  on  the  contrary,  are  difficult  to  handle  con- 
veniently, and  their  examination  is  unsatisfactory  from 
the  matting  of  the  hairs  and  spines. 

The  instruments  necessary  for  inflating  are  a  small  tin 


186 


APPENDIX. 


oven,  a  spirit-lamp,  forceps,  a  pair  of  finely-pointed  scis- 
sors, a  bit  of  rag,  a  little  fine  wire,  and  a  wheat  straw,  or  a 
glass  tube  drawn  to  a  fine  point.  The  oven  is  simply  an 
oblong  tin  box,  about  2^  inches  high,  2^  inches  wide,  and 
5  inches  long;  the  cover  is  of  glass,  and  one  end  of  the 
box  is  perforated  by  a  circular  hole  IJ  inches  in  diameter. 


Fig.  3.— Oven  and  lamp  for  preparing  caterpillars  by  inflation. 

The  oven  rests  upon  a  wire  standard  as  in  the  woodcut 
[Fig.  3].  No  soldering  should  be  used  upon  the  oven,  as 
it  would  soon  be  melted.  The  wire  for  the  caterpillar 
should  be  very  fine  and  annealed ;  the  best  is  that  wound 
with  green  thread  and  used  for  artificial  flowers.  It  should 
not  be  more  than  half  a  millimetre  in  diameter.  [Fig.  4.] 
Kill  the  subject  by  a  drop  of  ether  or  by  a  plunge  in 
spirits.  Then  placing  the  caterpillar  in  the  left  hand,  so 
as  to  expose  its  hinder  extremity  beyond  the  gently  closed 
thumb  and  first  two  fingers,  enlarge  the  vent  slightly  at 
the  lower  edge  by  a  vertical  cut  with  the  scissors;  next 


APPENDIX.  187 

lay  the  larva  either  1120011  bibulous  paper  on  the  table,  or 
upon  soft  cotton  cloth  held  in  the  left  hand,  and  press  the 
extremity  of  the  body  with  one  finger,  always  with  the  in- 
terposition of  cloth  or  paper,  so  as  to  force  out  some  of  the 
contents  of  the  body;  this  process  is  continued  from  points 
successively  farther  back,  a  slight  addi- 
tional portion  of  the  contents  of  the  body 
being  gently  pressed  out  with  each  new 
movement.  Throughout  all  this  process  y^^  4.-\vound 
great  care  should  be  taken  lest  the  skin  wire  for  support- 
should  be  abraded  by  too  violent  pressure,  ^o^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^'  ^ 
and  lest  any  of  the  contents  of  the  body 
soil  its  exterior  or  become  entangled  in  the  hairs  or  spines; 
to  avoid  the  latter,  the  caterpillar  should  be  frequently 
removed  to  a  clean  part  of  the  cloth.  When  a  portion  of 
the  intestinal  tube  itself  becomes  extruded,  it  should  be 
gripped  with  a  pair  of  strong  forceps,  and,  the  head  re- 
maining in  the  secure  hold  of  the  left  hand,  the  tube 
should  be  forcibly  but  steadily  torn  from  its  attachments; 
with  this  most  of  the  contents  of  the  body  will  be  with- 
drawn, and  a  delicate  pressure  passing  with  a  rolling 
motion  from  the  head  toward  the  tail  will  reduce  the  sub- 
ject to  a  mere  pellicle. 

The  alcohol-lamp  is  now  lighted  and  placed  in  position 
beneath  the  oven;  a  wheat  straw  is  selected,  of  the  proper 
size  to  enter  the  enlarged  vent,  and  the  tip,  after  being 
cut  diagonally  with  sharp  scissors  or  a  knife,  is  moistened 
a  little  in  the  mouth  (to  prevent  too  great  adhesion  of  the 
skin  to  the  straw)  and  carefully  introduced  into  the  open- 
ing of  the  caterpillar;  the  process  may  be  aided  by  blowing 
gently  through  the  straw.  When  the  skin  is  slipped 
upon  all  sides  of  the  straw  to  the  distance  of  about  a  fifth 
of  an  inch,  without  any  folding  of  the  skin  and  so  that 
both  the  anal  prolegs  protrude,  a  short  delicate  pin  (Edel- 
ston  and  Williams,  No.  19,  is  best)  is  passed  through  the 


188  APPENDIX. 

anal  plate  and  the  straw.  If  a  glass  tube  is  used,  the  anal 
plate  must  be  fastened  to  it  by  winding  with  silk. 

By  this  time  the  oven  will  be  sufficiently  heated  to  begin 
the  drying  process,  which  consists  simply  in  keeping  the 
caterpillar  in  the  oven,  extended  horizontally  by  blowing 
gently  and  steadily  through  the  straw,  as  one  uses  a  blow- 
l^ipe.  Too  forcible  inflation  will  make  the  caterpillar 
unsightly  by  distending  unnaturally  any  spot  that  may 
have  been  weakened  or  bruised  in  the  previous  operation; 
the  caterpillar  should  be  kept  slowly  but  constantly  turn- 
ing, and  no  harm  will  result  from  withdrawing  the  crea- 
ture from  the  oven  and  allowing  it  to  collapse,  to  gain 
breath  or  rest;  only  this  relaxation  should  be  very  brief. 
The  caterjullar  should  be  first  introduced  into  the  oven 
while  inflated  by  the  breath,  and  so  placed  that  the  hinder 
extremity  shall  be  in  the  hottest  part,  directly  above  the 
flame,  for  it  is  essential  that  the  animal  should  dry  from 
behind  forward;  yet  not  altogether,  for  as  soon  as  the 
hinder  part  has  begun  to  stiffen  (which  can  readily  be  de- 
tected by  withholding  the  breath  for  a  moment)  the  por- 
tion next  in  front  should  receive  partial  attention,  and 
the  caterpillar  moved  backward  and  forward,  round  and 
round  over  the  flame.  During  this  process  any  tendency 
of  the  caterpillar  to  assume  unnatural  positions  may  be 
corrected — at  least  in  part — by  withdrawing  it  from  the 
oven  and  manipulating  it;  during  inflation,  the  parts  about 
the  head  should  be  the  last  to  dry  and  should  be  kept 
over  the  flame  until  a  rather  forcible  touch  will  not  cause 
it  to  bend. 

To  secure  the  best  results,  it  is  essential  that  the  oven 
should  not  be  too  hot;  the  flame  should  not  be  more  than 
an  inch  high,  and  its  tip  should  be  one  or  two  inches  from 
the  bottom  of  the  oven. 

When  the  skin  of  the  caterpillar  will  yield  at  no  point, 
it  is  ready  for  mounting.     The  pin  is  taken  from  the  straw, 


APPENDIX.  189 

and  the  caterpillar  skin,  which  often  adheres  to  the  straw, 
must  be  gently  removed  with  some  delicate,  blunt  instru- 
ment, or  Avith  the  finger-nail. 

A  piece  of  wire  a  little  more  than  twice  the  length  of 
the  caterpillar  is  next  cut,  and,  by  means  of  forceps,  bent 
as  in  Fig.  5,  the  tips  a  little  incurved,  a  little  shellac*  is 


Fig.  5.— Wire  bent  into  shape  to  insert  into  the  caterpillar ;  not  enlarged. 

placed  at  the  distal  extremity  of  the  loop,  the  wire  is  held 
by  the  forceps  so  as  to  prevent  the  free  ends  of  the  wire 
from  spreading,  and  they  are  introduced  into  the  empty 
body  of  the  caterpillar  as  far  as  the  forceps  will  allow; 
holding  the  loop  and  removing  the  forceps,  the  cater- 
pillar is  now  pushed  over  the  wire  with  extreme  care,  until 
the  hinder  extremity  has  passed  half-way  over  the  loop, 
and  the  shellac  has  smeared  the  interior  sufficiently  to 
hold  the  caterpillar  in  place  when  dry ;  the  extremities  of 
the  parted  wires  should  reach  nearly  to  the  head.  Nothing 
remains  but  to  curve  the  doubled  end  of  the  wire  tightly 
around  a  pin  with  a  pair  of  strong  forceps  and  to  place 
the  specimen,  properly  labelled,  in  a  place  where  it  can 
dry  thoroughly  for  several  days  before  removal  to  the  cab- 
inet. 

For  more  careful  preservation  and  readier  handling, 
each  specimen  may  be  placed  in  a  glass  tube,  like  the  test- 
tube  of  the  chemist.  The  wire  is  then  first  bent  in  the 
middle  and  the  bent  end  inserted  in  a  hole  bored  in  the 
smaller  end  of  a  cork  of  suitable  size,  so  as  nearly  to  pass 
through  it;  the  loops  are  then  formed  as  above;  both  ends 

*  To  prepare  this,  tlie  sheets  of  dark  shellac  should  be  preferred 
to  the  light,  and  dissolved  in  forty  per  cent  alcohol. 


190  APPENDIX. 

of  the  cork  are  varnished,  and  a  label  pasted  around  the 
portion  of  the  cork  which  enters  the  tube,  thus  guarding 
both  sjoecimen  and  label  from  dust,  and  the  latter  from 
loss  or  misplacement.  After  two  or  three  days  the  cork 
Avith  the  caterpillar  attached  is  placed  in  its  corresponding 
tube,  and  the  tube  may  be  freely  handled. 

Modifications  of  this  system  will  occur  to  every  one. 
Dr.  Gemminger  uses  a  syringe  for  the  extraction  of  the 
contents  as  well  as  for  the  inflation  of  the  emptied  skin. 
For  an  oven,  the  Vienna  entomologists  employ  an  ordi- 
nary gas-chimney,  open  at  both  ends  and  inserted  in  a 
sand-bath,  which  prevents,  perhaps,  the  danger  of  too 
great  heat. 

In  rearing  caterpillars  for  the  after-stages,  care  must 
always  be  taken  to  provide  in  season  a  suitable  place  in 
the  breeding-cage  for  the  chrysalis  to  suspend  itself:  a 
twig  for  such  as  prefer  such  situations;  a  bit  of  shingle 
near  the  top  of  the  cage  for  those  that  suspend  themselves 
by  the  tail,  or  fasten  themselves  preferably  to  flat  surfaces; 
leaves  for  those  tliat  construct  some  sort  of  a  cocoon.  The 
search  for  chrysalids  in  the  open  air  is  not  likely  to  meet 
with  great  success  excepting  in  a  few  instances,  such  as 
the  imported  cabbage  butterfly,  whose  chrysalids  can  be 
found  in  only  too  great  abundance  beneath  palings  or  on 
the  under  edge  of  clapboards  on  farm-houses;  those  of  the 
blues  and  their  allies  may  often  be  found  beneath  stones, 
but  one  must  be  an  enthusiast  to  follow  the  search  at  all 
successfully;  such  as  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  general 
entomologist  must  be  counted  as  clear  gain;  yet  these  will 
often  repay  him  who  studies  also  the  parasites  of  butter- 
flies, so  often  are  they  found  to  be  infested. 

The  preservation  of  chrysalids  with  their  colors  is  easy 
for  all  that  are  not  of  some  green  tint;  and  these  are  few. 
Long-lived  chrysalids  are  not  easily  killed  excepting  by 
extreme  dryness.     Some  will  survive  a  twelve  hours^  plunge 


APPEXDIX.  191 

in  alcohol,  and  those  that  could  not  would  generally  lose 
some  of  their  colors  by  the  immersion.  Dry  heat  is  the 
best  method,  but  it  should  be  accompanied  after  death  by 
further  drying  after  an  opening  has  been  made  into  the 
body,  lest  the  contents  should  decay.  Parasitized  speci- 
mens form  the  best  material  for  the  cabinet,  but  even 
shells  from  which  the  inmate  has  escaped  can  b}^  careful 
manipulation  and  a  little  glue  have  their  separated  parts 
so  joined  as  to  answer  fairly  the  desired  purpose.  Solid 
specimens  can  be  pinned  through  one  side  of  the  thorax, 
but  the  mere  pellicle  should  have  the  hooks  of  the  tail 
securelv  fastened  to  a  little  ball  of  cotton  wool  or  bit  of 
felt,  through  which  the  pin  may  be  passed.  It  is  not  easy 
to  glue  empty  chrysalids  permanenth^  to  cards,  and  these 
are  very  apt  to  hide  the  i^arts  one  wishes  at  some  future 
time  to  examine.  Skilful  persons  may  attain  some  success 
with  thin-skinned  chrvsalids,  like  that  of  the  milkweed 
butterfly,  for  instance,  the  shape  of  which 
is  diffictilt  to  retain,  by  removing  the  con- 
tents through  a  small  opening  at  one  side 
and  stuffing  with  cotton. 

The  best  form  of  net  for  the  capture  of 
butterflies  is  a  bag  fastened   to  a  hoop  or 
ring  of  some  sort,  to  which  a  handle  ma}' 
be  attached.     The  hoop  should  be  made  of        c^~ 
galvanized  iron  wire,  forming  a  circle  about 
twelve  to  fourteen  inches  in  diameter,  and 
the  bag,  made  of  double  bobbinet  and  at-  ^^^  for'butL^r- 
t ached  to  the  wire  by  strong  linen  or  cotton,  flies,  a,  wire  ring, 
should    taper    res:ularlv,   have    a    rounded  ^''^^ f"*^  ^"^, '^° 

^  ®  "        .  .  insert  into  the  fer- 

bottom,  and  be  about   thirty  inches    long,  rule,  fc:    c  point 
so  as  to  double  over  the  net  and  and  have  ^'^^^^   ^^^^    p'"^ 

.      ,  and    net     handle 

a  lew   inches  to   spare.      By   bending  the  meet. 

two  ends  of  the  wire  as  in  Fig.  6,  they  can 

be  dropped  into  a  brass  tube  and  securely  fixed  in  place 


192 


APPEXDIX. 


by  a  tight  plug  of  hard  wood,  leaving  the  other  end  of 
the  tube  open  for  the  insertion  of  a  removable  handle; 
or  a  very  convenient  form  of  net  can  be  constructed  on 
the  following  plan  shown  in  Fig.  T  and  thus  described 


Fig.  7.— Folding  net  frame,  explained  in  the  text. 

by  Mr.  Eiley :  "  Take  two  pieces  of  stout  wire,  each  about 
twenty  inches  long;  bend  them  half  circularly  and  join 
at  one  end  bv  a  foldinsr  hinore  havinor  a  check  on  one 
side  ifi).  The  other  ends  are  bent  and  beaten  into  two 
square  sockets  (/),  which  fit  to  a  nut  sunk  and  soldered 
into  one  end  of  a  brass  tube  {d).  When  so  fitted  they 
are  secured  by  a  large-headed  screw  {e),  threaded  to  fit 
into  the  nut-socket,  and  with  a  gi'oove  wide  enough  to 
receive  the  back  of  a  common  pocket-knife  blade.  The 
wire  hoop  is  easily  detached  and  folded,  as  at  c,  for  con- 
venient carriage;  and  the  handle  may  be  made  of  any 
desired  length  by  cutting  a  stick  and  fitting  it  into  the 


APPENDIX. 


193 


hollow  tube  a,  which  should  be  about  six  inches  long."  The 
stick  should  be  about  four  feet  long.  Mr.  Lintner  makes 
use  of  a  rod  with  a  head  [Fig.  8]  screwed  to  one  end,  in 
which  to  fasten  an  elastic  brass  ribbon,  on  which  the  net  is 
drawn,  but  which  when  not  in  use  may  be  placed  inside  the 
hat,  while  the  stick  serves  as  a  cane,  and  the  head  and  bag 
may  be  placed  in  the  pocket.  An  entomologist  becomes 
a  less  conspicuous  personage  with  such  an  outfit. 

The  *'•'  chase ''  for  butterflies  should  rarely  be  a  question 
of  speed;  caution  and  stratagem  are  better  arts;  a  butter- 
fly should  rarely  be  alarmed,  or  the  game  is  lost;  intent 
upon  a  flower,  one  may  even  be  captured  with  the  fingers 
by  slow  approach  upon  the  shady  side;  many 
have  the  habit  of  returning  to  a  twig  they 
have  left,  and  can  be  captured  by  lying  in 
wait  near  the  spot;  others  will  course  up 
and  down  a  roadside,  a  forest  lane,  or  a 
hedgerow,  and  may  be  easily  netted  by  taking 
advantage  of  tiiis  habit.  Xor  should  it  be 
forgotten  that  not  a  few  are  very  limited 
indeed  in  the  selection  of  their  haunts,  and 
every  kind  of  spot  should  be  visited;  some 
confine  their  flight  to  marshy  spots  and  even 
to  particular  bogs;  some  prefer  the  open 
fields;  pastures  where  thistles  and  other 
weeds  are  in  flower  attract  a  gi'eat  crowd ;  others  may  be 
found  in  openings  in  the  forest  where  the  fire-weed  conceals 
the  charred  timber  beneath  its  panicles  of  blue  flowers :  one 
will  not  look  in  vain  upon  the  goldenrods  and  blossomed 
vines  which  fringe  the  roadside  or  stone  walls;  the  shrub- 
berv  which  loves  the  marsrin  of  slender  streams  or  the 
ed2:e  of  thickets  is  a  favorite  haunt  of  manv;  sheltered 
valleys  with  their  varying  verdure  are  always  a  choice  re- 
sort of  the  entomologist;  but  even  the  tops  of  rugged 
mountains  or  sandy  wastes  given  to  sorrel  and  feeble  grasses 


Fig.  8 ,  —  Net- 
head  for  a  remov- 
able frame. 


194  APPENDIX. 

will  yield  their  quota;  the  garden  too,  the  vegetable  field, 
and  even  the  roadside  puddles  must  not  be  neglected. 

One  soon  learns  to  capture  with  a  dexterous  turn  of  the 
net,  and  no  description  of  the  method  is  worth  anything 
beside  a  very  little  ex23erience;  when  captured  the  net 
should  be  turned  to  prevent  escape  and  the  butterfly 
gently  seized  from  outside  the  net,  with  the  wings  back  to 
back  to  prevent  its  struggling  and  so  bruising  itself;  it 
should  then  be  removed  to  the  cyanide  bottle,  where, 
especially  if  placed  in  the  dark  pocket,  it  will  soon  be 
motionless,  and  speedily  dies;  this  is  the  quickest  and 
easiest  mode  of  death,  besides  leaving  the  insect  in  the 
most  perfect  condition.  The  '^cyanide  bottle '' is  simply 
a  phial  with  a  mouth  wide  enough  to  readily  admit  the 
largest  specimens  (a  smaller  size  is  better  for  the  smaller 
kinds),  into  which  a  little  plaster  of  Paris  has  been  poured 
over  a  small  lump  of  cyanide  of  potassium  (a  deadly  poison, 
be  it  noted) ;  or,  a  lump  of  cyanide  may  be  inclosed  in  a 
piece  of  chamois-skin  wrapped  around  and  tied  above 
the  cork,  leaving  the  bottle  clean.  The  cork  should  be  re- 
moved only  when  necessary  and  for  as  little  time  as  pos- 
sible; a  season^s  use  will  exhaust  its  best  strength  even 
when  the  utmost  care  is  taken.  Some  butterflies,  espe- 
cially those  having  yellow  colors,  should  be  left  in  the 
bottle  only  a  short  time,  for  they  are  injured  by  too  long 
exposure  to  the  vapors,  the  yellow  turning  reddish.  When 
removed,  on  reaching  home,  or  sooner  if  needed,  they 
should  be  pinned  through  the  thickest  part  of  the  thorax, 
and  in  an  hour  or  two,  when  the  fixity  of  the  wings  which 
follows  their  violent  death  has  passed  away,  removed  to  the 
setting-board. 

The  best  pins  for  butterflies  are  Nos.  2,  3,  and  4  of 
Klaeger's  make.  The  setting-board  needs  no  description 
apart  from  the  figure  given  [Fig.  9],  more  than  to  say  that 
beneath  the  groove  a  strip  of  cork  or  pith  is  attached  to 


APPENDIX. 


195 


the  board.  Bits  of  glass  cut  to  different  sizes  answer  as 
well  as  the  card  braces  represented  in  the  illustration  and 
permit  one  better  to  see  whether  the  wing  is  lying  perfectly 
flat.  A  needle  inserted  in  a  handle  is  required  to  move 
the  wings  into  the  desired  position,  and  "  to  set "  the 
antennae  and  legs  in  a  natural  attitude;  to  secure  these  in 
the  proper  place  they  are  supported  by  insect  pins  stuck 
into  the  board  upon  one  side  or  the  other  of  the  member, 


Fig.  9.— Setting-board. 

as  required.  The  butterflies  should  remain  upon  the  set- 
ting-board for  a  fortnight  or  longer,  and  placed  where 
they  will  dry  readily  but  not  be  exposed  to  dust.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  they  are  ready  for  the  cabinet. 

When  one  is  away  from  home  conveniences,  a  very 
simple  device  for  transportation  is  to  fold  oblong  bits  of 
paper  (rather  thin  writing-paper  is  best)  into 
'^  triangles/'  as  along  the  dotted  lines  in  this 
sketch;  into  this  the  butterfly  is  placed,  its 
wings  folded  back  to  back  and  antennae  tucked  carefully 
away.  The  place,  date,  and  circumstances  of  capture  (or 
a  number  corresponding  to  a  journal)  may  be  written 
upon  the  paper.  A  great  number  may  thus  be  packed 
into  a  cigar-box  or  other  receptacle,  and  spread  for  the 
cabinet  at  leisure,  months  or  even  years  after  collection. 
For  this  purpose  moistening-pans  are  needed.    A  glass  or 


196  APPENDIX. 

stoneware  dish  is  the  best,  the  top  ground  so  as  to  allow  a 
sheet  of  glass  to  cover  it  perfectly;  ujDon  the  bottom 
moistened  sand  is  placed,  covered  by  fine  brass  wire  net- 
ting. A  few  papers  with  their  inclosed  butterflies  are 
placed  in  it,  and  the  cover  left  on  for  twenty-four  hours 
or  thereabouts,  when  the  insects  may  be  handled  nearly  as 
if  just  caught. 

Damp,  grease,  and  museum  pests  are  the  great  destroyers 
of  insect  collections.  To  avoid  the  first,  one  has  only  to 
see  that  his  cabinet  is  in  a  dry  place,  with  a  play  of  air 
around  it.  To  avoid  grease,  insects  should  be  thoroughly 
dried  before  being  admitted  to  the  cabinet,  and  all  use  of 
cedar  wood  in  constructing  the  latter  should  be  avoided; 
benzine  is  perhaps  the  best  material  for  removing  it. 
Against  museum  pests  one  can  be  safe  only  by  a  constant, 
vigilant,  searching  oversight  of  his  collection,  or  the  use 
of  boxes  which  they  cannot  enter;  even  then  care  must  be 
taken  not  to  introduce  them  one's  self  by  placing  infested 
specimens  in  the  collection :  for  this  purpose  it  is  well  to 
establish  a  safe  quarantine. 

For  a  permanent  cabinet  nothing  can  excel  the  drawers 
made  after  the  Deyrolle  model,  now  in  use  by  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History.  I  have  tried  them  for  many 
years  and  find  them  entirely  pest-proof.  They  are  made 
[Fig.  10],  with  a  cover  of  glass  set  in  a  frame  which  is 
grooved  along  the  lower  edge,  and  thus  fits  tightly  into  a 
narrow  strip  of  zinc,  set  edgewise  into  a  corresponding 
groove  in  the  drawer;  the  grooves  beyond  the  point  of  in- 
tersection of  two  sides  are  filled  with  a  bit  of  wood  firmly 
glued  in  place.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  the  sides 
of  the  drawer  and  the  frame  of  the  cover  should  be  made 
of  hard  wood ;  soft  wood  would  not  retain  the  zinc  strip. 
The  zinc  should  be  perfectly  straight  and  the  ends  well 
matched ;  if  this  be  done,  nothing  can  enter  the  box  when 
it  is  closed.     The  bottom  should  set  in  a  groove  in  the 


APPENDIX. 


197 


sides  and  not  be  fiusli  with  their  lower  edge,  so  that  the 
drawer  may  slide  easily.  A  similar  box  with  a  wooden 
rabbet  is  used  at  the  Museum  of  Comjoarative  Zoology  at 
Cambridge;  but   it   cannot   possibly  be  so  tight,  and  re- 


*  11 

i 

m 

!  1 

li 

\ 

Fig.  10.— Model  of  the  Deyrolle  insect-drawer,  side  view  of  front  end,  with  the 
cover  raised.  D,  bottom  of  drawer  ;  C,  cover  of  same,  raised  a  little  ;  /,  front 
piece,  with  moulding  (»0  and  handle  {h).  glued  to  bottom  piece  ;  sa^  sash ;  si, 
slit  in  cover  into  which  the  zinc  strip  (z)  fits  ;  sV,  slit  in  bottom,  into  which  it 
is  fastened  ;  g,  bevelled  groove,  to  allow  the  finger  to  raise  the  cover  ;  i?r,  hind 
view  of  one  end  of  the  bottom  to  show  the  insertion  of  the  bottom  {b)  ;  Re.  re- 
verse of  one  corner  of  cover  to  show  the  grooves  filled  beyond  their  junction. 
All  the  figures  half  size. 

quires  hooks  on  the  sides  to  ke^  the  cover  down;  it  has 
the  advantage  of  greater  cheapness,  as  it  can  be  made  of 
soft  wood,  but  is  at  the  same  time  clumsier.  My  own 
drawers  are  made  of  cherry  sides,  and  have  also  a  false 
front  attached  to  them,  furnished  with  mouldings  and 
handles  so  as  to  present  a  not  inelegant  appearance;  and, 
exclusive  of  the  cork  with  which  they  are  lined,  cost  $2.65 
each;  they  measure  inside  18|  inches  long,  14  inches  wide, 
and  1|  inches  deep,  not  including  the  cork  lining. 

It  is  best  always  to  cover  the  bottom  of  such  drawers 
with  cork  or  pith  wood  or  similar  soft  substance,  as  it  is 
difficult  both  to  insert  and  to  withdraw  the  pins  readily  in 
any  ordinary  wood,  however  soft;  and  the  sides  and  bot- 
tom should  afterwards  be  covered  with  thin  white  paper 
for  neatness'  sake. 


198  APPENDIX. 

Drawers  like  these  are  rather  hirge  for  small  collections, 
but  any  smaller  size  is  wasteful  of  sjDace  for  arranging  the 
larger  species  of  wide  expanse  of  wing.  Some,  however, 
still  prefer  smaller  sizes  for  convenience  of  study,  and  use 
boxes  shaped  like  a  quarto  volume,  the  cover  hinged  and 
the  whole  lined  with  binder's  cloth.  The  volumes  can 
then  be  lettered  on  the  back  and  arranged  as  in  a  library, 
and  certainly  have  a  neat  appearance.  Such  books  can  be 
made  safer  either  by  a  bevelled  wooden  rabbet  where  the 
top  and  bottom  meet,  or  by  arranging  within  a  second 
glass  cover,  but  they  can  never  be  made  so  fully  proof 
against  pests  as  an  unhinged  drawer. 

A  very  common  box,  but  unsafe  as  soon  as  a  collection 
becomes  at  all  large  and  cannot  be  constantly  watched  in 
every  part,  is  a  simj^le  wooden  box  nine  by  fourteen  inches 
in  size,  in  which  both  top  and  bottom,  made  separate,  are 
put  to  use  by  being  lined  with  cork.  In  this  case  the  box 
must,  of  course,  be  much  deeper.  Such  cases  can  be  made 
in  numbers  for  fifty  cents  each,  exclusive  of  the  cork,  and 
answer  very  well  for  beginners,  but  will  be  discarded  after  a 
time  if  the  collection  increases,  unless  the  owner  has  suffi- 
cient leisure  and  patience  to  watch  his  treasures  carefully. 

The  best  way  to  begin  the  study  of  butterflies  is  to 
attempt  to  follow  out  the  life-history,  write  the  biog- 
raphy, in  short,  of  every  kind  found  in  one's  own  neighbor- 
hood. No  one  place  will  yield  much  above  one  hundred 
species,  and,  if  the  rarer  kinds  be  omitted,  not  nearly  so 
many.  Yet  any  one  who  will  accomplish  this  will  add 
materially  to  what  is  known,  and  he  will  find  his  way 
pleasanter,  his  occupation  more  fascinating  at  every  step. 
He  need  be  provided  at  the  outset  with  a  very  moderate 
stock  of  the  articles  mentioned  in  the  preceding  pages. 
He  should  keep  a  journal  devoted  exclusively  to  a  record 
of  his  daily  notes,  which  will  prove  more  and  more  useful 
in  each  succeeding  year.     Beginning  with  the  eggs  laid  by 


APPENDIX.  199 

imprisoned  females  or  found  in  tlie  open  field,  he  should 
note  every  change  which  transpires,  describe,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, draio  in  detail  every  stage,  giving  to  each  separate 
lot  a  distinctive  number,  which  it  should  keep  until  its 
name  is  known.  As  his  stock  enlarges  and  his  knowledge 
increases,  comparative  study  will  supersede  many  of  his 
earlier  descriptions  ;  but  these  will  not  have  been  without 
their  value  ;  they  will  have  cost  no  more  than  they  are 
worth  ;  his  knowledge  will  have  been  gained  through,  as 
well  as  at  the  expense  of,  his  earlier  work,  none  of  which 
will  he  regret;  he  can  therefore  be  neither  too  minute 
nor  too  exact,  nor  can  he  afford  to  relax  any  endeavor 
until  he  has  proved  it  unnecessary. 

He  should  preserve  in  his  permanent  collection  speci- 
mens to  illustrate  every  condition  of  the  creature's  life,  as 
well  as  all  objects  which  illustrate  its  habits  and  vicissi- 
tudes. Especially  should  all  variations  be  observed.  The 
^gg  with  the  leaf  upon  which  it  is  laid  in  a  state  of  nature  ; 
not  only  the  caterpillar  at  every  stage,  but  in  all  the  atti- 
tudes it  assumes,  the  nests  it  weaves,  the  half-devoured 
leaves  to  show  its  manner  of  feeding,  the  ejectamenta,  the 
parasites  by  which  it  is  beset  ;  not  only  the  chrysalis,  but 
the  emptied  skin  ;  the  butterflies  of  each  brood,  together 
with  some  preserved  in  their  natural  attitudes  when  at 
rest,  and  when  asleep;  and  such  dissections  of  the  external 
parts  as  can  be  separately  mounted  and  cannot  otherwise 
be  readily  seen  ;  also  the  wings  and  body  of  the  butterfly 
denuded  of  their  scales,  to  study  the  structural  framework 
of  the  insect  ;  and,  when  possible,  dissections  of  the  inter- 
nal parts  preserved  in  alcohol. 

Every  pinned  specimen,  excepting  such  as  illustrate  the 
anatomy  only,  should  bear  upon  the  pin  a  label  giving  the 
place  and  date  of  capture,  and,  when  necessary,  a  number 
referring  to  a  catalogue  or  note-book  in  which  memoranda 
may  be  entered  to  any  extent  that  is  desired.     The  name 


200  APPENDIX. 

of  the  species  may  be  given  on  a  separate  label  at  the  head 
of  each  collection  of  objects  which  illustrate  its  history; 
and  the  name  may,  of  course,  also  be  added  at  will  to  any 
specimens  which,  once  determined,  may  require  redetermi- 
nation if  misplaced  and  not  specially  marked. 

In  rearing  it  is  essential  that  every  breeding  cage  or  pot 
should  be  marked  with  a  number  or  by  other  means  to  in- 
dicate its  contents.  Nothing  should  be  left  to  memory  in 
this  particular.  Nor  should  caterpillars  which  are  only 
presumably  of  the  same  species  be  placed  in  the  same  cage, 
as  there  are  many  allied  kinds  which  are  almost  indistin- 
guishable at  sight,  and  a  lack  of  exactitude  here  will  viti- 
ate one^s  observations. 

Any  one  pursuing  vigorously  such  a  course  of  study  and 
collection  of  native  butterflies  w411  be  enchanted  to  see 
how  fascinating  the  study  is,  how  rapidly  his  collection 
grows,  what  an  endless  source  of  interest  attaches  to  these 
humble  but  exquisite  creatures,  and  into  how  many  lines 
of  real  investigation  his  steps  are  tending.  No  one  can 
undertake  it  without  being  himself  the  gainer  by  it,  and 
without  infusing  others  with  his  own  ever-fresh  enthu- 
siasm. 


t: 


INDEX   OF  NAMES. 


acadica,  Thecla,  122 
Achalarus  lycidas,  166 
Aglais,  86,  47,  54,  89 
Aglais  milberti,  89 
Agraulis  vanillae,66 
ajax,  Iphiclides,  146 
alcestis,  Argynnis,78 
alope,  Cercyonis,  110 
Amblyscirtes  samoset,  174 

vialis,  174 
Anaea  37,  45,  55,  104 
Anaea  audria,  104 
Aucyloxipha,  43,  53,  166 
Ancyloxipha  numitor,  166 
andria,  Anaea,  104 
Angle  Wings,  36,  47,  54,  82 
Anosia,  34,  45,  55,  63 
Anosia  plexippus,  60,  63 
Anthocbaiis,  40,  50,  58,140 
Antbocharis  genutia,  140 
Antboniaster,  44,  170 
Antbomaster  leonardus,  170 
antiopa,  Euvanessa,  90 
Apatura  eel  lis,  106 

clyton,  105 

herse,  105 

lycaon,  106 

proserpiua,  105 
apbrodite,  Argynnis,  77 
Araschnia  piorsa,  16 
arcbippus,  Basilarcbia,  102 
Argus  comyntas,  133 

eurydice,  108 
Argynnis,  35,  46,  54,  76 
Argynnis  alcestis,  78 

apbrodite,  77 

atlantis,  76 

bellona,  73 

columbina,  81 


Argynnis  cybele,  79 

idalia,  80 

myrina,  74 
artbemis,  Basilarcbia,  98 
astyanax,  Basilarcbia,  101 
atalanta,  Vanessa,  87 
Atalopedes  buron,  174 
atlantis,  Argynnis,  76 
Atlides  halesus,  133 
Atrytone,  44,  167 
Atrytone  logan,  169 

zabulon,  167 
augustus,  lucisalia,  116 
Basilarcbia,  37,  47,  55,  98 
Basilarcbia  arcbippus,  103 

artbemis,  98 

astyanax,  101 

proserpina,  100 
bellona,  Brentbis,  73 
Blues,  38,  48,  56,  123 
Brentbis,  35,  46,  54,  73 
Brentbis  bellona,  73 

cbariclea,  75 

freija,  75 

montinus,  75 

myrina,  74 
brizo,  Tbanaos,  162 
Brusb  footed  Butterflies,  35,  34, 

45,  53,  63 
caesonia,  Zerene,  133 
calauus,  Tbecla,  130 
Calepbelis  borealis,  113 
Callicista  columella,  133 
Callidryas,  40,  49,  57,  133 
Callidryas  eubule,  133 

pbilea,  133 

sennae,  133 
Calpodes  etblius,  174 
Calycopis  cecrops,  133 

201 


202 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


cardui,  Vanessa,  84 
Catullus,  Pholisora,  164 
celtis,  Chlorippe,  106 
Cercyonis,  37,  48,  56,  110 
Cercyonis  alope,  110 

nephele,  111 

pegala,  112 
Charidryas.  35,  46,  53,  69 
Charidiyas  ismeria,  70 

nycteis,  69 
Chlorippe,  37,  47,  55,  105 
Chlorippe  celtis,  106 

clyton,  105 
Chrysophanus,  39,  49,  57,  127 
Chrysophanus  americauus,  128 

epixanthe,  128 

hyllus,  127 

hypophlaeas,  128 

tarquinius,  130 

thoe,  127 
Ciuclidia,  35,  46,  53,  68 
Cinclidia  harrisii,  68 
Cissia,  37,  47,  55,  107 
Cissia  eurytus,  107 

sosybius,  108 
Claudia,  Euptoieta,  81 
clytou,  Chlorippe, 105 
coeuia,  Juuonia,  82 
Coeuonympha  inornata,  112 
Colias  amphidusa,  135 

caesonia,  133 

chrysotheme,  135 

eur3'theme,  132 

keewaydiu,  135 

philodice,  134 
comma,  Polygonia,  95 
comyntas,  Everes,  123 
Coppers.  39,  57,  127 
Crescent  Spots,  34,  45,  53,  66 
cresphontes,  Heraclides,  151 
Cupido  pseudargiolus,  125 
Cyaniris,  38,  48,  56,  125 
Cyauiris  pseudargiolus,  18,  125 
cybele.  Argynuis,  79 
Cynthia  atalanta,  87 

cardui,  84 

huntera,  85 
dam  on,  Mitura,  118 
Danaids.  34.  45,  55,  63 
Danais  archippus,  63 

erippus,  63 
Pebis  portlandia,  109 


Doxocopa  herse,  105 

lycaon,  106 
edwardsii,  Thecla,  121 
Emperors,  37,  55,  104 
Enodia,  37,  48,  55,  109 
Enodia  portlandia,  109 
Epargyreus,  43,  51,  59,  155 
Epargyreus  tityrus,  155 
Epidemia,  39,  49,  57,  128 
Epidemia  dorcas,  128 

epixanthe,  128 

belloides,  128 
epixanthe,  Epidemia,  128 
Erebia  nephele,  111 
Erora  laeta,  123 
Erycinids,  113 
Erynnis,  44.  169 
Erynnis  attains,  169 

manitoba,  169 

metea,  169 

sassacus,  169 

uncas,  169 
eubule,  Callidryas,  132 
Eucheira  social  is,  11 
Eudamus  proteus,  166 

pylades,  156 

tityrus,  155 
Eugonia,  36,  47,  55.  92 
Eugonia  j-album,  92 
Euphoeades,  42.  51,  58,  150 
Euphoeades  palamedes,  151 

troilus,  150 
Euphydryas,  35,  46,  53,  66 
Euphydryas  phaeton,  66 
Euphyes  metacomet,  174 

verna,  174 
Eupsyche  m-album,  123 
Euptoieta,  36,  46,  54,  81 
Euptoieta  claudia,  81 
Euptychia  eurytus,  107 
Eurema,  40,  49,  57,  138 
Eurema  lisa,138 

nicippe,  137 
eurydice,  Satyrodes,  108 
Eurymus,  40,  50,  58,  134 
Eurymus  eurytheme,  19,  135 

interior,  186 

philodice,  134 
eurytheme,  Eurymus,  135J 
eurytus,  Cissia,  107 
Eu Vanessa,  36,  47,  54,  90 
Euvaucssa  antiopa,  90 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


203 


Everes,  38,  48,  56,  133 
Everes  comyntas,  17,  123 
fauuus,  Polygonia,  94 
Feniseca,  39,  49,  57,  130 
Feuiseca  tarqiiiuius,  130 
Fritillaries,  35,  46,  54,  73 
Gaeides  dione,  131 
genutia,  Anthocharis,  140 
glaiicus,  Jasouiades,  148 
Goniloba  tityrus,  155 
Gossamer-winged  Butterflies,  35, 

37,  48,  56,  113 
Grapta  c-argenleum,  93 

comma,  95 

dryas,  95 

fabricii,  97 

faunus,  94 

interrogationis,  97 

j-album,  93 

progne,  93 

umbrosa,  97 
Hair  Streaks,  38,  48,  56,  113 
harrisii,  Cinclidia,  68 
Heliconians,  66 
Heodes,  39,  49,  57,  128 
Heodes  hypophlaeas,  138 
Heraclides,  43,  51,  58,  151 
Heraclides  cresphoutes,  151 
Hesperia,  43,  53,  59,  165 
Hesperia  ahaton,  173 

centaureae,  166 

hobomok,  167 

montivaga,  165 

mystic,  171 

pocaboutas,  167 

sassacus,  169 

tessellata,  165 

wamsutta  170 
Hesperidae,  35 
Heteropterus  marginatus,  166 
Hipparchia  alope,  110 

andromacha,  109 

boisduvalii,  108 

eurytris,  107 

nephele,  111 
huntera,  Vanessa,  85 
Hylephila  pbylaeus,  174 
Hypatus  bachmanii,  112 
hypophlaeas,  Heodes,  128 
icelus,  Thanaos,  163 
idalia,  Speyeria,  80 
Incisalia,  38,  56,  114 


Incisalia  augustus,  116 

irus,  115 

niphon,  114 
interrogationis,  Polygonia,  97 
iole,  Nathalis,139 
Iphiclides,  41,  51,  58,  146 
Iphiclides  ajax,  17,  146 
irus,  Incisalia,  115 
j-album,  Eugonia,  92 
Jasouiades,  42,  51,  58,  148 
Jasoniades  glaucus,  17,  148 

turnus,  148 
Juuouia,  36,  47,  54,  82 
Junouia  coenia,  82 

lavinia,  82 
juvenalis,  Thanaos,  161 
Kallima,  24 

Laertias,  41,  50,  58,  145 
Laeitias  philenor,  145 
Larger  Skippers,  42,  51,  59,  155 
leonardus,  Authomaster,  170 
Lerema  accius,  174 

hianna,  174 
Lerodea  fusca,  174 
Libytheinae,  26 
Limenitis  archippus,  103 

artherais,  98 

astyauax,  101 

disippus,  102 

misippus,  102 

Ursula,  101 
Limochores,  44,  173 
Limochores  bimacula,  174 

mauatatiqua,  174 

palatka,  174 

pontiac,  174 

taumas,  173 
liparops,  Thecla,  119 
lisa,  Eurema,  138 
Long  Beaks,  112 
lucilius,  Thanaos,  158 
Lycaena  comyntas,  123 

epixanthe,  128 

neglecta,  125 

pseudargiolus,  135 

violacea,  125 
Lycaenidae,  25 

Meadow  Browns,  37,  47,  55,  107 
Meganostoma  caesonia,  133 
Megisto  eurytus,  107 
meliuus,  Urauotes,  117 
Melitaea  harrisii,  68 


204 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Melitaea  marcia,  71 

uycteis,  69 

phaeton,  66 

pharos,  71 

tharos,  71 
milberti,  Aglais,  89 
Minois  alope,  110 

nephele,  111 
Mitura,  38,  56,  118 
Mitina  damon,  118 
montivaga,  Hesperia,  165 
myriua,  Brenthis,  74 
mystic,  Thymelicus,  171 
Nathalis,  40,  50,  58,  139 
Nathalis  iole,  139 

Irene,  139 
Neonympha  canthus,  108 

Cornelius,  112 

eurytris,  107 

mitchellii,  113, 

phocion,  112 
nephele,  Cercyonis,  111 
nicippe,  Xanthidia,  137 
niphou,  lucisalia,  114 
Nisoniades  brizo,  162 

catullus,  164 

ennius,  161 

icelus,  163 

juvenalis,  161 

lucilius,  158 

persius,  159 
Nomiades  couperi,  127 

lygdamus,  127 
Dumitor,  Ancyloxipha,  166 
uycteis,  Charidryas,  69 
Nyraphalidae,  25 
Nymphalis  arthemis,  98 

dry  as.  95 

ephestiou,  101 

faunus,  94 

j-album,  92 

lamina,  98 

milberti,  89 

Ursula,  101 
Nymphs,  34,  45,  53,  66 
Oarisma  poweshiek,  17^ 
Oeueis  calais,  112 

jutta,  112 

macounii,  112 

semidea,  112 
oleracea,  Pieris,  143 
Oligoria  maculata,  174 


Orange  Tips,  40,  50,  58,  140 
Pampliila  aaroni,  169 

cernes,  173 

leouardus,  170 

maudau,  174 

mystic,  171 

peckius,  170 

sassacus,  169 

zabulon,  167 
Paphia  glycerium,  104 

troglodyta,  104 
Papilio,  42,  51,  59,  153 
Papilio  ajax,  146 

asterius,  153 

brevicauda,  154 

cresphontes,  151 

glaucus,  148 

marcellus,  146 

philenor,  145 

polyxenes,  153 

telamonides,  146 

thoas,  151 

troilus,  150 

turnus,  148 
Papilionidae,  25 
Pararge  can  thus,  108 
peckius,  Polites,  170 
persius,  Thauaos,  159 
phaeton,  Euphydryas,  66 
philenor,  Laertias,  145 
philodice,  Eurymus,  134 
Phoebis  agarithe,  140 
Pbolisora,  43,  52,  59,  164 
Pholisora  catullus,  164 

hayhurstii,  165 
Phycanassa  viator,  174 
Phyciodes,  35,  46,  53,  71 
Phyciodes  batesii,  72 

gorgone,  72 

harrisii,  68 

nycteis,  69 

tharos,  17,  71 
Pierids,  39,  49,  57,  132 
Pieris,  41,  50,  58,  143 
Pieris  cruciferarum,  143 
.  frigida,  143 

napi,  143 

occidentalis,  141 

oleracea,  143 

protodice,  141 

rapae,  144 

vernalis,  141 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


205 


plexippus,  Anosia,  63 
Poaues  massasoit,  174 
Polites,  44,  170 
Polites  peckius,  170 
Polygonia,  36,  47,  55,  93 
Polygouia  comma,  95 

faun  us,  94 

gracilis,  98 

interrogationis,  16,  97 

progue,  93 

satyrus,  98 
Polyommatus  comyntas,  123 

crataegi,  130 

epixanthe,  128 

lucia,  125 

porseuna,  130 

tarquinius,  130 

thoe,  127 
polyxeues,  Papilio,  153 
Pontia,  41,  50,  58,  141 
Pontia  casta,  143 

oleracea,  143 

protodice,  141 
portlandia,  Enodia,  109 
Potanthus  omaha,  174 
Prenes  ocola,  174 

pauoquin,  174 
progue.  Polygonia,  93 
protodice,  Pontia,  141 
pseudargiolus,  Cyaniris,  125 
pylades,  Thorybes,  156 
Pyrameis  atalanta,  87 

cardul,  84 

huntera,  85 

terpsichore,  85 

vlrginiensis,  85 
Pyrgus  montivagus,  165 
Pyrisitia  mexicana,  140 
rapae,  Pieris,  144 
Red  Horns,  39,  49,  57,  132 
libabdoides  cellus,  166 
Rusticus  scudderii,  127 

striatus,  127 
sassacus,  Erynnis,  169 
Satyrodes,  37,  48,  55,  108 
Satyrodes  eurydice,  108 
Satyrs,  37,  47,  55,  107 
Satyrus  alope,  110 

nephele,  111 

portlandia,  109 
Semnopsyche  diana,  82 
Skippers,  25,  42,  51,  59,  155 


Smaller  Skippers,  43   52  59,  166 
Sovereigns,  37,  47   55,  98 
Speyeria,  35,  46,  54,  80 
Speyeria  idalia,  80 
Strymon,  38,  56,  113 
Strymon  melinus,  117 

titus,  113 
Swallow  Tails,  41,  50,  58,  145 
Synchloe  olympia,  141 
Syricbtus  communis,  165 
tarquiuius,  Feniseca,  130 
taumas,  Limocbores,  173 
Terias  lisa,  138 

uicippe,  137 
Tbanaos,  43,  52,  59.  158 
Tbanaos  ausonius,  164 

brizo,  162 

horatius,  164 

icelus,  163 

juvenalis,  161 

lucilius,  158 

martialis,  164 

persius,  159 

terentius,  164 
tharos,  Pbyciodes,  71 
Tbecla,  38,  56,  119 
Tbecla  acadica,  122 

arsace,  115 

auburniana,  118 

augustus,  116 

borus,  122 

calanus,  120 

californica,  123 

costalis,  118 

cygnus,  122 

damon,  118 

edwardsii,  121 

falacer,  120 

favonius,  117 

heurici,  115 

liumuli,  117 

byperici,  117 

inorata,  120 

irus,  115 

liparops,  119 

lorata,  123 

melinus,  117 

mopsus,  113 

nipbon,  114 

Ontario,  123 

smilacis,  118 

soubegan,  122 


206 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Thecla  strigosa.  119 

titus,  113 
tboe,  CbrysophaDus,  127 
Tborybes,  43,  51,  59,  156 
Thorybes  bathyllus,  158 

electra,  158 

py  lades,  156 
Thymele  tityrus,  155 
Tbymelicus,  44,  171 
Tbymelicus  aetna,  173 

brettiis,  172 

mystic,  171 

numitor,  166 
titus,  Strymon,  113 
tityrus,  Epargyreus,  155 
troilus,  Eupboeades,  150 
Typical  Butterflies,  25,  39,  49, 132 
Uranotes,  38,  56,  117 
Urauotes  melinus,  117 
Vanessa,  36,  47,  54,  84 
Vanessa  antiopa,  90 


Vanessa  atalanta,  87 

c-album,  95 

cardui,  84 

coenia,  82 

comma,  95 

faun  us,  94 

furcillata,  89 

huntera,  10,  85 

iuterrogationis,  97 

j-albura,  92 

milberti,  89 

progue,  93 
Wbites,  41,  50,  58,  141 
Xautbidia,  40,  49,  57,  137 
Xantbidia  lisa,  138 

nicippe,  137 
Yellows,  39,  49,  57,132 
zabulon,  Atrytoue,  167 
Zereue,  40,  50,  58,  133 
Zerene  autbyale,  134 

caesonia,  133 


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Brief  guide  to  the  commoner  buttertlies