4 . a B «gig a eae i en = xs nS att AT i) THOMAS LINCOLN CASEY LIBRARY 1925 . o: 8 aes @e SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLIES. BY WILLIAM H. EDWARDS, iy MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. PHILADELPHIA: THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 1872. TEXT REPRINTED BOSTON: HOUGHTON, OSGOOD AND COMPANY. 1879. AUTHORS AND WORKS QUOTED IN SYNOPSIS. Abbot.—Insects of Georgia. Agassiz—Lake Superior. Amenen Entomologist, St. Louis. Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural tony: Annals de la Societe Entomologique de France. 4 Behr Sige ass of Hts California Academy of Natal Briricen Boisduy: Lepidopteres. ef ee general des Lepidopteres, I. ss Lepidopteres de la Californie. Boisduval and LeConte.—Lepidopteres de Amerique peptent soaile, Butler.—Catalogue of Satyride in British Museum. Canadian Naturalist, We ; Catalogue of the Museum of St. Pombo ras Cramer.—Papillons exotiques. Curtis. et s Arctic Expedition. ie nendie 2 Doubleday, Hewitson & Westwood.—Genera of Diurnal epidonteen Drury.—IUlustrations of Exotic Entomology. D’Urban.—Canadian Naturalist, V. 1833 1836 1869 1833 1868 1857 1855—63 1779—82 1835 1846—52 1770—82 Edwards.—Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. — : Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia. : Transactions of the American Entomological Society. - Butterflies of North America. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, London. Esper.—Die Europaischen Schmetterlinge. « Die Auslandischen Schmetterlinge. Fabricius.—Systema Entomologie. : : : : cs Species Insectorum, Il. . : ; : : ‘ Mantissa Insectorum, IT. ui Entomologia Systematica, III. Felder.—Lepidopterologische Fragmente, Wien. : ; - ss Reise der Novara. 3 ; : : : 7 7 Fischer.—Entomographie de la Russie. 3 : z 3 Fitech—New York Agricultural Report, II. - x ° 2 1868—72 1777—94 1785—98 1775 1781 1787 1793 1859 1867 1823 24 3 1859 Freyer.—Neuere Beitrage zur Schmetterlingskunde. . . 1831—58 Geyer, in Hiibner’s Exotischer Schmetterlinge. . ; : : 5 — Godart—Encyclopedie Methodique, IX. ; P : : : 1819 ‘ Duponchels’ Supplement. : : : ; 1832—42 Graslin— Annals de la Societe Entomologique de F rance. : 4 —— Gray.—Griffith’s Animal Kingdom, XV. . : 1832 Grote and Robinson.—Annals 'N. Y. Lyceum of Natur al Hoes F — Guerin.—Iconographie de Regne Animal. : 2 : : . 1844 Harris——New England Farmer. : : : : . : : a € Insects of Massachusetts, 2nd edition. - . : . 1862 Herbst.—Natursystem, Schmetterlinge. 5 5 : 5 1800 Herrich-Scheeffer.—Europaischen eeirneuertines! < : : 1847—50 Hewitson.—Illustrations of Lycenidee. 6 Mature larva 6% Ouvsalids. 8 Egg, magute / ood -plant Fawpun PAPILIO II. AJAX.—Var. TELAMONIDES, Felder. Primaries more produced than in var. Walshii; costa more arched; hind margin in male more excavated, in female convex; tail longer and broader; thorax covered with long hairs; frontal hairs of medium length. Mare.—Expands from 2.8 to 3.2 inches. Similar in color and disposition of bands and markings to Walshii; the tail not merely tipped with yellow, but bordered on either side from half to two-thirds the distance from tip to base, the extreme edges, except at tip, being black; the crimson bar narrower, often bilobed, and occasionally broken into two spots; the four marginal lunules usually distinct. Body above as in Wa/lshii, but beneath much less black, the collar being yel- low and the yellow lateral stripes broad and bright; palpi yellow, the hairs at extremity tipped with black; frontal hairs black, very slightly interspersed with yellow at base next the eyes, shorter than in Wa/shii; antennze reddish, club same, reddish-brown beneath. Frmate.—Same size and resembles the male. Telamonides is midway between the other two varieties in size. It has the fore wings of Walshii, especially in the female, but the hind wings are produced after the manner of Marcellus, and it has the tail of Jlarcellus, as well as the yellow throat and sides of thorax and abdomen. Like Wa/shii it has a crimson bar, but this is often broken into two spots. The frontal hairs are not wholly black and are but of medium length, and the hairs of palpi are nearly yellow. Egg similar to that of Walshii. Duration of this state 4 to 5 days. Larva similar up to the second moult, after which there is a wide divergence, some retaining a resemblance to Wa/shii, others being entirely black unrelieved by any light color whatever; in others the general color is grey, with white, black and yellow bands on fourth and fifth segments, and the segments after fifth crossed by one yellow and two dull white stripes. At other times the color is blue-green, each segment crossed by grey, yellow and clear white, the white band replaced by turquoise-blue. Or the color is pale green throughout, except one yellow stripe on each segment, the bands being blue, black and yellow. There is also a variety on which the black stripes are broken into points giving the larva a speckled appear- ance. Duration of larval state 15 to 18 days. Chrysalis similar to that of Walshii, and either brown or green. Duration of this state 11 to 14 days. - i] * : se | hes 4 \ F VI OD OmT tT c + ALR MAROC 1 Lit n 6,3 F&F 4. Young larva: Smature larvae wv var @ Chrys alides ure var. PAP PELOSI: AJAX.—Var. MARCELLUS, Boisduval. Primaries in both sexes equally and largely produced, hind margins much excavated; costa less arched than in Telamonides; secondaries more produced; tail longer and broader; thorax covered with short hairs; frontal hairs very short. Mare.—Expands from 3.2 to 3.5 inches. Color deep black, the borders and black bands broader than in either of the other varieties; the light portions pale blue-green in fresh specimens; the stripe be- tween the forks of mesial black band reduced to a mere streak; the two common green bands terminate on secondaries higher up the wing by nearly the width of one interspace; the tail very long and broad, bordered and edged as in Te/amonides; the crimson band reduced to a single lunate spot of variable size, and occasionally wanting, with very rarely a second spot, always minute; the two middle lunules on the margin distinct, the other two more or less obsolete; a greenish band at base of both wings, on secondaries following the edge of the abdominal fold. On the under side the light portions tinted with buff, especially on costaand along the principal nervures and either edge of the black common band; two crimson anal spots; otherwise as in Telamonides. Body above black, the thorax covered with short grey hairs; beneath wholly bright yellow, except a narrow black stripe extending from the head to end of ab- domen, passing beneath the insertion of the wings, and a stripe along lower part of thorax and abdomen; a short black line inside the yellow space just before the last segment of the abdomen; palpi yellow; front of head furnished with very short hairs, black in front interspersed with yellow next the eyes; antenne reddish; club same, reddish-brown beneath. Fremare.—Expands 3.5 inches. The green bands of deeper color and narrower, leaving the surface very black. In many cases the green shade is replaced by a soiled or buff-white with no trace of green. The second crimson spot appears more often than in the male. Marcellus differs from the other varieties by its increased size and blackness of wings and by their shape in both sexes, by the absence more or less complete of one or two of the yellow marginal lunules, by the substitution of a single large lu- nate crimson spot, occasionally accompanied by a crimson point, in place of bar of Walshii, or the double and usually equal spots of Zelamonides. It also differs from the latter in the proportionate length and breadth of tail; is still more yellow on throat and thorax; the short frontal hairs are yellow and black, and the palpi are yellow. PAP TE LORE: Egg similar to that of Walshu. Duration of this state 4 to 5 days. The larvee of Marcellus combine the variations of Walshit and Telamonides, about one half resembling those of the former, and most of the remainder being either green or blue-green, as before described, with blue, black and yellow bands on fourth and fifth segments. Duration of the larval state twelve to nineteen days. Chrysalis similar to that of Wadshii, but varying much in size, the largest being .1 broader and .2 longer; thoracic process more prominent and hooked, and the reticulations and abbreviated bands more conspicuous. Color either brown or green. Duration of chrysalis state 11 to 14 days. I subjoin the diagnoses of these forms given by Mr. Felder in his Species Lepidopterorum, Vienna, 1864, pp. 15 and 59, Section 23. Sub-section E.—Marcenivs. “Wings much broader than in preceding sub-sections, (i. e. Sinon, &e.) hind wings deeply dentated, much more produced, costa convex, the lower disco-cellular nervule of fore wings less sinuous, the cell of hind wing broader, the lower disco-cellular nervule much longer.” Sub-section F,—Trntamonmes and Asax (Adbbotii and Walshii). “ Fore wings less produced apically, the cell shorter; costa of hind wings longer but anal region much less produced than in Marcellus ; the superior and inferior disco-cellular nervules of fore wings a little concave outward ; cell of hind wings much shorter, the inferior disco-cellular nervule shorter ; tail narrower, shorter; club slender; front very hairy.” Here therefore are three well defined forms, differing in many specific charac- ters and long recognised as distinct species. For eight years past I have had favorable opportunities for studying their habits, and have been intent on solving what very early struck me as a mystery. I am pleased at last at having met with sufficient success to warrant my giving the results thus far obtained in this volume. Mr. Wallace, (Natural Selections, pages 145-159,) has admirably described and illustrated the phenomena of dimorphism or polymorphism. This is occasioned by common parents producing two or more forms of offspring of distinct types, without intermixture or hybridism, and among the lepidoptera, as stated by this author, has usualiy been observed in the female sex only. We have many examples in our fauna, partly cases of albinism, as in Colias, of flavism, in Anthocaris, or of melanism, as in Lycena, and notably in case of Papilio Turnus, one of our largest, most widely distributed and best known butterflies. The male of this is always yellow, but the females in the Middle and Southern States are dimorphic, one form being yellow like the male, the other black. (There are however occasional cases of true hybridism between dimorphic forms, and I have several examples of hybrid Turnus, one of which is perfect.) We have also a case of dimorphism in Grapta Interrogationis, that embraces both sexes. ‘There is another phenomenon PAP EEO el ealled “seasonal” dimorphism by Mr. Wallace, where great differences exist be- tween the autumnal and vernal broods of the same insect, occasionally known to occur. These phenomena meet in the species Ajax, there being a complicated _seasonal polymorphism and also true polymorphism in both sexes. Moreover there is a considerable degree of variation in each of the three principal forms (though not to an extent to constitute intergrades) not merely in the imago but strikingly in the larva and somewhat in the chrysalis. There is also a tendency to still further departure from the average specific type, as seen in the sub-varieties of Washi. It is not certain which of these forms was first described as Ajaw and should be entitled to give name to the species. The indefinite language of Linnzeus and Fabricius may apply to either. The figure of Esper, under the name of Aja, repre- sents Marcellus; Cramer’s Marcellus is the one which I designate as Walshi. Abbot’s figures represent a variety of this last, the difference consisting in the pres- ence of a carmine stripe on the upper surface of secondaries. This form is not un- common, though I believe the stripe is always imperfect and in no case so promi- nent as appears on Abbot’s plate. About one individual in ten of either sex of Walshii exhibits traces of the stripe to a greater or less degree. Boisduvyal and Leconte regarded this Adbdotii as entitled to be considered the true Ajax, because besides giving a figure of the imago, Abbot also gives the larva and chrysalis, and they proposed to follow him. In the text they do so very nearly, but their plate represents Ze/amonides. Felder also accepts Abbot's figure as that of the typical Ajax. As regards the claims of the three principal varieties they are equal; neither can be called a variety of the other, but they are varieties of one species. To avoid confusion it seemed to me well to apply the name Ajax to them collectively and to designate two of them by the names which have become familiar. The other I name in recoliection of the late Benjamin D. Walsh, whose untimely loss proves well nigh irreparable to American Entomology. A second sub-variety of Walshi, characterized by very narrow tails and usually by diminutive size was pronounced by Mr. Felder, to whom it had been submitted, as distinct and constituting a fourth species, (see plate herewith). Tam not certain whether Walshii is as wide spread as Telamonides or not. Mr. Walsh informed me that he had never met with it in Illinois, where the other was common. But I have received it from Eastern Virginia and Dr. A. W. Chapman has sent it to me from Florida. Dr. G. M. Levette, has taken it abundantly in the month of April, near Indianapolis. Abbot's figures purport also to have been taken from a Georgian insect. It seems probable therefore that it is wide spread but has been over-looked or confounded with Telamonides. PAPILIO III. Walshii appears in the Kanawha Valley (West Va.) from the fifteenth to twentieth of March, by which time the peach trees are usually in bloom. On these the females may certainly be found, and a little later, on the apple and in great numbers on the wild plum. The males appear a few days earlier and are to be seen by the water side or upon the road, but rarely upon flowers. The larvee. feed on the Pawpaw (Asimina triloba, Gray), and as this is one of the latest of our trees to put forth its leaves, the butterflies are out at least from two to three weeks before the young shoots of the food plant are visible. But no sooner do these ap- pear than the females hasten to deposit their eggs. Telamonides begins to fly some weeks after Walshii, and both forms in this valley are for a time common. About the first of June, Walshii disappears, and before the end of the month Zelamonides also. I have never seen either later than June save in one instance. In this, Mr. Theo. L. Mead captured a newly emerged Ze/amonides, at Coalburgh, 12th Sept., 1869. Mr. Mead is an accurate observer, and during several weeks spent with me, paid particular attention to this species. Every season I have brought me great numbers of butterflies taken in the vicinity, and as no other case of the late appearance of these two forms has come to my knowledge, it may be assumed that this occurrence of Telamonides was exceptional. About Ist of June, Marcellus begins to appear and shortly is out in great numbers, continuing to be abundant till last of October. I have seen Marcellus in but one instance before last of May, and that was 11th April, 1867, when I myself captured a female on the wing, as much out of its season as the Telamonides in September. I became satisfied in my own mind some years ago that one of these forms was the summer or fall brood and the others the spring broods of the same insect, hay- ing every year raised many of the larvee, either found on the leaves of the food plant, or bred from eggs so found, and the results thus obtained agreeing with out- side observations. But however probable it might appear, it was not possible to establish the certainty till the missing link could be supplied and one form bred from eggs actually laid by another, especially when the appearance of the J/arcel- lus taken in April and the Telamonides emerged from chrysalis in April, 1868, hereafter referred to, furnished strong reasons for doubt.* * Nore.—It is true that Dr. Morris, in 1862, had stated in his Synopsis, page 9, that Dr. Gray considered Ajax and Marcellus to be varieties of the same insect, and added, “ This is now the opinion of all the collectors in this country. One of them declares that Ajax is the spring and Marcellus the fall brood of the same species.” But no reason for this opinion or proof of the assertion was given, and Dr. Morris allowed me to deny the identity of the two species in his appendix, p. 351, without com- ment. At best, no one seems to have more than reached an opinion founded in some cases probably on facts identical with those afterwards observed by me. PAP LL LOM UY. To obtain this missing link seemed impossible and year after year I had failed. Twice I had seen a female Telamonides deposit an egg and succeeding in hatching the larva therefrom. But in one instance it died before maturity and in the other, the larva from an egg deposited 11th May, 1867, gave Telamonides in April, 1868. I had also succeeded in raising larvee from eggs seen to be deposited by Marcellus, but merely ascertained that the early summer brood of this form produced its like a few weeks later, without gaining any light as to the last brood of the season. The females would not lay their eggs in captivity, either in empty boxes or on cut branches of the food plant. In 1870, I determined to try the effect of confining the females with the grow- ing food plant, and 16th May, enclosed in a keg from which the heads had been removed and the upper end covered with gauze, a Zelamonides. During the day it laid several eggs on the leaves. I was now obliged to leave home, and was absent two weeks. On returning I found six larve only in the keg, of equal size and about half grown. Others had been hatched but had either escaped or had been destroyed. By 5th June, these larvee had stopped feeding, although but three weeks had elapsed since the female was enclosed. On 7th, they had fixed and by 8th had become chrysalids. Between 20th and 24th they had yielded imagos, 24,49, all Marcellus. Time from laying egg to imago 35 days. On Ist June, I enclosed three Te/amonides, and, on 2d, had obtained from them 37 eggs. From these, on 3d July, 29 Marcellus emerged and others followed till 9th, when I had 124, 109, all Marcellus. Time from laying of egg to imago 33 days. One chrysalis from this brood went over the season, and 1st April, 1871, yielded ¢ Telamonides. On 7th June. I enclosed a Marcellus and from it, on 23d, had five mature larve. On 4th July, 12 Marcellus emerged, on 9th 32. Time from laying of egg to imago 27 days. One chrysalis went over the season and was alive 1st April 1871, but died before yielding imago. On 1st July, I enclosed a Marcellus, which in point of time would be of the second brood in succession from Telamonides. By 18th, there were eighteen larve living from which resulted fourteen chrysalids. On 31st, the imagos began to ap- pear and by 3d August, there were 44, 39, all Marcellus. Time 30 days. Seven of this lot of chrysalids passed their period and one of them gave ? Marcellus, on 28th August, six weeks afterwards. The other six went over the season and were living in the following February, but unfortunately were destroyed by fire about the end of that month. Late in August, from eggs of Marcellus obtained in same way, I had two larvee which matured 12th Sept. One of these soon after yielded Jarcellus, the other went over the season but was lost with those before mentioned. PAPILEOMIT On 15th Oct., I had several larve feeding. Of these but one went to chrysa- lis before frost killed the leaves of the food plant and caused the loss of the re- mainder. This one yielded Zelamonides 2, 15th April, 1871. These observations therefore shewed that from Telamonides came Marcellus the same season and Ze/amonides in the following spring, that from Marcellus came successive broods of Jarcellus the same season, and from the last brood Tela- monides in the spring. It also appeared that while there was a general limit to the duration of the chrysalis state, namely about 12 days, there were frequent exceptions, the imagos then emerging at irregular periods and some of nearly every brood living in chrys- alis till the following spring. The rapidity of growth from the egg was surprising, as compared with our other Papilios. In 1869, by obtaining very young larve within a day or two after I had had butterflies emerge from chrysalis, I became satisfied that, besides the first brood from Walshii or Telamonides, there are three successive broods of Marcellus and the larvee of the fourth give chrysalids that go over the winter, thus making five broods per year. These observations failea to determine the connection between Wadlshii and the other two forms, though I had good reasons for feeling confident as to what that connection might be. For example, from twenty-seven chrysalids obtained from larve found on the food plant in Sept. 1868, and which it is now plain must have come from the last brood of Marcellus, emerged twenty-seven imagos between the 2d and 21st April, 1868. Of these, twenty-six were Ze/amonides, and one was Wal- shii. Also from chrysalids of Sept. 1869, emerged two var. Addotii in March, 1870. Out of fifty-seven chrysalids from laryee found on food plant in last of June and Ist of July, 1868, which were probably from first brood of Marcellus, forty- five produced Marcellus within the usual period; but five went over the winter, and between 24th March and 8th April, 1869, yielded five Zedamonides. Another larva fed in August, 1868 (2d or 8d brood of Murcellus) produced Telamonides 23d March, 1869. In the spring of the present year, (1871) Wadshi was unusually abundant and it seemed to me, at the expense of Zelamonides, which was comparatively searce. On the 10th April, I confined three Wadshii with the food plant, and by 12th, had obtained one-hundred and twenty-five eggs. On the 16th, I confined two others of same type separately and obtained many more eggs. The larvee from the last laying overtook in growth those of the first so that but one’ day intervened between the first chrysalis ofeach. Between 17th and 23d May, all the survivors had changed, numbering seventy. From these emerged, between Ist and 6th June, fifty-eight butterflies, of which 22 4, 349, were Marcellus, one ¢, Walsh and one PAP Or ae 8, Telamonides, On 23d June, full three weeks after its period came another @ Marcellus and a second followed on the 12th Jily. Of the other chrysalids seven are living at this date (15th October). In these cases the eggs of each lot were unusually long in hatching, 8 days, and the time from laying of egg to imago of the first was 51 days and of the second 44. On 23d May, T enclosed another Wadshii with the usual result. The eggs be- gan to hatch on 28th, five days. From these, on 13th June, I had thirty-two chrysalids. The first imago appeared 24th June. Time from laying of eggs thirty- one days. By 380th, 104, 79, Marcellus had emerged and 14 chrysalids are living at this date (15th October). On 27th May, I enclosed a Telamonides that had but a slight trace of white at sides of the tail near the tip and in this respect approached Walshii much more nearly than I had before observed in that variety, though otherwise it was distinctly Zelamonides. From this I obtained many eggs which hatched on 31st and gave nineteen larvee. These were peculiar in that they were all remark- ably black, and several entirely so, without even the usual white line on fourth segment. The butterflies began to emerge on the 28th, and there resulted seven Marcellus. Time from laying of egg 52 days. At this date 15th October ten chrysalids are living. From another Zelamonides enclosed 28th May, resulted 2 ¢, 29 Marcellus on 3d and 4th July, and six chrysalids are still living (15th October.) On 1st and 4th June, I enclosed several Marcellus. These laid scores of eggs and in due time I had 123 larve, and from them on 2d July, seventy-six chrys- alids. On the 5th, the imagos began to appear and by 15th, 21 ¢, 15 9, had emerged, all Marcellus. At this date, (15th October) 40 chrysalids have long passed their period. Time 34 days. Finally, on 29th July, I enclosed a Marcellus, and obtained therefrom forty- two chrysalids. Of these, thirteen produced Marcellus 4 ¢, 92 , and twenty-nine go over the season. It will be noticed that a large percentage of the chrysalids of nearly every brood pass the winter, the proportion seeming to increase as the broods succeed each other. Of the first brood of Walshii, of 67 chrysalids, 7 passed over; of the second of 39 chrysalids, 14; of the first of Telamonides, of 17 chrysalids 10; of the second of Telamonides of 10 chrysalids, 6 ; of the first brood of Jarcellus, of 76 chrys- alids, 40; of the second brood of Marcellus, of 42 chrysalids, 29. The summing up therefore of this whole series of observations is this; Walshiz produces Walshii, Telamonides and Marcellus, the same season; Telamonides pro- duces Marcellus the same season and its own type in the Spring; Jlarcellus pro- PAP IE LORMIT duces successive broods of Marcellus the same season, and occasionally Te/amonides, (individual taken by Mr. Mead in September, 1870) and the last brood produces Walshit and Telamonides in the Spring; and whenever any of the chrysalids of either brood of Marcellus pass the winter they produce the other two varieties, and probably sometimes their own type (individual taken April, 1867.) The chrysa- lids of Walshii that pass the winter of 1871—2 will probably produce Walshii or Telamonides. Thus there are Marcellus produced by three different types of parent, and Tel- amonides by three and probably Walshi by the same number. I have carefully compared individuals of each variety so sprung from several parents and can dis- cover no tangible points of difference. Except in what I should call non-essential variations and which each variety is subject to, such as width of the bands, &c., each is true to its own type no matter what its parentage. The duration of the several states of egg, larva and chrysalis also differs greatly, especially between Walshii and the other two varieties. Kaa. LARVA. CHRYSALIS. Tora. Walshi, 7 to 8 days. 22 to 29 days. 14 days. 43 to 52 days. Telamonides 4 to 5 days. 15 to 18 days. 11 to 14 days. 30 to 36 days. Marcellus, 4 to 5 days. 12 to19 days. 11to14 days. 27 to 38 days. The female of Ajax may frequently be seen coursing through the pawpaw trees which hereabouts cover the lower hill-sides, or hovering about the young plants that spring up in the cultivated fields, searching for leaves on which to deposit her eggs. After touching or running over and rejecting several, she finds one suitable to her purpose. Thereupon, balancing by the rapid fluttering of her wings, she stands for an instant with legs stretched at full length, perpendicular to the body, and curving down the abdomen till it touches the surface, deposits a single egg; then flies away, presently to alight on a second leaf with like intent. Some- times the egg is upon the stem and occasionally on the under side of the leaf, but almost always it is on the upper side, and but one egg will usually be found on the same leaf. The process of laying continues for several successive days. At certain seasons it is almost impossible to find a young plant that is free from these eggs and it is easy to collect scores of them. On dissecting the abdomen of a newly emerged female the eggs are found to be fully formed though not full-sized. I conclude that they mature with great rapidity because fertile eggs are laid by apparently fresh and uninjured females. With the Vanessans and Argynnides, (probably with the Nymphalide generally,) this is far from being the case, the eggs maturing in the ovaries for a long period before they are ready for impregnation. PAL Thorny: Many eggs are destroyed by insects and spiders. There is a minute scarlet spider scarcely larger than the egg itself, that mounts upon it and from a punc- ture extracts the contents. I frequently met the shells so despoiled before I dis- covered the cause and have since observed the marauder in its operations. I have also lost in a single night, owing as I supposed to crickets, numbers of eggs laid in confinement. The larvee, in every stage of growth, are to be found resting on the surfaces of the leaves and one would suppose they must be nearly exterminated by birds. But like all Papilio larvee, they emit from the head, at the same time that they project a Y shaped tentacle, a peculiarly acrid and sickening odor which must effectually pro- tect them. I haye however seen spiders feeding upon them, attacking even the head, and they have other enemies among the insects. They are very little troub- led by ichneumon-flies in this valley, and I have rarely lost a chrysalis from that cause. Consequently no Papilio is so abundant here throughout the season. I find on breeding them that a considerable percentage of the eggs do not hatch, and that more or less of the lary die at every moult, as well. as in the effort to change to chrysalids. Multitudes of chrysalids must be destroyed in the winter by birds and mice as they are but imperfectly concealed under stones and roots or even among the stems of the grasses. So that of the tens of thousands of eggs that are annually deposited but a very small proportion produce butterflies. I am now clearly of the opinion that the number of each sex in any species of butterfly is about equal. On counting the Ajax that have emerged from chry- salis the last two seasons, I find 78 ¢, 83 2, and with the Interrogationis, Comma, and other species I find about the same proportion. The scarcity of the females noticed by all collectors is owing to their frequenting different localities from the males. With regard to obtaining the eggs of any species of butterfly, after two seasons experience, I find not the least difficulty, provided the food plant be known. If, on being confined with this, they do not immediately proceed to deposit their eggs, it is because these are not matured. I have repeatedly failed with the large Ar- gynnides until the month of September, and then have obtained hundreds of eggs, The larvee of Argynnis are the only ones however I have been unable to rear, and so far I have failed in eyery instance, though with Huptoieta Columbina, closely allied on one side, and the Vanessans on the other, I have had no difficulty whatever. PAIRINAS Sin S$ A Jo ie Drawn by Mary Peart Bowené C° lith Phil® PARNASSIUS I. PARNASSIUS CLARIUS. 1—4. Parnassius Clarius, Eversmann, Bull. de Mose. XVI, p. 9. Bois. Ann. Ent. Soe. Fr. 1852. Clodius, Bois. Lep. de la Cal. 1869. Mate. Expands 2.2 to 2.4 inches. Upper side sordid white; the outer half of primaries semi-transparent, erossed to first median neryule by asubmarginal row of white lunules; a second abbreviated row of four similar lunules from the costa, separated from the white ground by a narrow semi-transparent space; base densely powdered with black atoms which extend for some distance along costal margin and coyer nearly half the cell; on the are a pale black bar, another across cell; sometimes a black patch in submedian interspace. Secondaries have the base and upper part of abdominal margin densely powdered with black, which rarely reaches the extremity of the cell ; on costal margin a small, rather angular than round, spot, either reddish yellow or bright red, within black ring, and occasionally with a white pupil; in upper discal interspace a second similar spot, smaller, but often represented by a black point only ; in some individuals a pale black narrow bar near anal angle. Under side vitreous; the black markings of upper side faintly reproduced ; both red spots conspicuous and usually with white pupils; at base of secondaries oc- casionally traces of three or four red spots, but usually these are wholly wanting ; where on upper side there is an anal bar, beneath is a pale red bar with blackish edges. Body above covered with grey hairs; thorax brownish yellow above and beneath as is also the abdomen beneath ; palpi a deeper shade of yellow; antennz black. Fremate. Expands 2.4 to 2.6 inches. Nearly the whole of primaries semi-transparent, crossed by a submarginal and discal row of white lunules or spots; a third row borders the extremity of the cell ; the cellular bars larger than in male and the black atoms at base much extended, filling a large part of the cell. Secondaries sordid white bordered by a row of large concolored lunules edged anteriorly by narrow semi-transparent crenations; the red spots much larger than in male, the one on dise accompanied by a small black spot on its inner side; anal patch large, red, edged by black; on the under side this patch has a white centre and the spots white pupils; the basal red spots distinct; abdomen fur- nished with a large, white, corneous pouch. PARNASSIUS I, Larva unknown. Found in the Sierra Nevada, Yo Semite Valley and other localities in California. Respecting thisspecies, Mr. Henry Edwards writes, “I have seen Clarius on the wing and haye taken both sexes. They were flying in a shady canon of the Sierras near Donner Lake, alighting frequently, taking short flights and having very much the appearance of dirty and worn Pieride. Their flight is a short, jerking motion not unlike many Hesperians and they are easily captured. COlarius isa much more common insect than Clodius and seems to have a far wider range. I have also seen it in various parts of the Sierra Nevada from near Mt. Shasta down to Inyo Co., while Clodius I only know from the specimens collected byMr. Behrens at Bodega. Clarius appears to be strictly a mountain insect, being found at as high an elevation as 7500 feet, while Clodius occurs at far lower levels, and even at the sea coast.” ) PARNASSIUS CLODIUS. 5—6. Parnassius Clodius, Menetries, Enum. Corp. Anim. Mus. St. Petersb. I. p. 73. Mate. Expands 3 to 3.5 inches. Upper side of both wings cream white, except the outer extremity of primaries which is semi-transparent and crossed, as in Clarius, by two rows of white lunules ; in the cell two bars, as in that species, but the one on are broader and at its lower extremity sharper, the color of both being a dense black, therein differing noticeably from Clarius; a black patch in sub-median interspace; costa and base moderately powdered with black scales which extend over nearly one-half the cell. Secondaries densely powdered with black from base quite to the extremity of the cell; two nearly round, bright red spots, of equal size, situated as in Clarius, each in abroad black ring and usually with a small white pupil; at anal angle a con- spicuous black are, sometimes wanting. Under side vitreous, the black markings as above but paler; the ocelli distinct, their pupils enlarged; at anal angle a red are edged by black; at base three or four red patches, usually distinct with well defined black edges, but occasionally faint without black; these red spots when distinct are visible on upper side. Body above covered with grey hairs; abdomen at extremity yellow, be- neath yellow brown; palpi yellow brown; antenne black. Femate. Unknown. From several males taken at Bodega, Marin Co., California, by Mr. James Behrens. Having seen but a limited number of Parnassians from California, I had sup- posed the insect represented by figs. 5 and 6, on the plate, to be a marked variety PARNASSIUS I. of Clarius. But the protest of Mr. Behrens, who had seen a proof of the plate, and the result of a re-examination by Mr. Henry Edwards, to whom I had refer- red the question, have made me think it probable that there are two species, and that figs. 5 and 6 represent the true Clodius of Menetries. His description pur- ports to have been taken from a single male “brought from California by Wos- nesensky” without further notice of its habitat. Menetries states that it is dis- tinguished from Clarius, Eversmann, by its great size and dead white color, and he describes in nearly all respects an individual closely resembling the one fig- ured on our plate. Boisduyal, in his paper of 1852, gives a description of Clarius which seems to haye been drawn from individuals of that species, and he states that it is found in the mountains of California. But in his Lepidoptera of California, 1869, he states that he was in error in considering the species he had before described to be the Clarius of Evers- mann and substitutes therefor Clodius Menetries, omitting the former from his list of species. Mr. Edwards, who has deyoted many seasons to collecting the Califor- nian butterflies and who is largely acquainted with their habits and localities, writes, “I am fully convinced from an examination of all the specimens with- in my reach, in my collection and in those of Mr. Behrens and Dr. Behr, that we have two species of Parnassius nearly allied and that these have been described by Evyersmann and Menetries. The great differences appear to me to be that Clodius is larger than Clarius, of a clearer white, less transparent, with the red ocelli of a brighter, clearer color, and aheays with red spots at the base of secondaries beneath. The two black stripes on primaries are sharper, wider, and of a more intense black. In a long series of these insects perhaps other characters would present themselves, but in what I have seen, the dis- tinctions appear to be well preserved.” I have tabulated the differences between the males of the two species. thus; CLARIUS. CLoptvs. Expanse of wing 2.4 inches. Expanse 3.5 inches , - Color sordid-white. Color eream-white. Diseal bars pale. Dense black. Sometimes black spot on inner margin. Always black spot on inner margin. The two red spots, rather angular, of unequal The two spots of equal size, rounded. size, one often a mere point. Color of spots varying from pale yellow red to Color bright-red. bright red. Sometimes a narrow, pale bar at anal angle; of- Usually a conspicuous, deep colored bar at anal cen wanting. ‘ angle. Sometimes a pale red bar at anal angle below Always a large red are at anal angle below. Usually no red spots at base of secondaries. Always red spots and usually conspicuous. PARNASSIUS JI, Clarius, is also a mountain species. Clodius, so far, has only been found on low ground near the sea coast. Until within a few years this genus was supposed to be restricted to the old world and to contain but a small number of species, scarcely more than have already been found in North America. They mostly inhabit high mountain regions, the Alps, Caucasus, Himalaya, the mountains of Siberia and China, and recent expeditions have revealed the existence of many new species. Parnassius is considered to form the connecting link between the Papilios and the Pieride, partaking of certain characteristics of both, yet presenting others quite anomalous. The larve are furnished with the Y shaped tentacle on second segment which is found in all the Papilionide and is peculiar to them, but in other respects resemble the larve of the Hesperide or of certain moths. So also does the chrysalis, which, instead of being naked and suspended by a single thread around the middle of the body as in the Papilios and the Pieride, is en- veloped between leaves in a slight silken web supported by several threads. It is moreover cylindro-conical in shape and is covered by a bluish powder as in the moths of the genus Catocala. The butterfly, in general appearance, resembles the Pieridee as it does also in the palpi and antenne. Unlike any other lepidopte- rous insect the extremity of the abdomen of the female is provided with a corneous appendage, taking the form of a large, open pouch as in Clarius or of a small keeled pouch as in Nomion and Sayiit. The larve of the European species feed upon species of saxifrage and sedum and probably those of the American species will be found upon similar plants. L Bowen, lith Phil? SMINTHEUS.1.6.in varieties, 2.2. (Sayii.) JPPAIRNAS SUS. DO. RS L Bowen, lth Phil® SMINTHEUS.1.E 82 magnified. 2.Abdormnal pouch 3.Var. BEHRII.4. 4.same2 (without pouch.) Drawn by Mary Peart L, Bowen, lith Phil? SMINTHE US in var. 16,2,3,4,5,¢ EVERSMANII, 6,7,4 PARNASSIUS ILIV. PARNASSIUS SMINTHEUS. Parnassius Smintheus, (Smin’-the-us) Doubleday, Gen. Diur. Lep. pl. 4, 1847. Edw. Proc. Acad, Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862. Phebus, var. Kirby, Cat. p. 511, 1871. Var. Sayii, 9, Edw. Proe. Ent. Soc. Phil. 1863. ? Nomion, Bois. Ann. Soc. Ent. de Fr. 1852. Var. Behrii, $ , Edw. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1870. Intermedius, Menetries, Enum. Corp. Anim. Mus. St. Petersburg, 1855, p. 72. Marre.—Expands from 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Upper side pure white, semi-transparent at apex and sometimes narrowly along hind margin as far as the upper or even the second branch of median; but most often the margin is bordered by white serrations, anterior to which the transparent space takes the form of a narrow serrated band; primaries have also an extra-discal row of spots, or rather of clusters of scales, sometimes limited to the costal mar- gin, sometimes extending quite across the wing, or of any intermediate length; these spots are either dead-black and conspicuous, or delicate and pale-colored; on the are an irregular black spot, sometimes terminating at the sub-costal nervure, but more often reaching the costal, and in form either sub-rotund or a curved bar, sometimes duplex, that portion between the two neryures then being nearly or en- tirely separated from the other and adyanced towards base of wing; a second spot in cell starting from the sub-costal, sometimes also large, rounded, and at others a nar- row bar, but never quite reaching median neryure; costal edge of primaries densely irrorated with coarse black scales, as is also the base and basal portion of cell; beyond cell are two, sometimes three black spots, each pupilled with crimson; this color is often wholly wanting, or is present on the costal spot only; another black spot is usually found on the middle of inner margin, either with or without a crim- son pupil. Secondaries black at base and along abdominal margin quite up to cell, the basal third of which it covers, and often sends a curyed branch around the extremity; hind margin sometimes immaculate, but in most cases bordered by a row of rounded black spots and points, which extend more or less across the wing; on middle of costal margin a crimson spot and another on disk, each in black ring and of variable size, but usually small; these spots differ in shades of color in in- <=nemnitieneneiie ee PARNASSIUS 1I—I¥. dividuals from deep crimson to ochraceous, and frequently are pupilled with white; many individuals also haye a black spot near anal angle, and there is very rarely found a crimson dot within the black basal spot that occupies the sub-costal inter- space; fringes concolored, black at tips of nervules. On the under side the markings are repeated, the cellular spots but in part dead-black, the crimson spots as above, and where the patch next anal angle is pres- ent it is usually pupilled with crimson; there are also at base four black spots usually more or less covered with crimson, but sometimes this last is wanting on one or two or even altogether. Body small, black, covered thinly with grey-brown hairs on both thorax and abdomen above, more thickly beneath, the color there being soiled yellow, often with a fulyous tint; legs yellow and black; palpi yellow; antennz white annulated with narrow black rings; club black. Fremate.—Expands from 1.7 to 2.5 inches. Upper side white, often with a yellow tint, marked generally as in the male, and exhibiting as great degree of variation; the crimson spots larger, sometimes eyen four being found in the extra-discal row, the fourth occupying the upper me- dian interspace; the spot on inner margin always present and largely pupilled with crimson; that near anal angle duplex, usually with crimson pupils; on primaries the transparent portions extend half way to cell and quite across the wing, enclos- ing a sub-marginal row of white lunules; the hind margin of secondaries more or less transparent and presenting a series of black crescents or of patches of scales indicating obsolete crescents; there is also frequently a crimson spot at base in sub-costal interspace; on the under side the basal spots vary as in the males, from black to grey, and with or without crimson; abdomen furnished with a blackish, corneous pouch, flattened and curved down posteriorly, and presenting in front a thin, prominent keel; often there is no trace of this pouch. Var. Fremate.—The wings melanized and largely transparent. Found at high elevations. Var. Benru.—Characterised principally by conspicuous submarginal black spots on secondaries and orange discal spots, those of costal margin of primaries either white or pale orange. In the female the submarginal spots are very conspi- cuous and the mesial band on primaries broad; colored spots either orange or red. From 180 ¢, 42 9, taken in Colorado by Mr. T. L. Mead, in June, July and August, 1871; and several specimens received from Dr. Hayden’s Yellowstone Expedition, taken in Montana. Eee.—Diameter .05 inch: chalky-white, button-shaped, the top depressed, base flattened, the surface encrusted with hexagons that diminish as they approach the PARNASSIUS: DI=T¥. micropyle, and showing at each corner a minute cell. Deposited upon leaves and stems of Sedum. Larva unknown. In this series of specimens there is remarkable variation; in size, the lar- gest being full twice that of the smallest, in the extent of the transparent margin, in the density of the black border to abdominal margin, in the hook projected around the extremity of cell, in the size and shape of the black spots on costal mar- gin of primaries, in the number and size of the crimson spots on same wings, those of the costa varying from one to four; in the black spot on inner margin, varying from nil to a conspicuous patch, with or without crimson centre; in the shape and relative size of the two crimson spots on secondaries, and in the presence or absence of one or two spots at anal angle; in the hind margin of secondaries, sometimes im- maculate, at others ornamented with conspicuous black crescents; on the under side also, the four basal spots of secondaries, though always present, vary from grey to black, usually with crimson centres, but frequently without, or show but two or three of the number so marked; the colored spots also on both sides vary from deep crimson to ochraceous and are either with or without white pupils. In short the variation is sufficient to include several distinct species, were not the gra- dations so regular that it is not possible to draw a dividing line. What I for- merly described as Sayii, 2, is undoubtedly but an extreme variation, and I pre- sume this is the Nomion of Boisduval. P. Behrii, Lam satisfied, is another variety, distinguished by the orange color of the spots and the heavy submarginal lunules on secondaries, surely distinct enough to be ranked as a species were it not for the many intergrades between it and the type. Mr. Mead was fortunate in obtaining numbers of eggs, of Smintheus by en- closing the females with the food plant. From some of these the drawings on the plate were made by Mr. Konopicky, Artist to the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, through the kindness of Dr. Hagen. A large number of drawings of eggs of other species, sent by Mr. Mead, and representing rare Coloradian but- terflies, were made by the same distinguished artist. To him also I am indebted for the drawings of the abdominal pouch represented on the plate. The eggs obtained by Mr. Mead were carefully watched, but, two months after they were deposited, and very near the end of the season, they showed no signs of hatching, though on opening some of them the living laryze were found. Therefore we are still ignorant respecting their period or the habits of the larve. If it had not been for the speedy approach of cold weather, the latter might be supposed to hatch early in September and to spend the winter in webs as do the laryze of Melitsea. It was the opinion of Mr. Mead that this was impossible and that they PARNASSIUS II—l¥. do not emerge from the eggs till Spring. (Dr. Hagen informs me that it was ob- served by Schieffer, as long ago as 1754, that the caterpillars of P. Apollo were found in the months of March and April in Switzerland, after the snow had gone, and of such size that they must have been just hatched, and have spent the winter in the egg.) My attention has been called by Mr. Bates and Dr. Hagen to some remarks on the nature of the pouch of the female Parnassian by Von Siebold, and Dr. Hagen has kindly prepared an abstract of what is to be found printed on the sub- ject. “A paper by Prof. C. Von Siebold was published in the Zeitung fiir Wissen- schafiliche Zoologie, 1850, IIL, pp. 54—61, and reprinted Ent. Zeit. Stettin, 1851, XII, pp. 176—185. The first part is only historical to show that next to nothing was previously known about the matter, and that Dr. Boisduyal had separated Doritis Apollinus generically because its female had no pouch. Siebold doubted that this organ formed part of the body and he found he could easily separate it in Mnemosyne, and with more difficulty in Apollo, as in this species it is glued more strongly by its broad base to the flat underside of the abdomen. Later, Sie- bold observed in the collections females of Apollo without the pouch, and con- cluded that it was formed in coition by one of the sexes and would probably as- sume the form externally of a cast of the male organs. Mr. Héger, Berichte der Schlesischen Tauschvereiner, 1844, No. V, p. 3, had before observed that females of Apollo and Mnemosyne just emerging from the chrysalis had no pouch. The chemical examination by Dr. Baumert showed that this appendage is soluble in caustic alkalic as it would not be if formed of chitine. When separated and boiled in the alkali it easily dissolyed and only some brownish oily drops remained. Siebold quotes Scheffer, who gives a very good history of the transformation of Apollo, “All specimens possessed this pouch which were raised by me. But in those caught in the mountains the pouch was seldom unhurt; in specimens that had long before emerged, as was evident from the bad condition of their wings, the pouch was very much damaged, so that sometimes I was obliged to look sharply to find the rudiments of it among the hairs of the abdomen.” Siebold believed that Scheeffer’s first statement (the italicised words) was a mistake. Mr. Reutti, of Freiburg, had made experiments for Siebold in 1850, He took 50 caterpillars and from them raised 11 chrysalids only, because, as is stated by Schieffer, this species (Apollo) is difficult to raise. Between 15th and 20th July, he had 4 g,4 9. The latter did not possess the pouch on emerging from the chrysalis. On the 17th, at 1 P. M. one pair united and so-remained till late in the night, and on the following morning the female had a well formed pouch on the abdomen. The female died fourteen days later, without any use of the pouch as PARNASSIUS II-IV. observed by Mr. Reutti. The formation of the keel in Apollo, Siebold thinks de- pends on the size and form of the organs of the male; the secretion passing between the two claspers would form a keel.” With regard to the localities and habits of Smintheus I give extracts from Mr. Mead’s letters. On the 8th of June, he writes from Fairplay, South Park, Colorado. “On Tuesday, I took a long walk, about eight miles, down Turkey Creek, finding many unfamiliar insects. Flying along the road were two Papilio Daunus, which I captured on the wing. Papilio Rutulus was present in moderate numbers. ‘The two Hurymedon I send were on the flowers of a species of Larkspur which every- where sends up its spikes of dark purple flowers. But what delighted me was the abundance of Smintheus along the road side. I took thirteen specimens, nearly all males, and many of them so fresh from chrysalis that the wings had not yet thoroughly stiffened. The next day I discovered a favorite resort of this species and in course of the morning captured forty-one. They show much yariation in the number and size of the crimson spots. They were solitary in their habits and fond of alighting on flowers, but did not appear to be attracted by damp spots on the ground as is so usual with butterflies. Their flight was well sustained though slow and within a few feet of the ground. All the females taken were provided with the pouch.” On the 22nd, “Yesterday Mr. B. brought me a female Parnassius with an egg adhering to the ovipositor and said that it had deposited several eggs on a “tuft of grass.” On further inquiring he was not sure what the “grass” might be, and I conjectured it might be the stone-crop, (Sedum) which grows here abundantly, and the flowers of which are very attractive to these butterflies. Accordingly, on searching, I found two empty egg shells on the plant, apparently punctured by some insect. I also found on same numerous eggs of Huptoieta Columbina, a species which swarms everywhere on these hill sides.” On the 27th, from Turkey Creek Junction, “The Parnassians lay eggs freely. I have about 100, laid indiserimin- ately on the box, or the cloth covering it, within which I had enclosed a female with the food-plant. Very few were on the plant itself’ On the 24th of July, “My eggs show no sign of hatching, but most of them retain their normal contour. — In regard to the theory of the formation of the pouch, it was suggested that the period of connection between the sexes of these butterflies must be very long. In that case I should have found many pairs in coitu, whereas I have not so found a single pair.” On the 21st of August, “I opened a Parnassius egg to-day and found a half-developed larva inside apparently in a natural state.” On the 27th of Au- gust, “To day I dissected a Parnassius egg carefully and found a completely formed caterpillar entirely black and somewhat hairy.” In another letter he expresses the opinion that the eggs do not hatch until PARNASSIUS II—IY. the following Spring, and on the 5th of September, he writes from Kenosha House, “ All the leaves are falling or have changed to their Autumnal tints and naturally the butterflies are fast disappearing.” Mr. Mead informs me sincehis return, that, on the 10th of January, in New York, some of these eggs which had been of late kept in a warm room were found to have hatched, but the larvee had died from want of nourishment. Mr. Mead also state that, as a rule, the larger specimens of Smintheus, were taken at the lower elevations. The females there also were usually white. On the 8th and 9th of August, at Blue River, in the Middle Park, at an elevation of about 9000 feet, six specimens were taken, the males large and beautifully marked, the colors bright and black spots distinct. But the females were different from any others taken by him, being characterized by broad and dark marginal borders, the black spots intense and the disks of a decided, though pale yellow, the wings little obscured by grey, (see fig 2, pl. 3.) Another of smaller size was of a deeper yellow, and brilliantly adorned, (see fig. 3, pl. 3.) On the 16th of August, several specimens were taken on the top of Berthoud’s Pass, at 11,500 feet, where was a grassy space of two or three acres extent. Others were taken on the Peaks around Twin Lakes, at about 12,000 feet. The males did not differ from the usual type, except in size, (see fig. 1. pl. 3,) but the females were melanized, the greater part of the surface of the wings being black and trans- parent, (see figs. 4 and 5, pl. 3.) The same peculiarity had been noticed in the specimens taken on 5th of August, on the Continental Divide, elevation 11,000 feet, on the trail from Georgetown to Middle Park and near Gray’s Peaks. Much of the difference therefore existing between the size of these insects is owing, as might be expected, to the difference in elevation at which they are found, because the severity of the climate or the scanty supply of food on the mountain tops would restrict the growth of the larvee. But why the general coloration of the male should be identical at all altitudes while the females present such differences or why at great elevations there is such a tendency to melanization in the females alone is not clear unless in some way serving for protection. On this point Mr. Mead writes, “On the bleak summits of the peaks vegetation is scanty and the general as- pect is dark and sombre. The rocks themselves are dark-colored, and the lichens which nearly cover them are black and give the prevailing color. Lower down where the “bunch” and “gramma” grass can thrive the prevailing tint is pale brown, even during the height of the growing season, as the dead spears of the last years growth are remarkably persistent.” Perhaps this may help to explain the melanism of the Parnassius females found in the upper regions. A somewhat similar illustration may be found in Chionobas. C. semidea, a blackish species, frequenting the Colo- PARNASSIUS II—IV. radian summits, while the other species of this genus, C. chryxus and C. Uhlerii, both ochraceous, are found below. I do not know why Smintheus has been assumed to be a variety of Phebus, as there is no close resemblance between the species, not so much in fact as between Smintheus and Jacquemontii, Bois. Phoebus is larger, of a more opaque white, with a tendency in the males to yellow; the transparent marginal space is far broader and longer than in Smintheus, and is wanting in the white serrations that charac- terize the marginal edge in the latter; the grey sub-apical stripe in Phebus reaches but a little way from costa, usually only to first discoidal neryule; in Smintheus it is of all lengths and frequently extends quite across the wing; in Phebus the margin of secondaries is immaculate; in Smintheus there are almost always at least traces of submarginal spots on the under side, and more often conspicuous spots on both, reaching the extreme shown in var. Behrii; the red spots in Phabus average twice the size of those in Smintheus, and those at base of secondaries, in both sexes, are both large and intense; in Smintheus they are small, much replaced by black and often wanting altogether or represented by a few scales only; the fringes in Phebus are mixed black and white at the ends of the nervules, the black not dis- tinct; in Smintheus they are there largely and distinctly black; the body of Phebus is densely covered with long hair, in Smintheus very thinly. As to the females the differences are still greater and almost preclude com- parison. Except in the presence of red on primaries, the female Phabus is much more like that of Apollo. O PARNASSIUS EVERSMANNI. Purnassius Eversmanni, Menetries, Enum. Corp. Anim. Mus. St. Petersburg, Part I, pl. 1, 1865. Seud- der, Proc. Bost. Soe. Nat. Hist. 1869, Mare.—Expands 2.5 inches. Upper side citron yellow, the nervures black and prominent; primaries have a broad, semi-transparent marginal border, preceded by a row of yellow lunules; next anterior to these a grey stripe reaching from costa to a little below median ner- vure, and followed by a broad yellow band completely crossing the wing; anterior to this is a second grey stripe and a second yellow band that passes around the end and lower side of cell; both these bands divided into spots by the neryules; in the cell two sub-quadrate yellow spots separated by a grey bar; a similar bar on arc; base of cell and costa throughout sprinkled with black; the hind margin distinctly edged by a yellow line. Secondaries have an obsolete sub-marginal row of grey PAR NAS SUS lve spots, indicated by the presence of a small cluster of scales near outer angle and by a few scales in the several interspaces; the inner margin broadly covered with black, doubly excavated in and below cell, projecting a point to end of cell, and confluent at anal angle with a transverse black stripe that connects with the black discal spot; this spot is pointed with red; on the costa a large red spot within a black ring; fringes black. Under side yellow, ashade paler, marked as above; secondaries have both cos- tal and discal red spots large, equal, and with white centres; an elongated red spot also within the black spot at angle; at base three red spots, all edged without by. black, the two lower ones large and the lowest of all three enclosing a white spot. Body black above covered thinly with yellow hairs, below densely covered; legs black; palpi yellow; antenne yellow and black. From a single male, taken by Lieut. W. H. Dall, in Aliaska, at the Ram- parts, two hundred miles below Fort Yukon, June 15th. This belongs to the Chicago Academy and is probably the only butterfly remaining of their former large and yaluable Collection. Fortunately, not long before the fire, Dr. Stimpson had lent me this unique, and for fear of future loss, I determined to figure it. The only other specimen of which I have knowledge is the one described by Menetries, and found in Siberia. Mr. Scudder has pointed out certain differences that are to be found between the present specimen and that, consisting principally in the presence of red in the discal spot on upper side of secondaries, and in the up- per basal spot of under side. The grey bands of our specimen are also narrower. But these are variations that constantly occur among the Parnassians, and I have no donbt both are to be referred to one species. Mere D, T Sinolan’s hth Phil? awnby Mary Peart NEOPHASTIA. NEOPHASIA MENAPIA. 1—3. Neophasia Menapia, (Pieris) Felder, Weiner Ent. Monats. III, p. 271, 1859. Pieris Tau, Scudder, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1861. Minonia, Bois. Lep. de la Cal. 1869. Mace. Expands 2 inches. Upper side white with a faint pink tinge ; costal margin of primaries partly bor- dered from base by a black band which curves downward at extremity coyering the are; apical border black, sinuate within, enclosing from three to five subovate white spots, and terminating abruptly on second median neryule; fringes white. Under side white, the markings of upper surface repeated; the apical spots enlarged ; the nervures of secondaries narrowly edged by black scales, and crossed by a submarginal black stripe not always complete. Body black covered above with white hairs; beneath, thorax white, abdomen yellowish; legs black and white; palpi same; antennee black; club black, tip pale fulyous. Femate. Expands 2.2 inches. Similar to male. This fine species is as yet rare in collections. According to Felder it is found in Utah. SBoisduval describes it as coming from eastern California; and Mr. Scudder as found abundantly at Gulf of Georgia. Although Felder’s description was published in 1859 and translated in Morris’s Synopsis in 1862, none of our col- lectors suspected the identity of the species with Zaw, Scudder, or Vinonia, Bois. till 1870 and after the Synopsis of the Pieride in this work had been published. Dr. Behr, in 1869, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. erected for the present and an allied species the new genus Neophasia, between Pontia and Pieris, “differing from the former by the shape of the wing, and from the latter by its gauze-like substance, by the shape and proportions of the head and the slenderness of the thorax and abdomen.” According to Dr. Behr, both these species are found in- habiting the pine forest region of the mountain chains parallel to the coast of the Pacific, and he agrees with Mr. Lorquin in the opinion that the larvee feed on some coniferous tree; “an unusual food for a Pieris, but not unknown in the case of certain Australian species.” PIL RISek PIERIS BECKERITTI, n. sp. 4-7. Primaries produced apically, slightly excavated on costal and hind margins. Mate. Expands 2 inches. Upper side pure white, the texture of secondaries slighter than that of pri- maries, discovering the spots of under surface; base of wings not powdered with black as in allied species; primaries have the apical half of hind margin bordered by small black patches or clusters of scales, diminishing in size to middle of mar- gin; anterior to these two similar sub-apical patches and a third in upper median interspace; on the arc a dense black subrectangular spot (not reaching the costa) with a central white streak. Secondaries immaculate. Fringes white except against tne apical spots, there black. Under side white; the nervules at apex and on upper hind margin bordered by black scales and suffused with greenish yellow; the spot on interspace black and as on upper side; cellular spot enlarged, its base broadened and posterior edge excavated. Secondaries have all the nervures and their branches yellow; those termina- ting on hind margin edged by broad bands of yellow green reaching to middle of disk and connected anteriorly; three large spots of same color about the cell, two being at the outer angles, and one above and reaching the costa; another large triangular subapical spot on costa; the nervures at base also banded with green; all .these bands and spots slightly sprinkled with black scales. Body above covered with grey hairs; beneath, abdomen yellowish, thorax white; legs white; palpi white, grey on upper side and at tip; antennee white above and at base below, beyond brown; club black nearly covered with rows of white scales; tip pale fulvous. Femate. Expands 2 inches. Primaries less produced and broader than in male; same shade of color; the marginal spots enlarged and extended to second branch of median; in addition to the three submarginal spots, which are also enlarged, is another in submedian in- terspace and a streak below this along inner margin; the cellular spot much en- larged, rhomboidal, with slight central streak; secondaries have a patch on costa and four on the marginal neryules commencing at and posterior to subcostal; also an interrupted submarginal stripe opposite cell, posteriorly indistinct; under side PIERIS I. as in male, except that a round black spot appears in submedian interspace on primaries. Taken by Mr. Henry Edwards, at Virginia City, Nevada, April 1870, on flowers of Brassica. Four individuals were taken, and these were the only ones seen. This fine species is allied to Protodice and Occidentalis, but is abundantly distinct. At the request of Mr. Edwards I have named it in honor (using his own lan- guage) “of one of my earliest and most valued entomological friends, Dr. Ludwig Becker, who laid down his noble life in the cause of science in Australia. He was attached as naturalist and draughtsman to the great expedition of Burke and Wills across the continent from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and died of fatigue and privation at Cooper’s Creek, New South Wales, in 1861. The friend of Humboldt, Milne Edwards and Owen, he possessed a most observant and philosophical mind and his papers upon various subjects connected with his fayor- ite science testify to his vast and varied erudition. I have always promised myself that I would commemorate our friendship by attaching his name to some species I might discover, and the present is very appropriate as a few moments before I took my first specimen of this Pieris I was thinking very much of Becker and of the many happy collecting days we had passed in the forests of Australia.” Drawn by Mary Peart T Sinclazr’s hth Plala. VERNALIS 1.26,3,42 VIRGINIENSIS. 5.66,7 8 2 PIERIS II. PIERIS VERNALIS. 1—4. Pieris Vernalis, Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 1864. Mate. Expands 1.7 inch. Upper side white; primaries have small black serrated spots at the extremi- ties of the apical nervures, preceded by an imperfect abbreviated row of small - black patches; a black bar on the are. Secondaries more delicate, showing the markings of under side. Under side of primaries white; the spots reproduced, but pale colored and dilated, those at apex tinged with greenish grey; an additional black patch on sub- median interspace, sometimes wanting. Secondaries have all the nervures broadly edged with greenish grey so that none of the white surface appears except in nar- row stripes in the cell and interspaces; near hind margin a band formed by grey serrations connecting the nervules. Body above covered with blue grey hairs; beneath, thorax grey white, abdo- men yellow; palpi yellowish; antennz black above, annulated below with white; club black tipped with ferruginous. Femate. Expands 1.8 inch. Color less pure, similarly marked, the spots larger, the discal bar conspicuous: secondaries show clusters of grey scales on costa and at outer angle and in the in- terspaces on the margin ; under side as in the male. I have taken this species at Coalburgh, W. Va., in the month of March, it be- ing one of the earliest butterflies of Spring, but it is exceedingly rare. I have also received it from the vicinity of Philadelphia. It was brought by Mr. Ridings, in 1864, from Colorado and may perhaps be much more abundant westward. It much resembles Protodice, and would be usually taken for a variety of that species, but besides its much earlier flight, it presents decided differences, being smaller, of a less pure white and quite differently marked on the under side of secondaries. Its nearest allies are Sysimbri, Bois., a Californian species, and Calyce, Edw., from Nevada. PIERIS II. PIERIS VIRGINIENSIS. 5—8. Pieris Virginiensis, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. 1870. Mate. Expands 1.7 inch. Upper side white, less pure than Oleracea and much obscured by grey brown scales which are scattered over the whole surface but are dense on apex, costa and basal half of primaries and at base and along the subcostal and median nervures of secondaries; a grey patch also on costa of secondaries. Under side white, the nervures all bordered with grey brown, most conspicu- ously on sub-median of both wings and the branches of this nervure on secondaries; shoulder pale orange. Body above blue grey, beneath white; palpi white tipped with grey; antennze blackish above, finely annulated with white below; club black tipped with yellow- ish. Femate. Expands 1.9 inch. Similar to male, the surface usually still more obscured. This species is allied to Oleracea, from which it may be readily distinguished by the shape of its wings, which are longer and narrower, by their texture, which is more delicate, and by the constant presence of grey scales over the surface.. In the Kanawha district it replaces Oleracea which is yet unknown there. It is not uncommon in the month of May, frequenting open woods rather than gardens, and in this respect differing in habit from the allied species. I have never met with it later than June, though Oleracea, in the Northern States, is most abundant after that month and continues breeding till the early autumn frosts. I have received specimens of Virginiensis from Mr. Wm. Saunders of London, Canada, and am informed by him that it is there a rare insect. The larvee of this group of Pieris feed upon garden vegetables, Brassica, Ra- phanus, Nasturtium, and allied plants in a wild state, and are sometimes exceed- ingly destructive. The female butterfly deposits great numbers of long slender pointed eggs upon the under side of the leaves, often a score or more upon asingle leaf. ‘These eggs are greenish white in color, and stand at right angles to the surface. ‘To an inexperienced person they might seem to be eggs of some fly, or the result of a disease of the leaf itself, but they would not be suspected to be the eggs of any butterfly. In four or five days the young larve emerge, one tenth of an inch in length, green in color, requiring a keen sight to discover them. At once they attack the leaf eating a small hole and to the margin of this they return when disposed to feed till all the surrounding parts are eaten away. The large leaves of horse rad- ish may be seen entirely consumed in this way leaving but the skeleton untouched. PIE RES” BL, When at rest the larve lie extended upon the surface of the leaf, generally along one of the ribs or in a depression, and as they retain their green color to maturity they are effectually screened from notice. When mature they are about one inch in length, cylindrical, covered with fine white papille from each of which is emit- ted a single short hair, The chrysalids are brownish white marked anteriorly by a few points and short lines of black, and are distinguishable from those of any other genus by angular ridges on the back of the wing covers and head. They may be seen attached to fences and buildings near the food plant, or to the plants themselves. This description will apply either to Oleracea, or Rapae, which in both larval and chrysalis states are extremely alike. And doubtless will be found to apply as well to the same stages of Virginiensis. Fortunately multitudes of these insects are destroyed by small ichneumon-flies which deposit their eggs in the very young larve. From these proceed grubs which feed upon the substance of the larva, but instinctively avoid any vital part. In due time the larva becomes a chrysalis and shortly after the matured grubs eat their way out and soon become flies, while nothing is left of the chrysalis but the empty shell. Until within a few years, Oleracea was considered to be our only eastern spe- cies of this group, and although in its larval state somewhat destructive yet was neyer so much so as to excite alarm. But of late P. Rapae, an European species, and a pest of that continent, has been introduced, first being seen in the vicinity of Quebee. From probably two or three individuals and from that centre it has rapidly increased, and, year by year, made its way South and West till it swarms in many parts of New York and New Jersey and in Ohio. Already the loss to the cabbage crop alone begins to be estimated at millions of dollars annually, and it is probable that this species will continue to extend its area till it has taken posses- sion of the whole continent east of the Rocky Mountains. NUN lig: y we - ‘ 4 Bowen & C* htt Phil ANTHOCARIS LI. ANTHOCARIS REAKIRTIT. 1—4. Anthocaris Reakirtiit, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., 1869. Mate. Expands 1.5 to 1.5 inch. Upper side soiled white, blackish at base; primaries have a large bright or- ange apical patch, as in Sara, edged on the apex by black as in that species, with serrated black spots also upon the hind margin; a narrow bar, straight, slightly irregular on its edges and of nearly uniform intensity of black, crosses the wing from middle of costa to inner angle; costal edge much specked with black scales ; fringe alternate white and black. Secondaries have three or four patches of black at tips of upper nervules;_ fringe white, black at ends of nervules. Under side white; the orange spots reduced and paler; costa of primaries and the whole space on apex and margin outside the orange, densely covered with green patches; on the are a bent bar; secondaries densely and uniformly covered from base to margin by large green patches. Femaute. Expands 1.7 inch. Same color as male; costal margin slightly specked; the orange spots paler and narrower, reaching from costa to hind margin, not edged by black on inner side, but on outer by a sinuous band, between which and the apical border is a series of serrated spots, often confluent; the band con- nected with the triangular marginal spots by black nervures; on the are a bent bar, starting from costal edge; beneath as in the male, except that costa, margins and secondaries are much less spotted with green. California. Vicinity of San Francisco. From specimens in my own collec- tion and those of Messrs, Reakirt and Henry Edwards, and Dr. Behr. The distinctness of the present species from Sara was first pointed out to me by Mr. Reakirt and I have since learned that our Californian lepidopterists had assured themselves of the same thing. But I am not at all certain that this is not the species intended to be described by Dr. Boisduyal. His description applies equally well to either form, but as our collectors have agreed in calling the larger Sara, | have no hesitation in following them. ; The males of the two species much resemble each other on the upper side ex- cept in size, Sara expanding more by three or four tenths. In Sara ¢ the black discal band is waved and of faint color. In Sara 2 the discal bar is separated from the costa. In Reakirti ¢ the costal margin of primaries is always irrorated, and the margin of secondaries is never without black spots. On the under side it is much ANTHOCARIS I. more and differently marked with green. The yellow form is also wholly wanting in Reakirtii. Ina letter from Mr. Henry Edwards dated September, 1869, he says.—“This species is one of the earliest insects of our spring, and may be seen eyen so soon as March if the season be favorable. As far as my own observation goes it is found gener rally in oak groves, flying about flowers, ae is but rarely seen in open pastures ; liking shade anal flying rapidly from flower to flower. It rarely alights, and is difficult to take on the wing, I have met with it chiefly in the neighborhood of San Francisco, As to Sara, I first met with it two years ago in Santa Clara Co., and was at once struck by its larger size, the yellow color of most of the females, and the absence of the irrorated line along the anterior margin, as well as by the much fainter green markings on the under side of lower wings. Unlike Reakirtii, this species seems to prefer the open fields, flies much more slow- ly, and alights often upon flowers of Brassicee, Nasturtium, &e. I am so accusto- med to the two forms that I can now distinguish them by the flight alone. Sara appears early in May, or probably in the warmer parts of the State as soon as Ap- ril, and continues on the wing until August. Probably at least one-half the fe- males are more or less tinged aia y ellos O ANTHOCARIS COOPERII. 5—8. Anthocaris Cooperii, Behr, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe., HEE Angelina, Boisduyal, Lep. de Ja Cal’e., 1869. Mar. Expands 1.4 inch. Upper side soiled white with a yellow tinge, much irrorated with black at base of wings; primaries have a small pale orange sub-apical patch, as in female Reak- irtii, edged at apex by spots of greenish-black, partly united into a band; on the are a narrow, nearly straight blackish bar, not quite reaching the costa; fringes white, the nervules on primaries largely and on secondaries slightly tipped with black. Under side of primaries white; the orange patch repeated, but paler; apex tinged with green and, as well as costa, somewhat irrorated with greenish-black ; discal spot nearly obsolete. Secondaries much covered by yellow-green patches, most dense next base. Body above grey, beneath, thorax covered by yellow hairs; palpi white tip- ped with grey. Fremare. Expands 1.5 inch. Same color as male; the orange patch want- ing, but the neryules within the space orange; apical spots separated and less dis- tinct. Under side of primaries have the apex decidedly greenish-yellow ; in oth- er respects like the male. From San Diego, California; Collection of Dr. Behr. Bowen & ( ANTHOCARIS II. ANTHOCARIS SARA. 1—5. Anthocaris Sara, Boisduval, Ann. Ent. Soe. de Fr. 1852. Mare. Expands 2 inches. Upper side pure white, blackish at base; primaries have a large bright orange apical patch, broadly edged at apex of wing by black and enclosing on hind mar- gin two serrated black spots; posteriorly edged by a broad black band which ex- tends from costal edge across the cell, covering the are, and connects with a waved band of irregular width and less intensity of color that reaches to inner angle; costal margin slightly specked with black; secondaries usually immaculate, but sometimes marked by small black patches on the ends of the nervules, especially at and near the outer angle; fringe of primaries alternate yellowish and black, of secondaries white, except at tips of neryules where it is black. Under side white tinged with yellow on hind margin and apex of primaries ; the orange spot reduced, pale; apex specked with black; on the are a broken black bar. Secondaries have the nervures yellow, and the surface covered thinly and irregularly with greenish points and patches. Body above covered with grey hairs; beneath, abdomen yellowish, thorax white; palpi white tipped with grey; antenne brown aboye, whitish below; club black, white at tip. Femae. Same size. Upper side color of male; the orange patch paler and narrower, not bordered with black on inner side, but edged without by a sinuous blackish band or stripe more or less complete, between which and the blackish apical border are serrated white spots, sometimes confluent; discal mark, a bent bar not extending beyond the arc: under side as in male. Variety A, Female—Upper side pale yellow, marked as in the type. California. Found especially in Santa Clara County: rare in vicinity of San Francisco, where it is replaced by A. Reakirtii. According to Mr. Henry Ed- wards, nearly one half of the females are of the yellow variety (See notes on A. Leakirti.) Bowené C° lith Phil® — a e oy - es rw 7 oP 5 a i e _ =. — , ae a NI Vr © A D ((UNY7 Tp YIN Ce A\ Ja U7 JC JNY IN 0 Bowen & C° hth Phil® Drawn by Mary Peart ARGYNNIS VIL. ARGYNNIS HESPERIS. 1—32. Argynnis Hesperis, (Hes'-pe-ris) Edwards, $ , Proc. Ent. Soe. Phil. ii, p. 502. 1864. Primaries long, narrow, moderately arched, hind margin slightly convex. Mater. Expands 2.35 inches. Upper side deep fulyous, obscure at base; primaries have a narrow black hind margin; the submarginal spots serrate and confluent. Secondaries bordered by two fine parallel lines on which the spots are serrate, sometimes dentate; the median spots form a narrow, confluent band, as in Aflan- tis ; other markings of both wings as in that species; fringe yellowish, black at tips of neryules. Under side of primaries pale fulvous inclining to luteous; the apex, upper part of margin, apical patch and upper serrations ferruginous; the spots within the latter buff; lower serrations blackish enclosing fulvous spots; the spots on patch buff as also are the apical interspaces. Secondaries deep ferruginous, excepting the space between the two outer rows of spots, which is buff, and immaculate ; (but occasionally this space is encroached on by the basal color, as in Aphrodite ;) the spots are 23 or 24 in number, viz: the mar- ginal row of seven, trianguiar, edged aboye with ferruginous; the second row of eight, mostly narrow and elongated ; the eighth, on inner margin, lunular and in- complete; all but the eighth projecting a ferruginous shadow on the buff belt and all edged above with black; the third row of four or five, the first lunular, second minute or wanting, third semi-oyal, cut into two by the are, the lower part edged above with black, the fourth and fifth streaks; all these are edged above with black; within the cell one or two small round spots; an oval at base of median; these last wholly edged with black; a patch at base of costal; shoulder and abdo- minal margin greyish; all the spots are buff, some of them occasionally sprinkled with a few scales of silver. Body above color of base; beneath greyish; palpi reddish-grey ; antenne ful- vous, club black tipped with ferruginous. FemaLe. Expands 2.4 inches. Paler colored, but otherwise similar to the male. Found in Colorado, and first taken by Mr. James Ridings in 1864. It seems to be not uncommon in that region. \ }o rw (ca aL, an NG ] N IC Do ARGYNNIS VIII. ARGYNNIS MONTICOLA, 1—4. Argynnis Monticola, Behr, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1862, p. 172, and 1863, p. 84. Zerene, Boisduval, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, p. 303. Primaries broad, moderately arched, shghtly concave on hind margin. Mare. Expands 2.6 inches. Upper side bright fulvous, marked and spotted with black as in allied species ; both wings edged by a double line which encloses fulyous spaces between the nervules ; the submarginal spots are lunular on secondaries and lunular or dentate on primaries, connected with each other and with the marginal lines; the rounded spots on outer limb unusually large, except the fourth on secondaries and the four upper ones on primaries, which are minute; the median band on primaries heavy, the separate spots of which it is composed much diffused ; that of secondaries heavy and confluent; the cellular spot of secondaries like the letter 8, but varies much, being sometimes very open, and sometimes compressed into a round spot; fringes yellowish at the emarginations. Under side of primaries bright red-fulyous over the whole base, disk and in- ner margin; costal and apical portians buff with a violet tinge next the hind mar- gin; this margin and the apical patch brown; same markings as on upper surface ; the submarginal spots blackish next inner angle, brown towards apex, enclosing severally fulvous or buff spaces; on the patch buff spots. Secondaries violet brown more or less mottled with clear brown; between the two outer rows of spots a belt of rather paler shade than the ground color, much encroached on by the brown shadows projected by both rows of spots; hind mar- gin brown; the spots are twenty two in number, viz: seven submarginal, long and very narrow, edged without by a few scales of black; eight median of moderate size, heavily edged with black above; the third row of four, all heavily edged with black above, the first and third crescent, the second cut by the arc, the lower part edged with black above; in the cell one, sometimes two, rounded spots and an oval below the median, surrounded by black; all these spots light buff without silvering. Body above fulvous, below buff; legs light buff; palpi same color edged with fulyous ; antenne black above, fulvous below; club black tipped with fulvous. Fematr. Expands 2.8 inches. Color somewhat paler than the male; the black markings heavy; the spots enclosed in the submarginal dentations paler than theground. Under side like the ARGYNNIS VIII. male, the apical spot on primaries sometimes silvered, as also the outer row on sec- ondaries. According to Dr. Behr, (paper first cited) “the diagnosis of Zerene, Boisd., certainly comprises two species,” one of which is now MJonticola above described. In a letter from Dr. Behr, dated San Francisco, Aug. 16, 1868, he says, “A. Mon- ticola is found in different localities from A. Zerene. It is more alpine, and is found in the Yo Semite valley and other mountain localities.” ty 4 ARGYNNIS IX. ARGYNNIS HALCYONE. Argynnis Halcyone (Hal-cy’-o-ne). New species. Primaries broad, moderately arched, concave on hind margin. Mate. Expands 2.5 inches. Upper side fulvous, inclining to luteous, very little dusky at the base; the hind margins bordered by two parallel lines which enclose narrow fulvous spaces between the nervules; the submarginal spots of primaries serrated, enclosing spaces a little paler than the ground color; those of secondaries lunular and connected with each other as well as with the marginal lines; the median band of secondaries confluent; other markings as in the allied species, less delicate than in Hesperis, but very much more so than in Monticola ; fringes luteous, black at tips of nervules. Under side of primaries pale fulvous at base and on inner margin, yellowish or buff on costa and disk, with brown sub-apical patch; hind margin yellowish- brown; sub-marginal spots serrate at inner angle and black, toward the apex lunular and brown, all the latter enclosing spots more or less silvered; on the brown patch two silver spots; the other markings of upper surface repeated. Secondaries deep red-brown, more or less mottled with yellowish ; hind margin brown, paler towards anal angle; the space between the two outer rows of silver spots encroached on by the basal shade; the silver spots are twenty two or three in number, viz: the outer row of seven, rounded or oval at outer angle, remainder elongated, all edged slightly above and below with black scales and surmounted by a broad brown shade ; the second row of seven, the first three and fifth obovate, feurth small, rounded, the sixth and seventh nearly rectangular, edged above with black ; the third row of four or five, the first and fourth crescent, second often wanting, third pyriform, cut by the are, fifth on the margin, a streak, all edged above with black ; in the cell a rounded spot, another below median, both surrounded with black; two small patches of silver at base of nervures; shoulder and abdominal margin heayily silvered. Body above luteous, beneath yellowish; palpi yellowish ; antennee dark above, fulvous below; club black, ferruginous at tip. Female unknown. From two specimens, taken in Colorado by Dr. Velie, and now in the collec- tion of B. D. Walsh, Esq. of Rock Island. fon Hoe re ae Pas itt wa Lhe oe | yy rT >) . a i 7 : a a us 5 i ae 7 sr a i in) a hit | _ fF ws . : ti! ; i ; : Nate a ele MREYNNIS = ard Lid, i ents a. 5 nd IE Oye Ws Ath, Slaaewe ARGYNNIS X. ARGYNNIS LETO. Argynnis Leto, Behr, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862. Primaries broad, moderately arched, slightly conyex on hind margin Matr.—Expands from 2.6 to 3 inches. Upper side pale fulyous, obscure at base, lightly marked and spotted with black; hind margins of both wings bordered by two fine parallel lines between which the space is fulvous; primaries have a submarginal row of serrated spots, not touching — each other or the marginal lines; atransverse line of rounded spots, an indistinct bar on costal margin, sometimes wanting, a zigzag median band of separated spots, mostly lunular; outside the are a spot shaped like the letter P inverted, and three sinuous bars across the cell. Secondaries have a submarginal row of lunate spots, separated and not touch- ing the marginal lines, a second of small rounded spots or points, and a mesial of small widely separated crescents in size and shape like those of Aphrodite; on the are a pyriform or oboyate spot. Under side: primaries pale fulvous at base, light buff on costal margin and in the marginal interspaces, the nervules edged with brown; the sub-apical patch brown; submarginal spots serrated, enclosing buff spaces, not silvered; other markings as on upper surface. Secondaries dull ferruginous from the base to second row of spots; between the two outer rows a broad buff belt as in Cybele; the silver spots are twenty-one or twenty-two in number, viz; seven submarginal, lunate, edged with ferruginous below and above; the second of seven or eight, all but the last heavily edged above with black, and projecting a brown shadow upon the belt, the first, second and fifth | largest, third and sixth half the size of the others, the fourth minute, the seventh and eighth (when present) streaks; the third row of three, edged also with black above; a small rounded spot in the cell, a patch at origin of median nervure and another at base of costal; costa at base and abdominal margin slightly, if at all, silvered. Body aboye dark brown, beneath, abdomen yellowish; palpi fulvous; antenne fulvous; club black tipped with fulvous. ARGYNNIS X. FrmaLe.—Expands 3 inches. Upper side dark ferruginous-brown from base to middle of disk, and beyond, to the brown marginal band, greyish-yellow. On the under side, primaries have the base and inner margin port-wine color and the apical and costal portion, as far as middle of cell, greyish-yellow; secondaries have the basal two-thirds deep ferru- ginous, and between the two outer rows of spots a clear band of greyish-yellow, brighter colored than on upper side; spots as in the male. This species has been found somewhat abundantly in the Yo Semite district of California and in Oregon. The males that have reached our collections are mostly in good condition, but with the exception of two females received from Oregon, through the kindness of Mr. Henry Edwards, all the specimens of that sex known to me have been faded out to a pale brown and sordid white, without a trace of their original beautiful coloring. The contrast between the sexes in this species is of same nature as in Diana and Nokomis, and it is a very curious prob- lem how the sexes in these species have come to differ so remarkably when in near- ly every other member of the extensive genus Argynnis they are essentially alike. I AS — = JOSS Ke DF ss 2N N = a —s ARGYNNIS XI. ARGYNNIS EDWARDSII. 1—4. Argynnis Edwardsii, Reakirt, Proe. Ent. Soe. Phil., 1867. Primaries long and narrow, moderately arched; slightly concave on hind margin. Mater. Expands nearly 3 inches. Upper side pale fulvous, a little dusky at base, marked and spotted with black ; hind margin edged by two fine parallel lines, on which rest a series of connected lunules, which enclose fulyous spots a shade paler than the ground color; other markings as in the allied species, rather more delicate than in most; a sagittate spot in the submedian interspace near base. Secondaries have the extra discal spots small; a discal band of small separated lunules ; the spot on the arc iike the letter C; fringes luteous in the emarginations. ‘Under side of primaries paie reddish fulyous at base and along the posterior nervules; remainder of wings light buff, except the apex and hind margin, which - are greenish ; the submarginal silver spots are seven in number, triangular, the three posterior ones edged by blackish sagittate spots; three anterior subapical spots sil- vered, the middle one large, sub-ovate. Secondaries pale olivaceous somewhat mottled with buff; the band between the two outer rows of silver spots much encroached on by the ground color, as in Aphrodite; the silver spots are twenty-four in number; viz. seven submarginal, large, lunular or sub-triangular, each edged above by olivaceous; the second row of seven, the fourth minute, the others large, mostly sub-ovate, slightly edged above with black, and below projecting olivaceous shadows on the band; the third row of five, the first and fourth lunular, the second minute or wanting, the third large, pyri- form, cut by the are, the fifth a stripe on the margin, all edged above with black ; in the cell one or two rounded spots and three at origin of the nervures ; shoulder and abdominal margin silvered. Body above fulvous, below buff; legs and palpi fulvous; antenne dark brown above, light below; club black, ferruginous at tip. Femae. Expands 2.8 inches. Primaries shorter, hind margin straight. Upper side obscured by black, much as in Callippe, showing like that species pale lunules within the submarginal spots and a discal row of pale spots corres- ponding in shape to the second silvered row of under side; apex of primaries also paler than the ground color; hind margin of primaries broad, blackish, of sec- ondaries similar in color, but of medium width. ARGYNNIS Xl. Under side as in male except that apex and hind margin of primaries and whole of secondaries are of a deeper olivaceous, a paler shade of same color tinting those parts that in the male are buff; the silver spots large, the outer row triangu- lar, slightly edged by black above; the spots little if at all edged by black. Larva unknown. From specimens taken by Mr. James Ridings in the mountains near Empire City, Colorado, in August 1864. This species had been known in collections for several years prior to Mr. Ri- dings’ expedition, from the collecting of Messrs Wood, Drexler, and others, and had been erroneously taken for Aglaia, an European species to which it bears some re- semblance. As Dr. Behr has remarked “nearly all the Californian Argynnides (which includes the Rocky Mts. and Eastern species as well) belong to the type of Aglaia, which is altogether more developed and more numerously represented on this continent than‘in the old world, where the type of Paphia takes its place.” CM on a 7 iat tA . 7 ee: 7 : : Deo So oer : - 7 _ - ry Es | _ nny a ” : ' ‘ 1 ie oo tH ARGYNNIS XII. ARGYNNIS BEHRENSII. 1—4. Argynnis Behrensii, Edwards, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 1870. Primaries narrow, slightly arched, concave on hind margin. Mate. Expands 2.2 inches. Upper side dull fulvous, much obscured at base; primaries bordered by two fine parallel lines enclosing very narrow fulyous spaces between the neryules ; rest- ing on these a series of small black crescents, each enclosing a fulvous spot; the round submarginal spots of medium size; other markings as in Hesperis and al- lied species. Secondaries have a double marginal line enclosing large fulvous spaces; the lunules large, crescent, not quite touching each other or the line; the rounded spots small; the median row confluent, forming an unusually narrow band, much like that of Hesperis; on the are a recurved black spot enclosing a narrow ful- yous space; between the submarginal spots and median line a row of pale fulvous spots corresponding to the second silvered series beneath. Under side: primaries light buff, at base and along the nervules pale ferrugi- nous; on hind margin and at apex dark brown; the marginal spots sagittate, black next inner angle, deep brown aboye and near apex lost in the ground color; the upper five enclosing silyer spaces; on the sub-apical patch three silver spots; other markings as above. Secondaries of a deep, dense ferruginous, (much as in female Aphrodite) which color occupies the whole wing except a narrow violet-brown space between the outer rows of spots; these are twenty-one or twenty-two in number, all silvered, viz: seven submarginal, narrow, elongated, edged above by broad ferruginous crescents; asecond row of seven mostly oval or pyriform; a third of five, of which the first and third are semi-oval, the second a point, fourth and fifth streaks on the margin; both the two last rows narrowly edged with black; in the cell a round spot and a point; an oval at base of median, another at base of costal ; shoulder and abdominal margin lightly silvered. Body above fulvous; beneath, abdomen buff, thorax covered with gray-ful- yous hairs; palpi fulvous; antenne black above, fulvous below; club black, tip ferruginous. ARGYNNIS XII. Female. Expands 2.4 inches. Upper side of a duller shade; the marginal borders of primaries broad, black, with no fulvous space; the submarginal cres- cents heavy, enclosing very small pale fulvous spots; other markings heavier than in male. Under side similar to male, except that primaries have the base and hind mar- gin deep fulyous ; secondaries have the same ferruginous tint with a similar violet- brown submarginal space. Taken at Mendocino, California. From 12,19, in the Collection of James Behrens, Esq., San Francisco, to whom I take pleasure in dedicating this fine and distinct species. : ASG NONGES Xeni ARGYNNIS ZERENE. 1—44. Argynnis Zerene, Boisduval, Ann. Ent. Soe. Fr., 1852. Behr, (No.9) Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1862. Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., 1864. Hydaspe, Boisduval, Lep. de la Cal’e., 1869. Primaries broad, strongly arched, much rounded at apex, convex on hind margin. Mate. Expands 2.1 to 2.3 inches. Upper side deep fulvous ; hind margins edged by two fine parallel lines which enclose a fulyous space; on these rest a series of heavy black lunules, connected on primaries, separated on secondaries; other markings as in Monticola; fringes: yellowish in the emarginations. Under side of primaries cinnamon red except at apex, where it is buff; sub- apical patch ferruginous; spots without silver, buff except at inner angle, there suffused by the ground color. Secondaries ferruginous, mottled with buff, which is usually more or less tint- ed with pink; submarginal band much coyered by the ferruginous shadows pro- jected by both rows of spots; hind margin ferruginous ; spots yellowish buff, with- out silver; the seven submarginal large, rounded or triangular, edged above and below by a few dark brown scales, and above also by ferruginous lunules; the sec- ond row mostly large ; the first, second, third, fifth and sixth, nearly equal in size, suboyate, all heavily edged above with black; the third row of five, of which the first, fourth and fifth are semi-oyal, the second a point, the third large, pyri- form, cut by the are, all heavily edged above with black; in the cell one or two small spots in black rings, and an oval in ring at base of median. Body above fulyous, below, thorax grey-fulyous; legs buff; palpi buff below, fulvous above; antennz brown; club black, tip ferruginous. Frmate. Expands 2.4 inches. Upper side dull fulvous, much obscured at base; the sub-apical fulvous spots pale; under side of primaries deeper red; spots without silver. California; found according to Dr. Behr, between Nevada City and Bear Valley. In 1862, in paper above cited, Dr. Behr says, “The diagnosis that Dr. Bois- duyal gives of Zerene certainly comprises two species,” and he temporarily desig- nates the two as Nos. 8 and 9 in his list of Californian Argynnides. In his subse- quent paper of 1863, he names No. 8 Wonticola, leaving Zerene to the other species. ARGYNNIS XIII, In 1864, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., I translated Dr. Behr’s description, applying the name Zerene, Bois., to the species No. 9. In 1869, Dr. Boisduval published his second paper on Californian Lepidoptera, utterly ignoring all that had been done by lepidopterists since 1852, and named as new thirty-five species of butterflies, the greater part of which have been described in Proceedings of scientific societies years ago. In the other orders Dr. Boisdu- yal has proceeded with like indifference. In the last paper he intimates that his former diagnosis of Zerene includes two species, and he applies that name to Jonticola Behr, giving to the other, that of Hydaspe. Nevertheless according to the recognized rule in such cases, the names Monticola and Zerene will remain as Dr. Behr determined them. In both these papers the very general descriptions given often apply to two or more species, and some of them will continue to be a puzzle to students who have no access to the types in Dr. Boisduyal’s collection. In many other cases it is im- possible to tell what the descriptions are intended to represent, as in Anthocaris lan- ceolata, C. Amphidusa, P. Leucodice, Mel. Pulchella, M. Cocyta, &e. There is also a constant tendency to discern European forms under what are called “local mod- ifications,” as in cases of A. Ausonoides, C. Eurytheme, Thecla dumetorum, Coen. Californica and Glalactinus, Thanaos Cervantes, Hesperias Comma and Sylvanus, which is calculated to perplex and mislead. With profound respect for Dr. Bois- duval, every lepidopterist in this country has cause to regret the confusion thus introduced into our fauna. : . 7 : 7 oe _ 7 » aeM thts Poaate ten aa : is to cant a io > 4 7 . Mi ait “DD (TLR NIP Tk T ne. QS AIRGYWNNIS. SAT AAILY a T Sinclair® hth Piml* Drawn by Mary Peart NEVADENSIS.12.6.3.4.2 ARGYNNIS XIV. ARGYNNIS NEVADENSIS. 1—4. Argynnis Nevadensis, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. iii, p. 14. Primaries long, narrow, strongly arched, convex on hind margin. Maur. Expands 2.2 inches. Upper side pale yellow fulvous, slightly obscured at base; hind margins bor- dered by two parallel lines, enclosing throughout narrow fulvous spaces between the nervules ; the submarginal lunules narrow, serrated or lunular, connected with each other and with the marginal lines; and enclosing large concolored fulvous, spots, other markings delicate, well defined, similar to those of Hdwardsii; the median band of secondaries being confluent and the discal spot large, open, much like the letter C inverted; fringes luteous, on primaries blackish at ends of ner- vules. Under side of primaries pale buff, next base and inside the two cellular spots with a faint reddish tint; apex olivaceous; the two lower submarginal spots black, enclosing buff spaces, the others, six in number, olivaceous enclosing sil- ver spots; submarginal patch olivaceous with two silver spots and sometimes a third on the margin. Secondaries yellow, the disk mottled with olivaceous ; the band between the two outer rows of spots narrow, distinct ; the silver spots unusu- ally large, iridescent, 24 in number, viz: seven submarginal, sub-triangular, edged both above and below by black scales and above by a broad olivaceous border; the second row of seven, the first three, fifth and sixth nearly equal, subovate, the fourth small, triangular, the seventh subquadrate, all narrowly edged above with black and projecting olivaceous shadows upon the band; the third row of five, the first semi-oval, the fourth and fifth lunate, the second obsolete, third large, sub-pyriform, cut by the are, ali narrowly edged with black; in the cell two small round spots and below median a long oval, these three edged with black; two sil- ver patches at margin of upper neryures; shoulder and abdominal margin lightly silvered. Body above fulvous, beneath buff; legs buff, palpi buff, ferruginous above and at tip; antenne brown above, fulvous and grey beneath; club black tipped with ferruginous. Femate. Expands 2.8 inches. Color a shade paler; the marginal lines diffuse, on primaries forming a broad biac band showing traces of fulvous spots only next inner angle; the spots within ARGYNNIS XIlY. apical lunules whitish; secondaries present a row of spots, a shade paler than the ground, corresponding to the second silvered row of under side. Under side of primaries yellow buff, deep fulyous at base, on inner margin throughout, and over three fourths of cell, passing into reddish buff towards inner angle ; sub-marginal spots enclosing, throughout, silver spaces. Secondaries pale buff, mottled with darker shade; silver spots large, the second row completely but delicately edged with black, the sub-marginal nearly ovate. Taken in the valleys of the Sierra, near Virginia City, Nevada. In the markings of upper side and in the form and size of the silver spots, Ve- vadensis is nearest Kdwardsi. Mr. Henry Edwards, to whom we owe the discovery of this fine species, writes as follows respecting it. “The range of Nevadensis appears to be very limited as I have only seen it in the immediate neighborhood of Virginia, but it is there by no means rare. It loves to fly about the warm cajions of the mountains and is es- pecially abundant near Washoe Lake. This is a beautiful sheet of Water about two miles wide by seven long almost on the summit of the spur of the Sierra of which Mt. Davidson is the highest peak and on the sides of which Virginia is built. It is nearly 6000 feet above the sea level and its shores are covered in the Spring with a luxuriant growth of Composite, Violaceze and Liliaceee. About this Lake during this summer (1870) I saw scores of Nevadensis, but I only captured a few, owing to their wonderfully swift flight. I rarely saw them alight and it was necessary to take them on the wing. ‘The males are very pugnacious and chase each other with great earnestness. The capture of our mountain butterflies is always a task of diffi- culty from the uneyen nature of the ground, and frequently the work is terrible. One has to toil over dry mountains covered with “sage brush,’ with not a tree in sight, and rarely is a drop of water to be found throughout a days tramp.” Norre.—Since the publication of the plate of Arg. Edwardsii, that species has been confidently asserted by no less eminent authorities than Dr. Staudinger and Mr. Méschler to be identical with Aglaza. Dr. Staudinger writes, 6th April, 1871: “There is not the least doubt that Arg. Edwardsii is Arg. Aglaia, Linn. There is not the least difference and the Aglaia from Asia differ much more from the true European type than your Ag- laia of Colorado, which differs only in name.” I am not advised that either of these naturalists have any acquaintance with the American species beyond what is to be gained from my plate and description. Certainly the insect is as yet excessively rare in collections. At the date of publication of the plate, (1869) I had the use of the few spe- cimens collected by Messrs Wood, Drexler and Ridings, which comprised, so far as I knew, all that were to be found in collections in this country. Quite lately, Mr. T. L. Mead has placed in my hands a number of specimens taken by him, in June AG NON NTS enV of the present year, (1871) in Colorado, viz, 154, 69, all of which are fresh and in the best possible condition. With sufficient material therefore for comparison, I am at a loss to see the resemblance between this species and Aglaia. Indeed it is not too much to say that they belong to different sections of the genus. They constantly differ in size, in the form of the wings, in color, and in “the number, size and shape of the silver spots. The form of the fore-wings i is a distinguishing characteristic between species of this genus, and so is the size ‘and shape of the sil- ver spots, especially the sub-marginal spots of both wings. Dr. Behr, in his paper on Californian Argynnides, Proce. “Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. April 21, 1862, says “of great importance for the diagnosis of these specimens is the shape of the marginal lunulie.” So also does the presence or absence of a clear buff or yellow band between the two outer rows of silver spots constitute a highly important distinction, as is strikingly exemplified in Cybele and Aphrodite, tor which I refer to the plates of those species in this Volume. As to the species in question, in size, Edwards is at least from one third to one half the larger in superficial area. As to shape of fore-wings, in the male Aglaia, these are ‘br oad, strongly arched, not at all produced apically and as nearly as possible straight on hind margin. In the female they are distinctly convex on hind margin. In the male of Edwardsii, the fore-wings are remarkably long, narrow, much produced apically, slightly arched and distinctly concave on hind margin. In the female the wings are shorter and broader than in the male, but the margin 1s straight, not rounded. Mr. Reakirt says, “The wings of this species are “rela- tively more narrow and more elongated than, in any member of this genus with which I am acquainted.” The margin of the hind wing in the female is not e/reu/ar as in both sexes of Aglaia, but the wing is produced so that the outline is oval, and from the anal angle to upper median nervule the margin is not curved, but straight. In Aglaia, | haye seen no specimen with more than the faintest traces of sub-marginal silver spots on under side of fore-wings—merely a few silver scales—and none of sub-apical silver spots. The figure of Esper represents no such spots and that of Humphreys very small mei ‘ginal lunular spots. West- wood, in the description, makes no mention of them. On secondaries the spots are small; the third row from the margin consists of three only, and of these the middle one is éruncated, stopping at the arc; the spots of the second row are small and rounded and the sub-marginal are small, narrow, and lunate. In Edwardsii, on the fore-wings are seven conspicuous submarginal silver triangles and Hiree sub-apical spots, ten in all; besides these, in fresh specimens, two or three of the rounded black spots in the mesial row are always more or less silvered. On secondaries are 24 distinct spots. The third row contains five, the middle one of which is very large, sub-pyriform, cut by the arc; of the second row, six are large, nearly equal in size, sub-ovate; the submarginal are large and triangular. In the female all these spots are found, but they are still more conspicuous, and the submarginal especially so. ARGYNNIS XIV. In short, the species is remarkably silvered. The silver spots also are hea- vily edged with black, quite contrary to what appears in Aglaia. As to color, passing by the upper surface as of less consequence, though the shades of fulvous are different in both sexes, in Ag/aia, three fourths of the under surface of the fore-wings is tinted with dull fulvous, the submarginal portions only being ochraceous ; the secondaries are of a chrome-green mottled with ochraceous from base to second row of silver spots, and the band between this and outer row is broad, ochraceous and not encroached on by the basal green color. In Edwardsii, deep fulvous covers half the cell of fore wings and that part of the interspaces next below the cell, and the median nervures are narrowly bor- dered with same color nearly to the margin; the remainder of the cell and all the upper interspaces being a bright buff. In the female the basal color is in- tensified to a fiery red, covering the whole of the two inferior median interspaces. In the male, the ground color is pale olivaceous mottled with buff, with a very nar- row buff band between the silvered rows. In the female the whole wing except the submarginal band 7s olivaceous upon a brown ground, giving a mottled appear- ance to the surface; and at the margin and anterior to the marginal spots it is wholly brown ; the sub-marginal band is of a brighter green, owing to the absence there of the sub-color. These differences are specific and it is not necessary to look for others of minor importance. On referring to Humphreys as cited, the very title of the species indicates the peculiar color of the under surtace of secondaries; “A. Aglaia. The Dark Green Fritillary.” The description reads. “The outer margin of the fore-wings in the males is almost straight or scarcely perceptibly concave, whilst that of the females is distinctly rounded. Beneath, the hind wings are varied with green and yellow with about seven silvery spots at the base, an irregular row of seven silver spots beyond the middle of the wing and a row of seven submarginal. Two varieties are mentioned by Westwood and one is figured under the name A. Charlotta, neither of which haye any nearer approach to the American species. Godart says of Aglaia, “The silver spots are usually small and round.” I have thought it well to-go thus into details as to the distinction between Aglaia and Edwardsii, as perhaps, and with as good reason, Nevadensis may be pronounced a variety of Aglaia. For if Edwardsii is Aglaia, and there is not “ the least difference except in name,” we may as well deny specific characters altogether, or call all green forms one species, all brown another and so on. The truth is, the sooner the theory of identity between the European and North American fauna in this department is exploded the better. It is founded on the merest modicum of fact, and leads its advocates into inconsistencies and contradictions. Unguaestionably, certain boreal and alpine butterflies have passed from one continent to the other in high latitudes, as have a few strong flying Va- nessans and Coliades, but I believe the whole number common to the temperate regions of both continents can be counted on one’s fingers. Bowen C° hth Pini* MELITAA I. MELIT#A CHALCEDON. 1—4. Melitzea Chalcedon. (Chal-ce’-don) Boisduval; Doubleday and Hewitson, Gen. Diur. Lep. pl. 23; Ann. Ent. Soc. de Fr. 1852. Edwards, Proe. Ent. Soe. Phil. 1862. Mare. Expands about two inches. Upper side black spotted with pale ochrey yellow in transverse sinuous bands ; the hind margins edged by a series of red spots, sometimes conspicuous, but usually small, rather indistinct and occasionally wholly wanting; the yellow spots vary much in individuals, both as to size and form; but usually the first on sub-mar- ginal row of primaries is minute, the second of medium size, bifid on costal mar- gin, the spots of the inner branch partially red; the third row somewhat larger than the second; in the cell a compressed bar, a spot near base, and on inner mar- gin a third. On secondaries the first two yellow rows are composed of small spots, but those of the third are large and elongated; four yellow spots near base. Under side of primaries bright brick red; the marginal border broad, conco- lored, and presenting on its anterior edge a series of deep yellow lunules, those next inner angle frequently obsolete ; beyond this a second row of rounded spots, one or two patches on costa and sometimes a spot in cell; a black line on the are and two transverse lines in cell. Secondaries have also a red marginal border, a submarginal series of large yellow lunules on a black ground, preceded by a row of rounded deep red spots on a black ground, each edged by a delicate yellow border; across the disk a band of large yellow spots, divided by the black lunules and cut unequally at either extremity by a transverse black line; next beyond this a red band, ex- panded in cell and there enclosing a yellow spot in a black ring; at base of nervures four yellow spots, and another on shoulder. Body above black, the segments of the abdomen edged with yellow, and to- wards the extremity with red; sides of abdomen red, below yellow; thorax yellow; legs and palpi red; antennze black above, red below; club black. FremaLe. Expands 2.5 inches. Primaries broader, more rounded apically; spots larger. Mature Larva. Length 1.5 inch. Color black, finely irrorated with white; head black, bilobed, compressed, furnished with simple black spines; on body, from third segment to last, seven rows of thick, many branching spines, the dorsal MELITAA If. row orange, the others blue-black, those of second lateral row rising from tubercu- lated orange spots; legs and pro-legs black. Curysauis. Length .7 inch Cylindrical; color pearl-white, marked with patches and points of dark brown; on the abdomen several rows of orange tubercles. Mr. Henry Edwards speaking of Chalcedon says:—* The perfect insect appears to be generally distributed throughout the State, extending also into Oregon and Neyada. The first individuals make their appearance about the second week in April and successive broods are hatched up to middle of July. The caterpillar feeds upon Scrophularia chiefly, though I haye observed it upon Dipsacus, Castil- leja and Lonicera. It is one of the most abundant of our species, every cafion lead- ing from the mountain chains to the valley below being productive of large num- bers. It is an active insect, seldom remaining settled in one place and is very pugnacious, driving away every other butterfly which may venture near it. On this account it is very troublesome to the collector and I have lost several rare insects entirely through this habit of Chalcedon. Like all Meliteeas, it is subject to considerable variation, in some individuals the reddish patches covering nearly the whole of the upper surface of the primaries. The female is far less common than the male, is inactive and flies but little.” GRAPTA LI. GRAPTA FAUNUS. 1—4. Grapta Faunus, Edwards, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sei. Phil. 1862. Mate. Expands 2.1 inches. Primaries deeply incised on both hind and inner margins; hind margins throughout irregularly dentated; a prominent tail on middle of secondaries and a smaller one between this and the anal angle. Upper side deep orange fulyous, paler next apex of primaries; base of both wings and abdominal margin of secondaries a little dusky, the latter clothed with long hairs; primaries have a broad black hind margin, dilated at the apex, bor-' dered within by aseries of obsolete tawny lunules; on the inner margin a large black spot joins the marginal band, there enclosing a tawny spot; on the costal mar- gin near apex, a broad abbreviated bar, black without, ferruginous within, runs obliquely back almost to the marginal band; from the middle of the costa a broad black bar extends to the median nervure, covering the arc; within the cell two round black spots in a transverse line and a third a little back of the same line near inner margin, divided unequally by the lower median neryule; in the median in- terspaces, two rounded black spots placed nearly at right angles to the first three ; costal edge of both wings and the incision of inner margin of primaries sprinkled with black and tawny; the hind margin of secondaries is black slightly tinted with fulvous, clouded within, and passes gradually into the basal color, occupying nearly half the wing; costal margin broad, brownish black ; on this is an elongated black spot, below which, nearer the cell, is a second, and in the middle of the wing a third, divided by the neryure; fringe white in the emarginations. Under side. Both wings dark brown next base, with an irregular common blackish band across the middle, darkest on its outer edge and within the abdomi- nal margin, where its outline is obliquely serrated; beyond this band, the color is paler brown mottled with grey white, which is clearest on costa of primaries; the whole surface clouded with vinous, and more or less crossed by fine abbreviated streaks of dark brown; apex of primaries yellow brown, with three small lanceo- late, ferruginous spots, the lower one enclosing a blue or green point; the hind mar- gin of both wings, below these, is bordered by a series of confluent blue black, some- times olive green spots, following the outline of the wing; a little anterior to this, poe) another series of rounded spots of same color. those on secondaries largest and some- CRAP Aa, times haying black centres, on primaries minute, except the two at the ends of the row; in the dise of secondaries, a white G, varying in form, but usually thick and angular with each end sharp and barbed; body above black, covered with greenish hairs; below, brown grey; antenn dark brown above, whitish below; club black with a yellow tip. Femate. Expands 2.8 inches. Hind margin of primaries less incised and the dentations, especially of sec- ondaries, less prominent. Color of upper surface a shade more yellowish than in male. The under side in some cases marked as in male, but of duller colors, and the separate markings much less distinct. In most however the color is greyish- brown, darker next base; the submarginal lines and green spots showing faintly ; the silver mark delicate, usually open and like that of Progne, but sometimes an angular C. Larva unknown. This species is very common 1n the Catskill Mountains in the month of Au- gust, frequenting the forest roads in company with a few Progne and Comma, and is of similar habits. It is deeper colored than its allies and the black markings are of greater extent, making it a conspicuous species. It is usually seen alighted on the ground, and although alert and quick in its motions, may be captured without difficulty. The species is also common in the Adirondacks and White Mount- ains, and probably throughout the northern part of the continent. I have received it from Fort Simpson and from Rupert House, Hudson’s Bay, and also from Nova Scotia. Irawn by Mary Peact COMMA, 1,2, 6, 3,4 6, a Mature larvae 4. Orrysalades GRAPTA II. GRAPTA COMMA. 1—5. Grapta Comma, Harris, Ins. Mass. C-album, Fitch, New York Reports, 1856. Mate. Expands 2.3 inches. Primaries deeply incised; hind margins slightly dentated; a broad tail of medium length on middle of secondaries. Upper side bright fulyous; primaries have a black marginal band of medium width, dilated at apex, edged within by a series of pale yellow spots; on inner margin a ferruginous patch joins the marginal band; a similar sub-apical patch on costa; on costal margin a broad sub-rectangular black patch; within the cell two small rounded black spots transverse, and at right angles to these three others in the submedian and first and second median interspaces; costal edges of both wings, and the incision of inner margin of primaries, sprinkled with black and yellow or pale fulyous. Secondaries have the outer limb deep ferruginous and the rest of wing to base mottled with ferruginous and fulvous; a sub-marginal series of small yellow lunules; on costal margin a large, elongated black spot, another of small size at base of first sub-costal nervule and a third at base of second median; fringe of both wings fuscous, whitish in the emarginations; the margins themselves nar- rowly edged with purplish. Under side mottled in shades of brown and yellow; the basal space limited by a line, angular on primaries, wavy on secondaries, next inside which the color is darkest, next base greyish; in cell two long, narrow, dark spots; extra basal space greyish; apex of primaries dark brown, often castaneous, enclosing on the edge a yellowish spot or lunule; sub-apical patch grey-brown inclining to white; along the incision a broken or wavy stripe of metallic blue, anterior to which is a row of black points, distinct at the extremities and the posterior ones enclosed in oliva- ceous patches; costal edge specked with brown, grey and buff. On secondaries the extra basal space is mottled with brown, grey, olivaceous and yellow; the sub- apical patch olivaceous or castaneous, as is also the curved stripe extending from this patch to anal angle; along the margin a line of metallic blue lunules partly separated from the patch and stripe by yellow; a row of black points as on prima- ries; the silver C varies in size and form, being thick, rounded and barbed, or deli- eate and open with no barb; occasionally also interrupted as in Jnterrogationis; the whole surface of both wings inscribed with fine brown abbreviated lines. GRAPTA II. Body above dark fulvous, the thorax covered with greenish hairs; below grey ferruginous; legs pale buff; palpi buff, fulvous at tip and and on upper side; an- tenn dark brown above, buff below; club black, yellowish at tip. Femate. Expands 2.5 inches. Rather less incised than the male and on upper side similar. Under side varying between dark brown and yellow brown; in either case a grey shade over the extra basal space, and the markings nearly lost in the ground color. Comma is found in the Eastern and Middle States and at least as far West as Illinois. And also in Canada and British America. I have received it from Nova Scotia and from Fort Simpson, Mackenzies River. It is rather local, but where it is found it is abundant. It is one of the commonest species on the Kanawha River, there being several successive broods from early in the season to November. The larva is found on the hop, nettle and false nettle (Boehmeria) feeding singly. It conceals itself on the under side of a leaf the outer edges of which are drawn together by silken threads sufficiently to afford a protection from light and the weather. From this cover the larva emerges at night to feed, and beginning at the extremity of the leaf consumes it evenly across until not enough is left for shelter when it betakes itself to another and repeats the same process. Owing to this peculiarity this species is easily discovered, as the bent and eaten leaf betrays its presence. The egg is nearly spherical, rather smaller at top than at bottom, depressed slightly at either end, ribbed vertically, pale green and one sixteenth of an inch in diameter. It is usually laid upon the surface of a young leaf, or, in case of the hop upon one of the tendrils, near the extremity. The young larve appear in four days, are one tenth of an inch long, black covered with short hairs, and like all young larvee of butterflies, have the faculty of spinning threads whereby they at- tach themselves to the leaf or break their fall in case of danger. As they become older and can better adhere to the leaf no such aid is required, but whenever ne- cessary for safety, as ina glass breeding cage, they will cover their path with a web and walk securely as on a rough surface. When one-third grown these larve are black, with dorsal and first lateral rows of spines pale green more or less tipped with black, the second lateral row of spines black tipped with white and the lowest, or infra-stigmatal row, entirely white resting at base on greenish papille; the head spines black; between the first two lateral rows are narrow, transverse whitish strie; from base of each dorsal spine fork greenish bars to anterior edge of the segment and similar bars start from the base of each of the first laterals; the spiracles oval, black within a white ring. At the next moult all the spines become white and at the base of the second GRAPT A) LT: laterals, on 8th to 11th segment inclusive, appears a ferruginous point. With very little change this type reaches maturity. Other larvee are almost wholly black to maturity, wanting the dorsal and lateral green spots and showing merely transverse striz on each segment. Others are black while young, but when one-third grown become greenish white with faint shades of black interspersed as if seen though a semi-transparent skin. And others again are like the last mentioned but have a reddish or vinous tint instead of black. I have not been able to discover that the variation of the larvee has any connection with the sex or with the shades of color of the butterfly. The length of the mature larva is 1.25 inch. When about to transform it selects a convenient place, on the under side of a projecting rock, or of a fence rail, or of a weather board of the house, or the midrib of a hop-leaf, and having spun a little button of pale red silk fixes the hooks of its anal legs therein and hangs suspended, head downwards, in the shape of a fish-hook, and immoyeable, . for the space of twenty to twenty-four hours, no change being perceptible except in the color of the skin which becomes partly transparent and loses its dark color, owing to its gradual parting from the chrysalis within. Suddenly, and to a looker on without any premonitory symptom, a rent takes place in the skin at the back of the head just wide enough to allow the passagé of the chrysalis, the head of which at once emerges. By a rapid contraction and expansion of the folds of the abdomen the larva draws the skin upwards successively discovering the parts of the fully formed chrysalis, until at last, and in scarcely more than one minute of time, the entire skin is gathered about the anal feet. It now bends itself violently to disengage the end of the chrysalis, which is long, pointed and hard, furnished with several little hooks, meanwhile retaining its hold of the skin by the folds of its ab- domen, until after a severe effort conyulsively reaching out and feeling in all direc- tions for the object of its search, it touches the button of silk and at once grasps it with its hooks and fixes them in it securely. Then by a twisting motion it man- ages to disengage the loose skin, which falls to the ground, and the chrysalis rests. The whole process is most interesting to witness and excites renewed wonder with every repetition, at the ingenuity of the means employed and the delicacy of the instinct displayed. How to strip off the skin and much more the legs by which the creature is suspended, without losing its hold, and at same time to securely fasten the chrysalis, is a problem that would seem impossible to solve, and yet this little insect accomplishes it unerringly, when to fail would be certain destruction. And not this species only, but the larve of all butterflies which form suspended chrysalids, embracing the whole of the great family of Nymphalide, that is, a large proportion of all existing species of butterflies, undergo a similar transformation. The chrysalis is now green in color, soft and indefensible, susceptible to the GRAPTA II. slightest injury, and for a few moments the several parts of the future butterfly may be seen and readily separated; the wings folded close and enveloping the thorax, the antenne and proboscis stretched at length along the back. But very speedily a complete casing is formed by the exuding from parts of the body of a viscous fluid, which binds together the tender parts, and covers the whole with a coating like varnish. This soon hardens, and the chrysalis is ready to take its chance against injury. The chrysalis of Comma is grey or brown of two or three shades, with golden protuberances upon the abdomen, and with prominent eye and palpi covers and a sharp projection at back of head. ‘This state continues about eleven days. A few hours before the butterfly is to emerge the metallic spots lose their lustre and the skin changes to a dark color indicating its separation from the imago within. At length the covering of the head parts, the insect struggles to disengage its head and legs and then feebly crawls forth, seeking instinctively some object on which to fasten. The body, legs and antenne are full sized on emerging from the chry- salis, but the wings are undeveloped, being no more than one fourth inch long, yet having their characteristic shape and showing distinctly, though in miniature, every marking and spot that will afterwards appear. So soon as the insect has attained a support it rests quietly, while the surface of the body dries and the wings expand slowly in length and breadth, each little spot in its due proportion, till in course of half an hour they have reached their full size, but still hang neryeless and limp. By a gentle fanning motion the limp- ness disappears, the wing becomes thoroughly dry and the perfect butterfly is ready for flight. In habits Comma is extremely alert and restless, flying swiftly and for short distances only. It frequents the roads, especially in damp places, or collects in considerable numbers on the sides of the creeks or upon damp stones by the forest brook, not in clusters, as is the habit with many butterflies, but scattered about in close neighborhood with wings outspread to receive the full benefit of the sun. In the Catskills it is in company with Faunus, on the Kanawha River with Fabricii and Interrogationis, but greatly outnumbering these last. The heavy frosts of November drive them into winter quarters and seeking out holes in trees, or crevices in rocks, they pass the season in a dormant state ready to reappear with the first warm breath of spring. But a very small propor- tion however survive as they are exposed in their defenseless state to attacks from many enemies. During the spring a few solitary individuals, faded and broken, are on the wing, and soon after the young leaves of the hop begin to show them- selves the females are hovering about intent on depositing their eggs. GRAPPA li Notre.— Comma was considered by Dr. Fitch as identical with the European Calbum. He says, “This species is common to both sides of the Atlantic. Dr. Harris regarded our American insect as different from the European and accord- ingly named it Comma. Hesupposed the wings in the former to be more deeply indented and that specimens from the two continents could be at once distinguished by this mark, But how fallacious this character is will appear from the remark of Mr. Westwood, Humphreys’ British Butterflies, page 50, who observes, ‘This species is subject to an extraordinary variation in the form of its wings. In some specimens the incision in the hind margin of the fore-wings is so deep that it forms nearly a semi-circle, whilst in others it is scarcely more than a sextant, the other indentations being equally varied.’ The American specimens vary in same man- ner. On comparing them on the one hand with the descriptions which European authors give of C album, and on the other with the description which Dr. Harris gives of Comma, every one must admit that of the two the former is plainly the species to which our insect pertains.” I have also been assured by both Dr. Staudinger and Mr. Méschler, since the publication of my plate of Faunus. that, beyond all question, /aunus is neither more or less than C' album. I thought it well therefore to enclose to Dr. Staudinger a male and female Comma from West Virginia and a male Satyrus from the Rocky Mountains, with- out names, for his determination. He replies, 5th June, (1871) “As to the three individuals of Grapta Faunus, which haye arrived in recognisable condition, I do not doubt for an instant that they are Girapta (Papilio) C album, L., although a very little modified so that one might retain the name of Faunus as that of a race or variety. Zhe form of your hemisphere is distinguished principally by the hind wings being a little less excised and by the border of the wings being blacker ; at least to gudge by these three individuals, (which alone I know apart from your fig- ures). But this individual from the Rocky Mountains is more unmistakable, and approaches our European and Siberian form nearer than the two from West Vir- gua. IL repeat that your fauna agrees marvellously with the European.” (The italics are mine.) Now /aunus on the one hand, and Comma and Satyrus on the other, belong to distinct sub-groups, the latter being allied to Interrogationis, and it becomes a matter of interest to know that one European species exists so similar to both as to deceive practiced observers. I have taken pains to bring together a number of specimens of the European C album, many of which were sent me by Mr. H. W. Bates, expressly to show the widest variation, and I have consulted authors within my reach who describe and figure the species and its larve. It certainly is very variable, and bears a resem- blance in its several phases to at least these three American species, Comma, Faunus, and Satyrus, Kdw., (the last not yet figured, but brought from California and Rocky Mountains.) C album also exhibits seyeral phases that are not imitated by any yet known American species. Some individuals are deeply incised and indented after the peculiar manner of Faunus, and have much resemblance on both surfaces to that species. (This GRAPTA [YI. type is figured in Esper, Eur. Schmett. I, pl. 59.) But Fauwnus is notably larger, is deeper fulvous by many degrees, and has a much broader border to the hind margin of primaries. This border is deep black, not ferruginous, even edged within and never crenated as is often the case with Calbum. The spots are also intense black. The outer half of secondaries is black enclosing simply a few sub- marginal yellowish points. In Calbum this part of the wing is ferruginous and the yellowish points are much enlarged, often into patches that form a connected band across the wing, breaking up what otherwise would be the anterior portion of the ferruginous border into spots; thus giving the wing a macular appearance never found in Faunus, nor in Comma but paralleled in Satyrus. The under side of those individuals of Calbum that in any way appreach Faunus is cast in the same general pattern with that species, but the colors are different and the marbling much less decided. The basal shade is a dull red- brown varied by lighter brown; the marginal border is of the same dull color and the intermediate or mesial space is grey brown. /aunus has all the colors intense, the basal shade black brown, as is also the marginal border, and the intermediate space pale brown mottled with grey which becomes conspicuously white on the subapical patch. The whole surface is suffused with vinous and the general effect of this marbling and coloration is far more beautiful than can well be described or than can be imitated at all successfully. No C album is at all comparable to Fau- mus in these respects. The under side of Calbum is described by Mr. Westwood, in the work before cited, as “greyish ashen” and by Mr. Stainton as “dusky brown.” The marginal row of metallic spots in /aunus is sometimes blue-black, sometimes green, those of C'album are green. Other specimens of C'album are like Comma in the form of the wings and ex- tent of indentation, as well as general appearance of both surfaces. (For this phase see Exper, I, pl. 13.) But without giving further details as to the differ- ences between these two, Comma presents one character that is decisive. Instead of marginal green spots, in Comma these are blue and anterior to them is a com- mon row of black points as in Jnéerrogationis. Other specimens of Calbum, as has been said, resemble Satyrus in the macular upper surface, but this species par- takes of the same peculiarities beneath, mentioned as distinguishing Comma. Besides these resemblances many males of C’ album have the whole under sur- face suffused with shades of yellow, from pale to ochraceous, a feature as yet found in no American species. The females C album differ still more decidedly from the females of the three species, yellow being often a prevailing tint of the under surface. Before describing Faunus, in 1862, I enclosed specimens to Mr. Stainton and requested him to compare them with Calbum. ‘The following was his reply. “Lewisham near London, 10th Feb. 1862. I have carefully examined the butter- flies enclosed in your letter and haye compared them with American specimens in the collection of the British Museum. No. 2 (/aunus) is a distinct, unnamed spe- cies, which in the List of Lepidoptera in B. M., Part 1, 1844, follows V. Progne as Vanessa—? from Martins Falls, Albany River, Hudson’s Bay.” Unfortunately the larva of Kaunus is still unknown. But those of Comma GRAP TAS Ii: and Satyrus are known and settle the question of identity between either of these species and Calbwn. The larva of Comma is illustrated in our plate. That of Satyrus is described by Mr. R. H. Stretch, as “dead black with a greenish white dorsal band from third to last segment,” and he has furnished me with an ad- mirable drawing which justifies his description. On the other hand the larya of C album is described by Mr. Westwood as be- ing “of a brownish red color, the back being reddish in front with the hinder part white,” and the accompanying plate represents the first six segments as red, the re- mainder white, and is altogether quite unlike any known American species. Neither Haunus nor Comma are subject to any wide variation, as I can assert from a long familiarity with both species, nor do the specimens of Satyrus that I haye seen, numbering perhaps twenty, vary to any greater degree. On the other hand, C'album varies so as to resemble not only these three distinct species, but has an oyerplus of variation sufficient to include resemblances to as many more. Unquestionably these several species and all others of the genus have sprung from one ancient form which may not unlikely have been near one of the many phases of the present Calbum. But one variety after another became permanent, each throwing off new varieties of its own, in time also to become permanent, till now we have many groups all allied but all distinctly separated. We have in North America at least nine well marked species of Grapta divisible into four groups, _ namely, that of Progne, of Silenus, of Comma and of Faunus. There is a difference of opinion about the value of this genus, many European lepidopterists considering it not properly separable from Vanessa. But if “the co- descendants of the same form must be kept together in one group separate from the co-descendants of any other form,” (Darwin’s Descent, 1 p.181.) then no genus is better founded than Grapta. The several species differ decidedly from the true Vanessans not only in the shape of the wings, but so far as is known in the pre- paratory stages. ‘The larve are solitary, not gregarious, as are the true Vanessans. This difference of itself is generic and there could be no surer token of distinct ancestry. yi! AN i> a YY Abe ef as £ ‘ 2.0.93. 4.4 So LARVA 6. CHRYSALIS GRAPTA III. GRAPTA DRYAS. 1—6. Grapta Dryas, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1870. Marr. Expands 2.4 inches. Primaries moderately incised; hind margins slightly dentated; a broad tail of medium length on middle of secondaries. Upper side yellow fulyous marked with black and ferruginous as in Comma and Interrogationis; secondaries almost wholly black as in the latter species, the black shade gradually passing into fulvous near base; three fulvous sub-marginal points or spots at outer angle; a black patch on costa and spot in cell, in some cases only distinguished by a deeper shade than the ground color; fringes white in the emar- ginations, fuscous at tips of nervules. Under side marbled in shades of grey, brown, ferruginous, olivaceous and honey yellow; more or less suffused with lilaceous and throughout densely covered with fine, abbreviated streaks of ferruginous; the basal space limited without by an irregular deep brown or ferruginous common discal band; in cell three distinct brown spots; the extra basal space lilaceous on both wings but on secondaries mixed with yellow and olivaceous; beyond, to margins, primaries partly yellow, partly clear yellow, the latter color at apex and inner angle; secondaries have a large, nebulous, ferruginous or oliyaceous patch near outer angle and a nebulous curved stripe of similar color from median nervure to anal angle, the former en- closing on costal edge a yellow spot; both wings crossed by a conspicuous sub- marginal row of black points or small spots; on primaries a sub-apical ferruginous patch enclosing a lilaceous spot on costa; the incision edged by a brown line which is preceded by metallic grey, or blue-grey lunules edgca with black; similar lu- nules on secondaries; costal edge of primaries lilaceous and buff, crossed to the ner- vure by ferruginous streaks and spots; silver spot an open C, large, narrow, thick- ened at extremities, sometimes interrupted on the lower side. Body above fulvous covered with greenish hairs; below pale vinous brown ; legs buff; palpi buff below, ferruginous above and at tip; club black, tipped with ferruginous. Femarte. Expands 2.6 inches. Hind margin of primaries a little less incised; the dentations as in male. Upper side similar to male; under side honey yellow densely covered with ferru- GRAPTA III. ginous streaks; the pattern of markings as in male but faint and nearly lost in the ground color; some individuals light, the yellow predominating; in others the ferruginous streaks give color to the whole surface; sub-marginal black spots less conspicuous, and sometimes on dise of primaries wanting; marginal lunules as in male but less distinct; silver spot as in male, but sometimes a mere line not thickened at extremities. Mature Larva. Length 1.25 inch. Color pale green marked with greenish white at the base of each spine with lines of same color across each seg- ment; head dull pink covered with short spines and having at upper angle on each side a large branching spine pink at base, black at tip; a black patch on either side of face; mandibles black; body furnished with seven rows of many branching yellow spines, each branch tipped with black; under side green; legs reddish brown, pro- legs green; spiracles black; on the Sth to 11th segments inclusive an orange spot immediately anterior to each spiracle. Curysatis delicate white, not much clouded, the wing cases and whole front haying a sheen of bronze; the abdominal tubercles bronze. Or the general color is pale brown, clouded with darker shades, not metallic except on the tubercles; the palpi cases are long and sharp, and the prominence on back of head is pointed. In size and general form the chrysalis resembles that of Comma. I have occasionally taken this species at Coalburgh, W. Va. and in the Catskill Mountains and was formerly inclined to regard it as a variety of either Comma or Interrogationis. During the season of 1870 I was fortunate in obtaining two of its larvee and from them the butterflies. They were feeding on the hop, in July, and in habit resembled the larvee of Comma, remaining concealed on the under side of a folded leaf, and eating from the outer extremity so long as enough remained to afford protection. ‘These larvee were nearly mature and shortly after changed to chrysalids. In this state they continued ten days and yielded one male and one female butterfly, the white chrysalis producing the female. This species is between Comma and Interrogationis. The shape is that of the latter as is also the shade of color of upper side. On the under side of the male the markings are rather nearer Comma but with a difference in coloration. The under side of the female differs materially from that of either species. Norr.—While the foregoing description was passing through the press, be- tween the 10th and 18th May (1871), I took eight larvee of Dryas from the hop, from half grown to mature. ‘The younger ones were dull white, with an interrupt- ed supra-stigmatal blackish line; as they approached maturity this disappeared and the color changed to green. Between 20th May and 2nd June emerged 6 4, 19, Drawn by Mary Peart L Bowen, hth Pinal? INTERROGATIONIS. VAR.UMBRO SA 1.2.6.3.4.¢ a “gg, nat. Sizxe b 4iggs magnitied cos ung larvad, Same after first. moult 2 Same atter second moult; t Mature larva gl Very Sales. GREAVES Aerie GRAPTA INTERROGATIONIS. Grapta Interrogationis, Fabricius. . Var. Umbrosa, Lintner, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. 1869, p. 313; 1870, p. 197. Interrogationis, Fabr. 9 , Suppl. p. 424. Godart, Enc. Meth. IX, p. 302. Harris, Ins. Mass. Ed. 1852, p. 298, (text, not plate.) C aureum, Cramer, $, pl. 19. Fab. 8, Sp. Ins. p. 94; Ent. Syst. p. 78. Abbot & Smith, 6, Ins. Ga. pl. 11. Hiibner, Exot. Schmett. IT, 8 9. Bois. & Lec. $, pl. 51. Var. Fabricti, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1870, p. 5. Interrogationis, Harris, 9 , Ins. Mass. Ed. 1852, plate. Lintner, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1869, p. 315, 1870, p. 197. INTERROGATIONIS, var. UMBROSA. Form alike in both sexes, primaries slightly falcated, little excised; tail prom- inent, broad at base, tapering; anal angle slightly or not at all produced. Maur. Expands 2.6 inches. Upper side fulvous, marked and spotted with black; primaries have a broad, black marginal border, somewhat suffused with ferruginous at the upper part of the incision on hind margin and next inner angle; upon the disk five rounded spots disposed in a right angle, the two smallest being in cell and the others in the in- terspaces; between the lower two of these last, transverse to them, two small spots or patches of scales; another in lower discoidal interspace, and a large subquadrate spot from the costa covering the arc; next the marginal border on costa a large patch suffused with ferruginous and a smaller one on inner margin. Secondaries have the outer two-thirds overlaid with black, most dense behind the cell, but towards outer angle and on disk showing the fulvous sub-color, into which the black shade gradually fades and disappears towards base; on costal margin a deep black duplex spot, and a small spot on are; tail ashy-grey, marginal border lightly touched with same hue, and sometimes the tips of the nervules on primaries; fringes white in the emarginations, fuscous at the neryules. Under side variegated with ferruginous, brown, olivaceous and more or less suffused with purple; the basal third limited by an irregular ferruginous, partly olivaceous band, within which the ground is yellow-brown streaked with ferrugi- nous; outside the band, primaries have a narrow belt of yellow-brown, beyond which the colors are brown and olivyaceous; a lilac patch near inner angle, and a large sub-apical one on costa enclosing a patch of whitish; secondaries olivaceous GRAPT AVIV on costal margin and along the whole hind margin, except just over the tail, where the tint is lilaceous; the rest of the limb suffused with purple; commencing at the upper sub-costal nervule 2 deep ferruginous patch extends to median and is con- tinued in a broad, curved, posteriorly attenuated stripe to anal angle; crossing both wings is a row of black points, on secondaries lying within the ferruginous stripe, each having a faint olivaceous halo; along the incision of primaries a series of metallic blue or green streaks or narrow lunules; on secondaries these are large and distinctly lunular; discal mark on secondaries an interrupted C, usually silvered, but at times aureous; costal edge of primaries crossed to sub-costal nervure by ferruginous streaks and patches, between which the ground color is buff. Body above fulvous, covered on thorax with green hairs; beneath grey-ferru- ginous; legs buff; palpi buff, on upper side fulvous; antennz fuscous above, annulated below with buff; club fulvous tipped with buff. Fremate.—Expands 3 inches. Upper side similar to male; fringes similar. Under side brown suffused with blue-grey; the hind margin of primaries olive-brown; on secondaries the sub-marginal stripe and patch but faintly indi- cated; the metallic spots less distinct than in male and more or less wanting; the common row of black points conspicuous. Ege .02 in diameter; smooth, spherical, flattened at top and slightly at base; from the centre of the base proceed ten narrow ribs, at first scarcely raised above the surface, increasing gradually in prominence as they ascend, and terminating abruptly and perpendicularly at the rim of the flattened top, marked on either side by transverse parallel grooves; (see plate). Color pale green. The larvze emerge from the egg in from three to four days. At first, they are one-tenth inch in length, translucent, greenish, covered with hairs; the head large, bilobed, black. In a few hours they change to black. After first moult, (length .3 inch) which takes place in about two days, they are black, more or less specked with white, and begin to be clothed with short spines, all black except those on eighth and tenth segments, which are whitish. After another interval of two days the second moult takes place (length .4 inch), and the larvee begin to assume the type that they retain to maturity. ‘The spines are in seven rows, one dorsal, two lateral on each side and one infra-stigmatal, fleshy at base, slender and many- branching at extremity; the dorsal and first lateral on third segment are black, on second, fourth and eleventh, russet, the rest yellow; the second laterals black throughout, the lowest row greenish; head bilobed, black, with short black spines at vertices. GRAPTA Iv: After third moult (length .6 inch), which takes place two days later, the spines are greatly enlarged and lengthened. In from two to three days further (length .9 inch), the fourth and last moult occurs. From the third moult the larvee vary greatly, both in color of body and of spines. Some are black, finely specked with yellowish; others are yellow-brown, specked with yellow tubercles; others grey-brown with indistinct reddish lines between the spines on the dorsal and two lateral rows and much tuberculated; others are black with fulvous stripes and profusely covered with yellowish tuberculated spots and points. The colors of the spines vary from black to fulvous and green and yellow. From four to five days after the last moult, the length haying increased to 1.6 inch, the larya stops feed- ing and within twenty-four hours changes to chrysalis. Duration of the larval state about fifteen days. The chrysalids vary slightly in color, being in shades of brown clouded with olivaceous or lilac; sometimes a dark green stripe from the tail along the spiracles as far as the wing cases; in all, the surface is somewhat bronzed and decidedly on back of head and on the abdominal tubercles, excepting the four middle ones which are silyered; palpi cases prominent, and mesonotal process prominent, arched and thin. Duration of chrysalis state eleven days. on i 7 : i: 3 0 Drawn by Mary Peart INTHRROGATIONIS.VAR. FABRIGI1 1,2 6,349 5 Larva 6. Chrysalis . ‘T Sinclatrs lick | GREP Aaa: INTERROGATIONIS, Var. FABRICIL. Form alike in both sexes; primaries strongly faleated, much excised; tail longer, narrower, less tapering than in Umbrosa; anal angle much produced. Mare.—Expands 2.5 to 2.7 inches. Upper side bright red-fulvous, the terminal third of primaries and whole of secondaries obscured by ferruginons; spots as in Umbrosa; hind margins of both wings and abdominal margin at the fold largely edged with lilac; fringes fus- cous. Under side clouded in shades of brown and ferruginous, sometimes partially suffused by purple; the general pattern as in Umbrosa, without the striking diver- sity of color; the common row of black points more or less obsolete; costal edge of primaries ferruginous beaded by small round yellow spots, between which and the sub-costal nervure the ground is yellow specked with ferruginous; silver mark as in Umbrosa. Fremave.—Expands 3 inches. Upper side similar to male; under side brown suffused with ochraceous, deeply along hind margin; sometimes partially suffused, with purplish instead of ochraceous; the whole surface covered with fine abbreviated ferruginous streaks; the common row of black points obsolete, or represented by two or three at outer angle and apex only, and always minute. These varieties differ in shape of wings, in comparative breadth and length of the tail, in the prominence of anal angle; in both sexes in the color of upper surface, in that of the marginal edges, and of the fringes; in the color of under surface and in the relative position and extent of the yellow and ferruginous mark- ~ ings of the costal margin of primaries. These differences are conspicuous and constant, there being, so far as I know, no intergrades. Until the publication of Mr. Lintner’s paper of 1869, these two forms had been treated by late authors as one species, one or the other, or the sexes of either, being described as Caureum or Interrogationis indifferently. Judging by the imagos alone each was entitled to rank as a species, as they presented constant dif- ferences in essential characters and Mr. Lintner yery properly separated them. But believing that the darker species did not fall within the Fabrician descriptions, he applied to it the name Umbrosa. GRAPTA V. It appeared to me that Fabricius had described the female of this Umbrosa as Interrogationis, and that the only doubtful point was whether he had described the corresponding male, or either sex of the other species, as Cauwreum. But in- asmuch as the name C awrewm was pre-occupied, that subsequently given to the female must extend to its male, and the other species whether really described by Fabricius or not, should be regarded as unnamed. I therefore proposed for it the name Kabrici. As is well known, the lary that produce these two forms are remarkably variable. For several years I had endeavored to ascertain which type of larva produced either species of imago or the sexes of either, but with no satisfactory result, inasmuch as when I thought the matter determined by one series cf ob- servations, the next perhaps would unsettle everything. On the 4th June, of this present year, (1871) I noticed two females Umbrosa flying about the hop-vines near my house, at Coalburgh, and had no difficulty in capturing them. I enclosed them in a keg over a branch of the vine, covering with a cloth. On the 6th, a large number of eggs had been laid, a few of which were on the upper leaves of the vine, but the greater part on the cloth. On the 9th, they were hatching and I removed the larvee to the house and enclosed in a breeding-cage. From these I obtained 18 chrysalids, which produced, on 3d July and subsequent days, 11 Umbrosa, 5 3, 69, and 6 Fabrien, 1 2, 5 2. On the 29th July, and successive days till 5th August, I took eleven fe- males of same type, no.others being seen, and enclosed in same way as before. From these I obtained hundreds of eggs, and separated the larve therefrom into three lots, one comprising those hatched from eggs laid on the cloths, one from a large cluster laid on a single leaf, and all others in the third. By 8d September many imagos had appeared. From the eggs on cloth resulted 49, of which 29 were Umbrosa, 14 ¢, 159, and 20 Fabricti, 114,99. From the leaf 8 Umbrosa, 54,39, and 6 Fabricii, 44, 29, and from the remainder 26 Umbrosa, 14 ¢, 12 9, and 8 Muabricii, 6 g, 29. In each lot of larve all the different types of coloration known to me were re- presented, and there certainly is no connection between either of them and the varieties or sexes of the imagos. These forms therefore are but one species, and so far it would appear that the darker of the two was the type and the other a variety. But although I have not been able to obtain females of Fabricii, and to determine this point absolutely, yet from the fact that the two forms are invariably found together, eyen where, as in many districts, Fabricii greatly out numbers Umbrosa, and from the analogous case of Ajax, I believe that the eggs of /abricii will also produce both types of imago. If this be so neither can be considered as a variety of the GRAPTA V. other. They are dimorphic forms of Jnterrogationis, and to distinguish them from ordinary varieties, I have given them both specific names, indicating their relationship. (Since discovering the dimorphism of Jnterrogationis, I incline to think Grap- tas Comma and Dryas will prove to be but one species also. The case would not however be strictly parallel with Jnterrogationis, but might prove to be a modi- fication of seasonal dimorphism. I obtained in May, of this year, seven specimens of Dryas, and all that I have before seen haye been bred or taken in the early part of the season, at the same time with Comma, while from great numbers of the larve obtained in the Autumn I have had nothing but Comma. The early brood only therefore may proye to be dimorphic). Interrogationis is abundant over the whole eastern part of the United States and in Canada.. How far west it is found I anr unable to say, certainly how- ever, as far as Iowa, and from Missouri to Texas. But it has not been found in Colorado by Mr. Mead, who has collected extensively in that State. In West Virginia, I have found the variety Umbrosa the most common, but in the Catskill Mountains the proportions were reversed. Mr. Lintner states that the results of his collecting in Middle New York show the greater abundance also of the variety Mabricit. On the other hand, Dr. Harris says, that in Massachusetts, the male “is often black-winged,” meaning Umbrosa. The southern specimens are larger than those from the north, differing one-half inch in expanse of wing. The larvee feed upon the hop, elm, nettle, false-nettle, (Boehmeria) and, at Coalburgh, may usually be found in different stages of growth from about 20th May till September. I have frequently seen several females at once flying in and out my hop-vines, alighting on the ends of the shoots or on the tender leaves to de- posit their eggs. The butterflies are then always battered and worn, evidently a long period having elapsed since they emerged from chrysalis. The eggs are usually laid singly, but sometimes three or four may be seen on the same leaf. Two or more may also occasionally be found standing one on end of the other per- pendicular to the surface of the leaf, and I have seen four, five and as many as eight in one stalk (see plate) The larve are easily raised in confinement and will submit to a change of food, as from hop to Behmeria, without the slightest hesitancy. Like its congeners this species hybernates and appears in the early Spring. When it is considered how many eggs are laid, and that so short a time in- tervenes between the egg and the imago, it is surprising how few butterflies of this species are the result. From eggs that were laid on my vines in July and August, amounting, I am sure, to many hundreds, very few larvee were hatched, and gradu- ally these became more and more scarce. so that at last I could with difficulty dis- GRAP TA W. cover asingle one. The eggs are destroyed by spiders and various insects by whole- sale. I havehad thecontents of one of my kegs swept away inanight, leaving nota trace of shell behind, and in same way I have lost scores of small larve. The only safe mode of securing them is to transfer the larvee as soon as hatched to the house. Finally, after the larvee have escaped all apparent danger and have changed to chrysalids, the imago therein is often destroyed by ichneumon-flies. So that it is doubtful if much more than two per cent: of the eggs laid produce but- terflies. The perils of the winter destroy nearly all the last brood, and in the Spring but few of the butterflies are to be seen. They become more plenty as the successive broods appear, but, one season with another, the number seems to be about the same. Norr.—The first mention of a Papilio C awrewm is in Linnzeus, Syst. Nat. 1760, I, p. 477, as follows. “C aureum, P. N. alis angulatis fulvis nigro maculatis ; pos- ticis subtus C aureo notatis. Habitat in Asia.” This species is now recognized as equivalent to Angelica, Cramer, pl. 388, an Asiatic species found in India and Japan, materially differing from any American Grapta. In 1775, Fabricius, Syst. Ent. page 506, describes Caurewm nearly in same words, viz: “P. alis dentato-caudatis, fulvis, nigro-maculatis; posticis subtus C aureo notatis. Habitat in Asia,” and refers to Linneus. In 1781, Fabricius, Sp. Ins. LH, p. 94. again describes Cawreum in same words, with same reference to Linnzeus and habitat, but refers also to Cramer, II, pl. 19, fig. E. F. Cramer’s figures purport to represent an American species, which may properly be considered as the one had in view by Fabricius, although there was error in his reference to Linnzeus and in his habitat, caused naturally by the vague description of Linnzeus.. I am satisfied that Cramer’s figures are intended to represent Umbrosa 2, though the execution is wretched. Mr. Scudder conjectured that they might have been taken from a third species possibly to be found in the Southern States and West Indies, and he proposed for this the name Cramerv. But I think the diffi- culty is altogether with the artist. In 1797, ‘Abbot (Insects of Georgia) figured, without description, as C awreum the male Umbrosa. In 1798, Fabricius (Supp’t p. 424), for the first time mentions and describes P. Interrogationis, viz; “alis caudatis fulvis nigro maculatis, subtus glaucis: striga punctorum nigrorum, posticis C aureo notatis. Habitat in America boreali. Nimis affinis L. C aureo at paullo major et alee subtus glauce striga punctorum nigror Uu m. Wings tailed, fulvous spotted with black, beneath ae (i. e. a blue or green inclining to grey or white) with a ¢ransverse band (striga) of black points. * * * * Extremely hike P. Caureum but a little larger and the wings beneath glaucous with a transverse band of black points. GAR APRA. iV: This description applies well to the female Umbrosa, which alone of the sexes of either form can be called glaucous, this word expressing the blue-grey color with which the wings are suffused. It is not often used by Fabricius. In his Ent. Syst. I have been able to discover it but few times. One of these is used in describing the American species, Jegistanis Acheronta, the under side of which is a shade of grey that nearly approaches the female Umérosa. This latter is also distinguished by a row of distinct black points crossing both wings. I conclude therefore that the female Umbrosa is the true Interrogationis, Fab. This was the opinion of Godart. In Ene. Meth. IX, p. 302. he says; “Fabricius has taken the male for C'awrewm of Linnzeus and has made of the female a sepa- rate species under the name of Jnterrogationis.” Boisduval and Leconte give a figure copied from one of Abbot’s drawings, com- posed apparently of the upper surface of Fudricii and the under surface of Umbrosa. The shape is rather that of the latter. These authors state that although there would seem to be more than one species, yet as the caterpillars are the same, the butterflies must be the same also. A correct conclusion from incorrect premises, for it is not implied that caterpillars had been proved to be the same by breeding from the egg, and resemblance in the lary by no means indicates identity in the imago. The figures of Hiibner are admirable, and represent both sexes of Umbrosa, under the name Caureum. I do not find Fubricti anywhere figured except in the wood-cut of the female in Harris. The history of /nterrogationis, and that of Ajaz, illustrates the defects of: the present system of determining genera and species, founded asit is on one stage only of the insect’s existence, and omitting the other three, the egg, larva and chrysalis, from consideration. Certainly all these stages are important, if not equally so, to atrue conception of either genus or species. Even so minute objects as the eggs of butterflies, sometimes scarcely to be distinguished by the naked eye, and always re- quiring examination under the microscope, are found to differ generically in shape and ornamentation as decidedly as do the butterflies produced from them. Noth- ing can be more distinct than the smooth, spherical egg of Papilio, the granuiated, lenticular egg of Parnassius, the fusiform of Pieris, the ribbed ovoid of Vanessa, the sculptured conoid of Argynnis, the dome-topped cylinder of Danais, or the semi-sphere of Pamphila. And so far as | have been able to examine the eggs of our butterflies, those of the same genus, besides bearing a generic resemblance, have each their specific differences. Thus Ajax is distinguishable from Turnus, or Troilus, or Philenor; Philodice from Eurytheme, or Alexandra. So with Diana, Cybele, Aphrodite, and the Satyri and Hesperide. The larvee and chysalids also fall naturally into groups, or in other words dif- fer generically, though genera founded upon these groupings would disarrange very materially many of the highly artificial divisions at present recognised, And they differ individually so that one need neyer be mistaken for another, even in such cases of similarity as in the larvee of L. Disippus and L. Ursula. But, inasmuch as the imago is the only one of the four stages that is usually known, the determining characters are sought in it alone, in the distribution of the neryures, in peculiarities of legs, palpi and antenn, form of wings and markings GRAP TA Ve or coloration. Nearly all these are generic, that is, they belong to all the mem~- bers of a group, and the last two only, markings and coloration, are relied on for separating species. These are always variable, “and to distinguish between essential and non-essential variations is often very much a matter of individual judgment where one may be right or wrong and where opinions will differ. Many species are distinct beyond all doubt, but very often one form runs into another, or seems to branch from another, or several seem to be intermediate between two that are themselves distinct. To determine therefore which of these is a good species, and which is a variety, is difficult and almost always unsatisfactory. So in this un- certainty some naturalists name as distinct every form that presents differences that are tangible enough to be described intelligibly, while others rest upon the broad and comfortable ground that closely allied, or even tolerably distinct, forms in which there ean be shown intergrades, are to be classed as a species and its varieties. Notwithstanding, it is certain that, among the butterflies, the prepara- tory stages of such allied forms are often found to be abundantly distinct, as in the case of the Graptas C album, Satyrus and Comma, all of which, judging by the imago alone, might be considered as one species, and indeed have been by expert lepidopteri ists. Y et, the larvee of all of them being known, they are shown to be not merely distinct species but separated by a much wider interval than are many others. On the other hand, and exactly the reverse of this, imagos »ndeniably distinct may prove to be but one and the same species, as in the case of the two varieties of Interrogationis and the three of Ajax. No doubt very many of the present names of species of butterflies are to be re- garded as pr ovisional, always subject to rectification. But before the first step can be taken towards correct knowledge, differing forms of imago must be distinguished by name so as to be recognised and their study faciliated, agen’ of being thr own together indiscriminately, and lost sight of as varieties of this or that eee when in most cases absolutely nothing is known about them, and any opinion i is, at best, but guess-work. But ‘when such forms are found by breeding from the eve to be only | varieties, they will take their proper places in the Catalogues and yet ‘lose no- thing of interest, and will help to form the material by which ‘the naturalists of the happy future will read clearly the riddles that as yet perplex us. y Fate i i : We Drawn by Mary Peart L Bowen, Ith Phil® SYAIPNGRQUNSY Wy 2B Ge ah Or Zl a ARIA ZEPHYEU'S. 5) 6.6; 7 2: 8 LARVA. 9| CHRYSALIS GRAPTA VI. GRAPTA SATYRUS. Grapta Satyrus, (Sat'-y-rus) Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1870. Mare.—Expands 2 inches. Primaries moderately incised and dentated; tail long, tapering; anal angle produced. Upper side uniform yellow-fulyous, dusky at base, and spotted with blackish brown; marginal borders narrow, often obsolete next margin, so that but a Tine or stripe of brown remains within; a large subapical spot on costal margin of prima- ries, and a second covering the are, sub-rectangular, dilated on costa; other spots as in Comma and allied species; marginal border of secondaries preceded by a series of irregular pale brown or ferruginous patches, usually more or less obsolete, but sometimes crossing the entire wing; a large blackish spot on middle of costal margin, another in cell, the two often confluent, and a small spot at origin of the upper median neryules; fringes dark brown, white in the emarginations. Under side marbled in shades of brown, more or less suffused with yellow; the basal area, occupying nearly half the wings, limited by a line that is angular on primaries, wavy in secondaries, as in Comma, on the inner side of which the shade of brown is darkest; in cell of primaries three elongated brown spots edged by darker lines, the extra basal space more or less tinted with yellow, much covered with fine, abbreviated, ferruginous streaks; apex of primaries yellow-brown, some- times tinted with olivaceous, enclosing three ferruginous points and limited below by a ferruginous line running back from the angle of margin; sub-apical patch greyish-white; incision bordered by a broad band which anteriorly is black and en- closes luteous lunules; secondaries have a similar but abbreviated border next aboye the tail, and posteriorly traces of such a border, obsolete; a sub-marginal ferruginous or olivaceous are from anal angle to tail, and similar colored subapical patch; both wings crossed by an extra discal row of black dots, not complete except at the extremities; silver mark shaped like an inverted C, large, open, often very slender, barbed at lower extremity. Body fulvous above, beneath either yellow-grey or vinous; legs pale buff, pro- legs vinous, with blackish stripe on front; palpi buff below, fulvous at tip; antennee dark brown aboye, buff below; club black, buff at tip. GRAPTA VI. FremMALe.—Same size. Similar in form and on upper side similar in color and markings; beneath nearly uniform wood, or olivaceous brown, or vinous, with markings as in male, but indistinct and more or less obsolete; silver mark very slender and open, slightly barbed. Found in the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado, and in California and Oregon. I am indebted to R. H. Stretch, Esq., for the drawing of the larva, and the following description. Mature Larya. Head black, angular, bilobed, spiny and with a spiny tuber- cle at each of the upper angles; color of body black with a broad, greenish-white dorsal stripe, which on the anterior segments is clouded with black; on each seg- ment, on this stripe, is a fine V-shaped black mark having its angle at the dorsal spine; the spines form seven rows; the dorsal greenish-white, wanting on the first four segments; the first lateral row of same color, present on all segments from the second; the second lateral row black, the third greenish-white, wanting on the first four and terminal segments, and springing from an infra-stigmatal line of samecolor; all the spines are thinly covered with short, bristling, concolored hairs, except that those near the tips of the white spines are blackish. Found on nettles, (Urtiea) at Congress Springs, Santa Clara Co., California. Mr. Henry Edwards also writes, San Francisco, 26th March 1872. “The larva No. 4 on your plate is same as one I raised last year, which produced the male I now send you (Safyrus). I had two others exactly like it, but they died before coming to maturity. Their food was the stinging nettle and I could not get any of this plant in the city to keep them alive. I mention this to show that the coloring of the larya is constant, as if the same in four individuals, it is pretty good proof that the likeness extends throughout the species.” Satyrus forms one of the remarkable group, the several members of which re- semble one or other of the phases of C album, and to which I have referred in the notes to Comma. It as yet has nowhere been found common. Mr. Mead saw not more than half a dozen specimens in Colorado, where Zephyrus was abundant. I have also received it from the Island of San Juan, taken in company with G. Silenus. GRAPTA VI. GRAPTA ZEPHYRUS. Grapta Zephyrus (Zeph’-y-rus), Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. 1870. Mate.—Expands 1.8 to 2 inches. Primaries deeply incised, moderately dentated; secondaries have posteriorly three prominent dentations, usually equal, sometimes the second produced; tail long, united at base with third dentation; outer angle strongly produced, and margin deeply incised. Upper side fiery-red fulvous, fading into yellow fulvous on disk; primaries have a narrow fuscous border often suffused with ferruginous, preceded throughout by a series of elongated yellow lunules; the border of secondaries still narrower, often interrupted, sometimes ferruginous, and supporting large yellow lunules, which are rather indistinct in outline, and always confluent; primaries havea large subapical ferruginous patch, a smaller one near inner angle; a large black spot, depressed, covering the are, frequently much dilated on costa; five small black spots arranged as in the allied species; secondaries have the outer limb more or less irrorated with ferruginous, forming a sort of band anterior to the yellow lunules; a large black patch on middle of costa and a small sub-triangular spot on are, sometimes connected with the patch; fringes fuscous at tips of neryules and somewhat on the interspaces, mixed irregularly with yellow and white. Under side grey-brown, but varying much in individuals, in some the grey shade predominating, giving a hoary appearance to the whole surface, others quite dark, but all densely covered with fine, abbreviated lines darker than the ground; the basal space is usually brown, limited on the disk by a moderately irregular outline, very closely as in Gracilis and Progne, well defined except against cell of primaries; in the cell three elongated brown spots edged with black, two being in line next sub-costal and the third against the space that is between the two others and next median; both wings have an extra-discal complete row of black points, edged by luteous scales, often conspicuously, except those on costal margin of primaries which are edged anteriorly by small pure white lunations; three dark brown serrated spots at apex; the incision bordered by a cinereous, sometimes plumbaginous, wavy line, edged anteriorly by velvety black; on sec- ondaries a similar line, but interrupted beyond the tail and frequently there obsolete; costal margin of primaries marked with irregular patches of dark brown and grey white; edge of inner margin of same wings and of costal of secondaries beaded with brown and white; discal silver spot narrow, bent at an angle of about fifty degrees, not barbed, but acuminate at either extremity, the limbs either of even length or the lower one shorter. Body fulvous, beneath grey-brown; legs grey; palpi grey, blackish in front GRAPTA VI. and at tip; antenne brown annulated with whitish beneath; club black, yellow at tip. FremaLe.—Same size. Upper side less intense, margins more yellow; beneath lighter colored than most males, but similarly marked. Mature Larva—Length 1.5 inch. Body furnished with six rows of many branching spines; head black, with short black spines at vertices; segments from second to eighth, both inclusive, bright buff inclining to orange; remaining segments pure white. Along the sides are two wayed orange lines uniting irregularly; the interspaces, which are buff or white, according as they are anterior or posterior, are marked with black dots; above the orange lines are some faint black lines, and some black patches are discernible at the base of lateral spines; spiracles black, broadly bordered with white; under side dull flesh color; feet and pro-legs black with pinkish tinge. Curysauis.—Length 1 inch. Color brown, the general shape as in Comma, but the mesonotal process more prominent and rounded; the palpi cases more produced and compressed at base; the upper tubercles silvered. To Mr. Henry Edwards I am indebted for the foregoing description of the larva and chrysalis, and to Mr. Stretch for the drawings reproduced on the plate. Mr. Edwards informs me that this larva was taken by him in July, 1871, in the Yo Semite Valley, and was feeding on Azaha occidentalis, a most unexpected food-plant for larvee of Grapta. It was raised to maturity, the change to chrysalis occuring 29th of July, and the butterfly emerged 15th of August. The similarity of this larva to that of Ca/bum is remarkable, inasmuch as the butterflies belong to different groups of the genus, while the larvee of Comma and Satyrus, which species in the imago resemble phases of C’ album, are wholly unlike the larva of the latter. In the description of Zephyrus, I have spoken of the three elongated spots in cell of primaries on under surface. These are found, similar in shape and scarcely varying in position, in all the smaller Graptas. In Progne there are very rarely in- stances of same peculiarity, but almost inyariably the two upper spots are united and produced so as to form a long, narrow band running from subcostal obliquely to median at base,and the third spot is produced in the same manner and runs paral- lel to the other. Out of numbers of Graptas of other species, [ have found no instance of these parallel bands except in Progne. In the figure of C Argenteum, (synonymous with Progne) in Kirby’s Fauna Bor. Amer. these stripes are well in- dicated. GRAPTA VI. In Grapta Interrogationis there are also found three cellular spots, but dif- ferent in shape and position from those before mentioned; one being sub-rhom- boidal, depending from subcostal and running obliquely back to a point on a central line from base; just below this spot and a little anterior, and separated, starting from the central line, is another spot of nearly same shape that extends to median, the two forming a broken line; near base, running with the central line is the third spot, small, long oval. In J album, which should be classed with the Graptas, very much such an arrangement of the three spots occurs as in Interroga- tionis, but the two outer spots are connected at their angles on the central line, and the smaller one is much enlarged. In the true Vanessans there are also three cel- lular spots, but more widely differing still from those of the small Graptas. In Antiopa the lower spot is turned obliquely to the upper, the position of this last and the basal spot being much as in Jnterrogationis. In Milbertii the two outer spots are large and confluent forming a broad zigzag band across cell; the third spot does not run with the central line but crosses it obliquely from its origin on median near base. In Californica the arrangement is much as in J/ilbertii. Such features illustrate affinities, and also show how a genus becomes broken into groups with a tendency to further division. Zephyrus was taken abundantly by Mr. Mead, during the mouth of August, 1871, in Colorado, and was found throughout the State wherever collections were made, frequently in company with a small species allied to Faunus, to which I have given the name of Hylas, and of Vanessa Antiopa. Mr. Mead writes, “On the 28th, on South Park road, in the mountains about twenty miles from the Park, I found a large, smooth rock, exposed to the sun, on which were several Graptas, ZLephyrus and a species numbered three (//y/as). On this rock and in immediate vicinity I captured twenty Zephyrus and five of the other. I had previously, on the 16th, found both species together in the vicinity of Berthoud’s Pass, where fifteen of the smaller one were taken with a few Zephyrus, on a small patch of flowers high up the mountain. These were the only occasions on which the small Grapta (Hylas) was seen.” TI have also received Zephyrus from Nevada, and from Fort Simpson, Mackenzies River. Fs a - m ive ware * 2 eno yee he Bayt. co n a hs LIMENITIS I. LIMENITIS PROSERPINA. 1—4, Limenitis Proserpina, (Pros-er'-pi-na,) % , Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soe. Phila. 1865, p. 148; Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. I, p 286, 1867. Mare. Expands 2.25 inches. Upper side black, secondaries only having a slight-bluish (occasionally green- ish) tinge; hind margins of secondaries bordered by a double row of blue (or green) crescents ; the submarginal row is continued on primaries, but is indistinct, almost obsolete; beyond the crescents, on secondaries, is a row of russet spots surmounted by blue (or green) scales, which are more or less conspicuous ; in some specimens the russet spots are distinct across the whole wing, in some two or three only are seen, and in others they are altogether wanting; the blue scales or spots make a circular band across secondaries, and are continued across primaries with more or less distinctness (often becoming whitish) to the costa, and correspond with the white band of under surface; the contour of this band above is like that of Arthe- mis, and it terminates on the costa in a white streak; there is also a white subapi- cal spot divided into two or three by the neryules; emarginations white. Under side brown, varying in shade from blackish to russet, and in this re- spect and in markings remarkably like Arthemis, except that the white band of the latter is here always slight and sometimes partly wanting; both wings have a dou- ble row of blue (or green) crescents, preceded by a row of rounded russet spots, large on secondaries, and on these, edged aboye and below with black; the spot at inner angle of primaries is wanting; above the-russet spots is a curved whitish band or streak, common to both wings, sometimes half the width of the band of Arthemis, but sometimes indicated by a few scales only above the russet spots; the subapical spot and costal streak of upper side repeated conspicuously ; base of wings marked by russet spots edged with black; between these are metallic blue (or green) patches as in Arthemis. Body below white; fore legs white; palpi white, edged with black; antenne and club black, tipped with ferruginous. Femate. Expands 2.5 inches. Similar in markings. This fine species I first noticed in the Catskills, in 1863, when a single male in not very good condition was taken. In 1867, I found it abundant in the Stoney Clove and from 2nd to 4th July, took several fresh specimens. In the latter part of July and first ten days of August 1868, I saw many more, of both sexes, both LIMENITIS f. in Stoney Clove and upon the Clove road, south of the Mountain House, but all were much rubbed and broken. They should be sought for early in July in that region. : Gerla NEI te A. . In the collection of Mr Charles Wilt, of Philadelphia, are two females, from one of which the figure in the plate is taken. These specimens are rather lar- ger than those found in the Catskills. They are understood to have been taken in the Mountains of Pennsylvania, but in what locality is not now known, as they were supposed to be a variety of Ursula. Proserpina has the same habits, and, in the Catskills, the same season, as Ar- themis, with which it associates, frequenting the forest paths, rarely seen in the open country, and always attracted by any animal matter. It is much less abundant than Arthemis, ands more shy and difficult of capture, flying into the trees at the slightest alarm. It unites the characters of Ursula and Arthemis in a singular manner. Excepting the white band on primaries, the upper surface is that of Ur- sula, while the lower is very near Arthemis, varying in shades of ground color from dark to light brown and reddish-brown as does the latter species. Mr. Scudder has not noticed Proserpina among the White Mountains, but it will probably be found there. LIMENITIS II. LIMENITIS WEIDEMEYERII. 1—4. Limenitis Weidemeyerii, Edwards, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1861. Mate. Expands 2.6 inches. Upper side brownish-black with a broad,common, white band a little beyond the middle of wings, bent towards costa on primaries and tapering posteriorly on secondaries, divided into long spots by the black nervures; outside the band, on secondaries, a row of fulvous spots more or less obsolete ; on both wings a submar- ginal series of small white spots, minute or obsolete on secondaries; anterior to these, on costal margin of primaries, a short, transverse row of four white spots, the second from costa largest, the fourth minute. Under side paler with the band and costal spots as above ; the fulvous spots on secondaries large; acommon, sub-marginal series of large lunules, (bluish- white except towards apex, where the inner portion is white,) cut transversely and unequally by a crenated black line that is parallel to the margin; on primaries a ferruginous bar upon the are, followed within the cell successively by blue atoms, a bluish-white bar, ferruginous patch, and the blue atoms near base; costa ferru- ginous; on secondaries, the entire abdominal margin up to median and the costa next base, bluish-white, the nervures being heavy and black; rest of basal space between costal and median blue-grey, crossed irregularly by black stripes. Body aboye black, abdomen beneath white, with a white stripe laterally ; legs black, white on under side; palpi white, black above ; antennz and club black. Femate. Expands 3 inches; similar in colors and markings to male. Larva unknown. Found in Colorado; common in vicinity of Pike’s Peak, according to Mr. Ridings, who collected in that region in 1864. wy . 7 -_ > "ht, GF G y ae f ; 5 £ r - - i a i 7 at =~ Ses n We =i Lo as > 7 > * a 4 © @} ©. i i = : Lae es : = joaeh si. 7 ' 5 Br at ro : ; a 25 ST ELE oF 7 od) co i 7 = JAG. = L/T Md TeV Ghigo’ | Mi & - . ' i it ‘ i i 3 ‘ ( oat Ls : = = = ' tt wes 7 in d 4s rire a f J Te —iocee apne ee i y ns! oe : aie kk oly ¢ g i reef ‘| NS . ' 2 Me gap St aby hl’ ke SRE Se —— 3 7 rata) be u j if. wey. ¥ © mad 7 = 4 eee ‘ : — vis forette iy tit i - - G : ; el, Lt eS ay aA Oe ALT Oa 7 y , - 7 , ‘| i y Lie Tr Ris aa! Hin serie : ' a a ee r : PRIS Sie Mi Lathe ie : +: P nt E x ‘ a \reean gel < wis PF ; rat £ q a wu : ¥ = : Hes Sith a le eo) ae ; cf shh) teach att Oe five pio 7 : iv¢ bey brit LIMENITIS II. LIMENITIS LORQUINI. 1—4. Limenitis Lorquini, Boisduval, Ann. Ent. Soc. France, 1852. Mate. Expands 2.4 inches. Upper side dark velvety brown except the apex and upper part of hind mar- gin of primaries, which is fulvous; both wings crossed by a yellowish-white medi- an band separated into spots by the nervules and bent forward nearly at right an- gles on costal margin of primaries; midway between the band and apex an abbre- viated row of four small white spots depending from the costa; near anal angle two small, rather indistinct, fulvous spots; fringes dark brown, white in the emargina- tions. Under side ferruginous except base and inner margin of primaries, which are fuscous, and base of secondaries which is fuscous mottled with ferruginous; the spots as on upper side, but in addition, a submarginal common series of bluish- white lunules and sagittate spots, each, except the apical, edged above with fuscous. Shoulder and abdominal margin of secondaries broadly bordered with bluish-white, and the ferruginous spots of basal space partly covered with same color. Body dark brown above, with a lateral white line near extremity of abdomen ; thorax grey and fulvous; legs fuscous; palpi white, dark brown above; antenn and club dark brown, tip ferruginous. Frmate. Expands 2.7 inches. In color and markings similar to the male. According to Dr. Behr, “the caterpillar feeds on willows and looks very like that of Dissippus as figured by Boisduval and Leconte, the fleshy spines of the neck being considerably shorter and whole coloration of a brighter green.” Mr, Henry Edwards says of the imago, “It is always found where Willows grow, fly- ing up and down pathways in the hottest sunshine. It alights frequently and is an easy prey to the collector. I have never found it far from the vicinity of water.” has ea 7 BREDOWITI eee LIMENITIS IY. LIMENITIS BREDOWII. 1—3. Limenitis Bredowiti, Hubner, Zuirage vy, pl. 10. Lulalia, Doubleday, Gen. Diur. Lep., pl. 36. Bois. Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr., 1852. Edwards, Proce. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1862. Californica, Butler Mate. Expands nearly three inches. Upper side velvety olive brown, deepest on outer limb; hind margins bordered by a broad crenated band, ( paler than disk, ) through which runs a dark line; a large golden yellow apical spot fills the space between the marginal band and the narrow costal border of primaries; across the disk a common white band, com- mencing on costa of primaries with a large spot cut into three by the nervures, fol- lowed by a second, oval, separated from the first by a wide space and out of line in the direction of inner angle; after this, the band is uninterrupted except by the brown neryures, and diminishes to a point a little within abdominal margin; on are of primaries, a narrow ferruginous bar and another in the cell, each edged by black wayy lines; a similar line midway between the bars; at anal angle a black spot within a ferruginous lunule; fringes brown, white in the emarginations. Under side pale brown, with a bronze lustre on secondaries; primaries have a brgad, brown hind margin, crenated next inner angle, with a faint pale blue line running through it and edged anteriorly by a narrow pale blue band; sub-apical spot as above, paler; below this to inner margin dark velvety brown; the white band as above; bars in cell large, pale fulvous; marginal border of secondaries narrow, crenated, enclosing a blue line and bordered anteriorly by a broad blue band; the white band is edged without and at its extremity suffused with pale blue in- clining to purple; beyond to base bars of blue alternating with yellow-brown from costal to median nervures; abdominal margin blue, especially next base; the ner- vures about base much bordered by blue. Body above olive-brown, beneath white; palpi white below, brown above; antenne and club dark brown. This beautiful species connects the genera of Limenitis and Heterochroa. Tt is found more or less throughout California, especially in the southern counties, frequenting wooded valleys, and is of similar habits to Lorquini. Respecting its habits Mr. Henry Edwards writes, “This is a far more local insect than Lorguini, and is neyer found in any great numbers. Its usual haunts are in snacly canons and by the side of creeks. Its flight is slow and graceful and it occasionally floats along with outspread wings for a considerable distance. It frequently alights near small pools of water and is greatly attracted by any offen- sive odor. I have more than once seen it in the vicinity of slaughter houses, alighting upon the foul drainage from these places.” Of the larva, I am unable to obtain any information. \ - wy We i ila eciryt : uh cs hale “1 ae ociaes S ee 7 a ¥, 7 tebe Tel tiene F sil Lr Peet! es my! 1a See cK si; Pa Giles “ee sit at ywiny G GP Serta: 4; OPE OT See , Wale rer 2 ay, h (POG pales a => Ul ! APATURA I. APATURA ALICIA, new species, 1—4. Mar. Expands 2.5 inches. Upper side: primaries tawny at base, along inner margin, upon hind margin above inner angle, and within the cell; rest of wing fuscous; in the second me- dian interspace a large black ocellus with tawny iris; upon the outer limb two transverse rows of spots, the sub-marginal of four, white, extending from costa to the ocellus, rounded or oval, except the second which is cordate and outside the line; the median row, sinuous, of seven, large, yellowish-white, the fifth nearly twice the size of any other, the fourth smallest and the two last connected, all rounded or oval; a black bar at extremity of cell and two rounded spots near base. Secondaries tawny, fuscous upon costa and upon margin at outer angle; hind margin bordered by two lines, of which the outer one is heavy and parallel to mar- gin, the inner is delicate, sinuous from the middle to outer angle; across the disk a row of six oval black spots, the first, third, fourth and fifth nearly equal in size, the second much larger than either of the others and the sixth smallest ; beyond these an indistinct sinuous brown line and two marks in the cell; on middle of costa a large yellow-white patch ; fringes alternate white and fuscous. Under side of primaries grey white next base and pale yellow-brown on inner margin; the apical half much clouded with fuscous; upon hind margin a dull ferruginous line, anterior to which is a second, fuscous, less distinct, partly sinuous, and serving as the outer edge of the fuscous space; two black ocelli, with five brown irides, one corresponding to that of upper surface, the other near apex, small and enclosing a cordate white spot; the other spots as aboye but more dif- fused and purer white towards costa; across the disk a sinuous blackish band bor- dering the inner edge of the row of spots; the black marks in cell as above. Secondaries grey-white with a pearly or lilac tinge; hind margin pale brown ; across the disk anterior to and partly embracing the ocelli a narrow cloud of pale fus- cous; upon hind margin a line like that on primaries, preceded by a second cor- responding to that of upper side; beyond the clouded space a brown sinuous line running from costal neryure nearly across the wing, then half-way towards and over to abdominal margin, forming in the last of its course two crenations, the an- terior of which encloses an oval black spot edged by light brown; in the cella bar and two small spots, and a third next above the cell on subcostal; six ocelli cor- responding to the black spots of upper surface, but smaller, the last one duplex, each surrounded by a brown iris and dark halo and enclosing a metallic green pupil. APATURA Ie Body above tawny, beneath soiled white; legs yellowish; palpi same, tipped with fuscous; antennee brown, annulated with white, club blackish above, ferru- ginous below, yellowish at tip. Femate. Expands 2.3 inches. Primaries less produced and much broader than in male; secondaries broad and rounded; the color of under surface more purple, but otherwise like the male. This species is allied to Cé/éts in shape and general markings, but is much larger with the spots and ocelli relatively larger, and is of quite different coloring. The only specimens I have seen are those figured on the plate. They were sent me from New Orleans, and were taken in the vicinity. PAPHITA. PAPHIA GLYCERIUM. 1—6. Paphia Glycerium, Doubleday, Gen, Diur. Lep, pl. 50. Riley. Am. Ent. Feb. 1870. Mate. Expands 1.7 inch. Upper side copper red; hind margins edged by a black border with grey or purple reflections ; on the are of primaries a black band, a patch on costa of second- aries and a stripe near outer angle. Under side dead-leaf brown, with a grey lustre, tinted on inner margin of primaries with reddish, and throughout densely covered with dark scales; the basal half of both wings deep-colored, limited with- out by a wavy edge; beyond this, and reaching to the dark marginal border, a broad, wavy band of paler color, bifurcated on costal margin; a small cluster of luteous scales in sub-costal interspace of secondaries and on middle of disk. Body above reddish brown, beneath color of wings; legs buff; palpi grey brown; antenne black above, reddish below. Femate. Expands 1.9 inch. Upper side pale red; marginal border of primaries very broad, enclosing a yellow-red, wavy band, imperfectly bifurcated; on secondaries a similar band, contracted at outer angle, much expanded on disk and partly enclosed by a black stripe from outer angle; under side vinous brown, with grey reflec- tions. The larva when young is light bluish green thickly covered with soiled white papille. Scattered among these are light orange papille of a larger size with oe- casionally one of brown. These papille are hemispherical, hard, opaque and shin- ing, and the larva feels rough and harsh to the touch. At each moult some of the papillee disappear, especially all the brown ones, the green shade becomes more apparent and the skin softer. Mature larva; length 1.55 inch; cylindrical, tapering each way from third segment; color light bluish green; surface rough, covered with whitish papille ; head sub-quadrate, bilobed, bluish green, a pair of orange papille on vertex; neck green, constricted, retracted within second segment when at rest; spiracles brown- ish yellow. Chrysalis at first light green, soon changing to whitish green or to light cinerous brown; the whole surface indistinctly marked with fine parallel streaks of darker color; in form short, thick, gibbous, the abdominal segments contracted almost into a hemisphere. BEASP AH IEACS The genus Paphia contains a number of species which inhabit the tropical rezions of America, from Mexico to Brazil, but Glyceriwm is the only one whose range is known to extend into the United States. It is found upon the prairies of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Texas. I have never seen it on the wing, but am indebted principally to Dr. L. K. Hayhurst, of Sedalia, Mo., for copious notes upon its habits and for descriptions, as also for the drawing of the food-plant, larva and chrysalis represented on the plate. Dr. Hayhurst says: “The larvee feed on the plant commonly known as Wild Sage, Croton capitatum, as many as a dozen individuals being sometimes found on one low bush. “The leaf of this plant is ovate-lanceolate, about two inches long and three fourths inch broad. On the mid-rib the larva extends itself, its head toward base of leaf and attaches a thread to the edge at about one third the distance from base to apex. By a tension on the thread it draws this edge partly towards the other and there fastens it, being assisted by the natural tendency of the leaf to curl in- ward. The operation is repeated until the edges meet, when the larva proceeds to join them firmly, almost to the apex, leaving a small opening through which to eject its castings. “ During the heat of the day, it remains concealed, but towards evening comes out to feed, though sometimes it feeds upon its own house, eating the leaf half way down from base to point, then abandoning it and rolling up a new one. “When placed in a cool, shaded room, the larve seldom rolled up leaves, but fed at random over the plant, and when at rest simply lay extended on the leaves. Many, though not all, of the rolled leaves that I cut open, were completely lined with a closely woven coating of strong white silk. “Tn a glass breeding cage, the larva will travel over the sides as readily as over a rough surface. ‘This it does by spinning a sort of rope-ladder in advance, describing segments of circles by the motion of its head from one side to the other. “ When ready to transform it spins a button of white silk on the under side of a leaf or branch, and, fastening the anal legs therein, doubles upon itself until the extremities meet. In this position it remains about twenty four hours when it suddenly throws off its larval skin and becomes a chrysalis. Some of my chrysa- lids were eighteen and twenty days before the butterfly emerged. “The flight of the butterfly is exceedingly rapid, with a dry, whistling sound. Although easily alarmed it seldom leaves a favorite locality, but continues to fly about until danger has passed. It is curious as the Vanessas, and I have several times taken it by standing motionless, when after numberless rapid circlings and dashes about me, it would suddenly alight on the ring of my net. os PAP HEAS “Undoubtedly this species hybernates. Early in November the butterflies that I had bred from larve were still active but had gone into winter quarters among the dried leayes and stems of the food plant in the breeding cage, selecting the closest, narrowest corners and squeezing themselves in. After the weather had become quite cold I put the cage into a dark cellar and left it there about a week when I brought it back to the warm room. ‘The butterflies were dormant but soon revived and flew about as briskly as ever. I then returned them to the cellar where they remained till the Spring when I brought them out and placed them in the sun. After a few hours two revived and flew about the room. The other was dead. “During last winter, (1870) in February, a tree was felled cn the line of the railroad on which I was at work. As it fell it split open and was found to be hollow. The cavity was partly filled with dirt and hickory-nut shells, but among the stuff that fell out were some twenty butterflies, mostly Vanessas—Antiopa and Atalanta. But among these were seven specimens of Glycerium. “This species has but one brood. I have noticed that the food plant does not sprout up and leaf sufficiently to support the larvee before Ist of July. “T have found the butterfly very common wherever the food plant occurs throughout South Western Missouri, Southern Kansas, the Indian Nations and in Texas, particularly on the dry hills bordering on the Brazos River.” I have also received notes respecting this species from Mr. J. H. Muhleman, of Woodburn, Ills., who seems to have first observed its transformations. Mr. Muhleman says, “I am satisfied that there is but one brood. Last year I examined the food plant during seyeral months, but found no larvee till September. The but- terfly is shy and difficult to capture. I have observed it in orchards resting on the sunny side of the trees, at other times on the road or upon the fences, and it has much the appearance of a Vanessa, only while this last rests with wings half spread, the other rests with wings closed. I have found the lary from 5rd September to 30th The chrysalis state lasts from 10 to 14 days. My last butterfly ap- peared 10th of October. At this date, 25th of Jan., I have two living specimens, proving the fact of the hybernation of the species.” THECLA I. THECLA LAETA. 1—4. Thecla leta, Edwards, $ , Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862. 9, Thecla Clothilde, Edw. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 1863. Mater. Expands .9 inch. Upper side black; near base of primaries a few scales of deep metallic blue ; next anal angle of secondaries a band of same color, which extends half way along the hind margin, many of the scales being replaced by black ; beyond this band a fine line of blue scales follows the margin to outer angle; anal angle edged with red; fringe grey. Under side of secondaries and apex and costal margin of primaries slate blue - with a green reflection ; costal edge of primaries red; disk of same wings smoke color; beyond the cell, on costal margin, a transverse, abbreviated series of five small red spots, edged posteriorly with white, the last two obscured by the smoky hue of the disk. Secondaries have two series of red spots parallel to the hind margin; those of the exterior small and towards the outer angle minute, each more or less surrounded by a delicate white border, in which are a few black scales; the inner series crosses the middle of the wing, is sinuous, the spots large, brighter red and crescent shaped, bordered posteriorly with white in which are a few black scales; edge of the wing at anal angle and at the intersection of the adjoining nervures red ; thorax and abdomen above black, beneath white; legs and antennze annulated white and black ; palpi white; club black, red at tip. Femare. Expands 1.1 inch. Upper side black ; the base of primaries, and inner margin for two-thirds its length, and all of secondaries, except the costa, dark metallic blue. Under side greenish-grey, losing the green tinge on inner margin of primaries; in addition to the five spots on disk of male are two blackish, rather indistinct spots, below the others, nearer the base. Canada; Maine; West Virginia. The male of deta originally described was one of two taken near London, Canada, by Mr. Saunders in 1861. In April of the present year (1868) at Coal- burgh, Kanawha Co. W. Va., I was called by a laborer to look at a “fly” in a post hole that he was digging beneath a hop vine, which “fly” he supposed he had brought to light in his operations. I took the insect between thumb and finger, THECLA I. and very much to my surprise it proved to be a perfect specimen of deta female, that doubtless had been at rest on the vine, and chilled by the cool morning air had been suddenly jarred from its place into the hole. ‘The difference in color be- tween the male and female is much of the same nature as between the sexes of Thecla Poeas, the female being much more highly ornamented with blue than the male. The sexes in Vheela have similar markings on under surface and are easily identified by that means. On comparison, this female proved to be identical with Thecla Clothilde, which I described in 1865 from a worn and faded specimen re- ceived from Rey. Mr. Provancher, near Quebec, having then no suspicion of its affinity to deta. Mr. Scudder, in his Supplement to a List of the Butterflies of New England (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1868), mentions Clothilde as having been taken near Paris, Maine, on 22nd July. The Theclas are widely dispersed, but are rarely met with and are difficult of capture from their extreme restlessness and activity, darting about with so rapid, jerking a motion that it is almost impossible for the eye to follow them. The pre- sent species is tropical in its coloring and seems quite out of latitude in the North- ern States. THECLA ACADICA. 5—7. Thecla Acadica, Edwards, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862. Mate. Expands 1.2 inch. Upper side dark brown; costal edge of primaries red; on the disk a smooth oval spot; secondaries have a single tail (unless the very slight projection at extrem- ity of the second median nervule be so designated) which is black, edged towards an- al angle and tipped with white ; from its base a bluish white line extends along the margin to the anal angle; the space next above this line sprinkled slightly with fulyous scales making a broad band more or less distinct, which terminates beyond the tail in a clear fulvous spot; fringe of both wings fuscous, at the anal angle black, next before the tail white, beyond it black through which runs a white line. Under side grey with a pearly lustre (but sometimes brownish-grey or even sordid grey-white) ; on primaries a short discal bar edged with white; beyond this, a bent, transverse row of black spots each surrounded by white, the one next costa minute, the next three round, fourth and fifth oval and sixth double; within and along the margin a row of elongated pale fulvous spots, gradually be- coming obsolete towards apex, narrowly edged on the inner side by black on which rests a line of bluish-white. THECLA I. Secondaries have a long discal streak, a curved transverse row of black spots and streaks, each surrounded or edged by white, the six from costa nearly round, the fifth being anterior to the general line, the seventh long and bent towards anal angle, the last a streak running up the margin and bent near its inner extremity ; hind margin edged with whitish and bordered by a vermillion (sometimes orange) band which is divided by the neryures into spots, each of which is arched aboye and edged with black on which rests a line of bluish white; this band extends some distance up the abdominal margin and encloses, on hind margin near anal an- gle, a large rounded space sprinkled with blue atoms; the three or four red spots next outer angle partly obsolete and the spot next the blue patch sometimes edged on the marginal side by black ; in some specimens a black edge at anal angle. Body above dark brown, below greyish-white ; legs greyish-white ; palpi white, at extremity black tipped with white; antennze black annulated with white; club black, reddish at tip. Femae. Same size. Similar to the male, only wanting the oval spot on pri- maries. Taken in Canada, near London, and in various parts of New England and New York. I have received from My. Saunders a description of the larva and chrysalis of this species as follows : “ Found feeding on willow, June 11, 1865, June 18, 1866, and about middle of June 1867 and 1868. Length 0.65 inch; onisciform. Head very small, pale brown and shining, drawn within the second segment when at rest. Body above green, of a moderately dark shade, thickly covered with very short whitish hairs, scarcely visible without a magnifier. Body thickest from third to tenth segments ; a dorsal line of a darker shade of green than the rest of body. Dorsal region flat, rather wide and bordered with a raised whitish-yellow line, beginning at the third segment and growing fainter on twelfth and thirteenth. Sides of body inclined at an almost acute angle and striped with faint oblique lines of greenish-yellow. A whitish-yellow line borders the under surface beginning at the anterior edge of sec- ond segment, and extending entirely around the body to a point opposite the place of beginning; this line is raised in the same manner as that bordering the dorsal ridge. Twelfth and thirteenth segments much flattened. Under surface similar to upper, with the same coating of short fine hairs; feet and prolegs partake of the general color. In a younger specimen the head was almost black with a streak of white across the mandibles. The under side was rather deeper in color than upper, with a faint bluish tint. “Chrysalis 0.32 inch long; greatest width 0.15 inch; thickly covered with minute hairs. Color pale brown with many dots and patches of a darker shade ; THECLA If. a dark ventral stripe from seventh to terminal segments; sides of body with four or five short lines of dark brown. The duration of the chrysalis state is about eight or nine days. I have had specimens enter the chrysalis as late as July 3rd.” Since the description of Acadica, in 1862, some of our lepidopterists have doubted if this species was not identical with falacer;Godart, and of Bois. and Lee. Messrs. Grote and Robinson haye contributed some valuable papers on this and al- lied Theclas to the Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1867, and show clearly that falacer of Godart and of the text of Bois. and Lec. (but not of the plate,) and of Harris, Ins. Mass. is properly 7. Calanus, Westwood; that falacer of Bois. and Lee. plate, is a distinct species, now called inorata, G. & R.; and that Acadica differs from either. The latter is readily distinguished from the others by the color of its under surface, the extra-discal band of spots, and the extended yermillion border. The flowers in the accompanying Plate are said to be varieties of Phlox diva- ricata, and are common in the woods throughout the Kanawha district in the months of April and May. THECLA II. THECLA ONTARIO. 1—2. Thecla Ontario, Kdwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. ii, p. 209, 1869. Mate. Expands 1.1 inch. Upper side dark brown, color of 7. Acadica ; on costal margin of primaries a large smooth oyal spot; secondaries have a single tail and a very slight projection at extremity of second median neryule ; from the base of the tail a faint white line extends along the margin to anal angle; at this angle a few scales of fulyous; be- tween the first and second median neryules an indistinct marginal dark spot above which are a few fulyous scales in crescent form; tail black, tipped with white; fringe of both wings fuscous, next before the tail white, beyond it, black at extremity, white next the margin. Under side uniform light brown, color of 7. Calanus, Westw. (falacer of Godart and Harris); across the disk of primaries a nearly straight, narrow band of dark spots, slightly edged without by white; this band is continuous except that the two spots in the second and third median interspaces are somewhat lunulate and separa- ted; parallel to the margin is a second band of faint spots, of dark brown, nearly obsolete at each extremity; on the inner edge of the three or four middle and most distinct of these spots are a few white scales. Secondaries have a discal row of spots like those of primaries, but separated, forming a nearly straight line (the two middle spots only being outside the line) from the costa to a point just above the black space that surmounts the blue patch, then turning towards abdominal margin in a zigzag course forming the letter W, the last limb of which is long and reaches the extreme margin; hind margin edged by a fine whitish line and bordered by a row of spots occupying the interspaces, each of which is edged above with a curved black line on which is a second bluish- white line; the four spots next apex almost obsolete, merely showing a darker tinge than the ground color, and on these the black crescents are not distinct and the white line is represented by a few scales only ; the fifth spot ashade darker than the preceding and edged above with a narrow patch of orange-red; the sixth black with a broad red arch between it and the black line; beyond the tail a large patch of blue scales on a black ground which it does not wholly cover, leaving above the blue a small black spot on which are a few red scales; at the angle a rounded black spot narrowly edged above with white, between which and the black and white lines, which here are not crescent, is a red space. Body above fuscous; beneath, abdomen ashy-brown, thorax blue-grey ; legs THECLA II. white and black; palpi white tipped with black; antenne annulated white and black ; club black tipped with ferruginous. From a single specimen taken by Mr. E. B. Reed, at Port Stanley, Ontario, in July, 1868. This species is allied to 7. humuli, Harris, (hyperici, Bois. and Lec.), but dif- fers in several respects; especially in the color of under surface, in the absence of a fulyous border to the discal lines in each wing, in the conspicious blue patch and red and black submarginal crescents; hwmuli also is double-tailed, the shorter of the two, being twice as long as the tail of the present species. O THECLA STRIGOSA. 38—6. Thecla strigosa, Harris, Ins. Mass. Mater. Expands 1.1 inch. Upper side fuscous, without spots; secondaries have two tails, the mner one twice the length of the other, each bordered and tipped with white; fringes fuscous, on secondaries crossed by a whitish line. Under side pale brown; the outer limbs of both wings crossed by four irregu- lar, rather wavy white lines, varying a little in individuals, but of which the two in- ner ones on primaries approximate posteriorly ; the third being shorter than the sec- ond and the fourth or outer one reaching only to middle of wing; on secondaries the inner line extends nearly across, then bending at a small angle runs some way up abdominal margin, preceded in the last part of its course by another line near- ly parallel to it; above the termination of these two a circlet of white on the marg- in; the outer line is short and limited to the middle of the wing; primaries have a submarginal row of indistinct brown lunules edged anteriorly by white ; secondaries have asimilar series, but posteriorly large, bright red, edged above with black which itself is edged with white, enclosing next anal angle a large black space nearly coy- ered with blue scales; beyond this a small black spot; another at the angle sur- mounted by a red stripe edged like the lunules and extending up the margin; the lunules next outer angle usually exhibit a few scales of red; margins of both wings edged by a fine whitish line. Body fuscous, beneath greyish-white ; legs white annulated with brown ; palpi white, the upper joint black tipped with white ; antennee annulated black and white; club fuscous tipped with white. Femate. Expands 1.2 inch. Paler than male; in some cases showing a fulvous spot near anal angle of sec- ondaries ; the wavy line edged anteriorly by dark brown. THECLA II. Strigosa has also been taken in Massachusetts ; at Thornton, New Hampshire ; and at Coalburgh, W. Va., but seems to be rarer than most species of the genus. The plant represented in the plate is Silene Virginica, and is not uncommon among the mountains of West Virginia, flowering in May. The larva of this species is thus described by Mr. Wm. Saunders. “Taken when bush-beating, June 15th, 1866 (London, Ontario,) upon a spe- cies of Crateegus. Length one-half inch. Head greenish-brown. Body flattened, sloping ab- ruptly at sides; color yelvet-green, with a deeper colored dorsal stripe; anterior edge of second segment yellowish-brown with a few darker dots; middle segment laterally striped with two or three faint yellow oblique lines; the last two segments have each a lateral yellow patch ; from the fifth to terminal a faint yellow basal line ; under surface bluish-green. Changed to chrysalis June 19th. Length of pupa .37. Form nearly oval; head-case rounded; body dark red- dish-brown with black markings, and thickly covered with fine hairs; anterior segments with many black patches ; a dark ventral line from 6th to 12th segment.” ae HPS 7. ie ae Drawn by Mary Peart Mv V4 yr B ¥ Phil Bowen é C° hth Phil® LYGDAMUS, 5.6.3.7 9 LYCANA I. LYCANA VIOLACEA. 1—4. Lycena violacea, Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. 1866. Mate. Expands .9 to 1.2 inch. Upper side usually deep glossy violet blue, but sometimes with a pink tinge; costal margin of primaries silvery; hind margins of both wings edged by a black line which is expanded on the apical half of primaries into a border; on this part of the wing the fringe is black, but on the lower half and on secondaries it is white with black at the ends of the neryules; occasionally on secondaries it is entirely white; in many cases the black marginal line turns the anal angle and there thick- ens so as to make a conspicuous spot; as often there is an elongated spot at the out- er angle and sometimes five or six dots between these two spots along the margin. Under side of both wings greyish-white, of uniform color entirely to the mar- gin; primaries have a dark grey discal streak, a sub-marginal transverse row of six rather broad, mostly elongated black spots, the first next costa in advance of the line, the others parallel to the margin, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th standing obliquely ; along the margin a row of six points, often partly obsolete, each preceded by a dis- tinct dark-grey crescent, these last uniting so as to make a crenated line. Secondaries have a discal streak; three black spots in a row between the streak and base, one being on either margin, the third midway between them; a transyerse row of eight clear black spots across the disk, the two next costa largest, much in advance of the others and over against the streak, with which and the eighth spot they form a direct line; the third is separated from the second by a con- siderable space, the fourth is turned obliquely; the seventh is long, lunular and back of the line; eighth, near the margin, elongated ; along the margin is a row of six blackish dots, palest at outer angle, that next anal angle double, the one pre- ceding largest; each spot surmounted by a crescent as on primaries. Body above blue, beneath white; palpi white; antenne black ringed with white; club black tipped with ferruginous. FremaLe a. Same size; paler and dull colored; the hind margin and apex of primaries with a broad blackish border; costa of both wings obscured by same color. b. Upper side uniform blackish-brown ; under side like the male. On the Kanawha River this is the earliest butterfly of the year. After the stormy weather of March is past, usually about the 20th, on the first sunny day, LYCEHNA I. will surely be seen two or three of these little “ harbingers of Spring” gently flit- ting about any moist, sheltered spot on the road, out of reach of the wind which still has a wintry chill, conspicuous from their charming color, which, in the sun- light is intense, as near as may be like Salvia patens among flowers. They evi- dently enjoy their escape from long imprisonment and make the most of their stay, which will be but brief, scarcely beyond the next night’s frost. By the 5rd or 4th of April, we usually have one or two very warm days, the mercury at 80°, and then these little butterflies swarm along the sandy sides of the creeks, gathering in clusters as close as they can stand, in favorite spots, motion- less, with wings erect and closed, wholly intent on extracting from the sand some fluid no doubt delightful. With them will often be seen some of the smaller Hes- perians, especially that sturdy little fellow, H. Samoset, Scud. (nemoris, Edw.) who has placed himself like a sentinel outside the throng, with wings half open and sus- picious antenn, ready to dart away for the least cause, frightening for a moment his busy associates. He will not return till the danger is past, but they, after flut- tering about a little, settle down as before. These are all males, for the females do not appear till some days after, or about the 10th. By this time the peach trees are in full bloom, and the females are especially attracted to them. But asa gene- ral thing this species is not partial to flowers. Most of the females are of the black type, variety 6. Out of nearly one hun- dred taken in 1867 but five were blue. By the end of April, violacea is no more seen, there being but a single brood. I have received specimens taken near Philadelphia and at London, Canada. This species is probably to be found dispersed over New England and New York, and I think has been confounded with Lucia of Kirby, a paler species with mot- tled under surface, and of which an excellent figure is given in the Fauna Boreali- Americana. LYCHNA LYGDAMAS. 5—7. Lycena Lygdamas, (yg’-da-mas,) Doubleday. Polyommatus Lygdamas. The Entomologist, No. 14, Dec. 1841. Mate. Expands 1.3 inch. Upper side wholly silver-blue; costa of both wings and the nervules for a lit- tle distance from the margins fuscous; fringes long, fuscous. Under side uniform grey-brown; primaries have a small round black spot within the cell, a bent bar at its extremity, both edged entirely with white; within the margin a transverse curved row of seven large rounded black spots, the two lower ones connected, all surrounded by white. LYCHENA I. Secondaries have a small black spot within the cell, another on costal margin, a narrow stripe in the disk, and a sinuous row of spots within the margin similar to those of primaries, all edged with white. Body aboye fuscous covered with blue hairs; abdomen beneath white; palpi white at base, fuscous at extremity; antennee black annulated with white; club black, white near tip, which itself is black. Femate. Same size. Upper side sometimes entirely blue except along the margins which are fus- cous ; the blue deeper colored and less dense than in the male ; sometimes the greater part of the surface is fuscous, the blue shade being confined to the base of the wings ; under side paler, but marked as in the male. Found in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and through the Southern States to Georgia. Doubleday gives its habitat in the pine forests, but in West Virginia, I have usually found it in the garden or about houses. It appears there early in April, a few days after violacea, but is rare, not more than half a dozen being seen in a season. a ee re : —* a) Oy i an oe Oe i, ee _ fo ae, - on a : 1 2 " re i nt De a 1 a Ae 7 " : ‘me t -_ oe i. nh ane Hi 7 a ake ‘ - - : on ti sie 2 io cy, a Go teal . v 7 i‘ , ey ; i A. LYCANA II. LYCHNA PSEUDARGIOLUS. 1—3. LIycena Pseudargiolus, Boisduval, Bois. & Lec. Lep. des Amer. p. 118, text, not plate. Ed- wards, Proc. Am. Ent. Soc. 1866. Argiolus, Abbot & Smith, Ins. Geo. pl. 15. Neglecta, Harris, Ins. Mass. 2nd. edition, page 274, text, not plate. Mate. Expands 1.4 inch. Upper side delicate pale blue with a pink tinge; costa of primaries silvery ; hind margins edged by a black line which sometimes is expanded upon the apical part of primaries into a border; fringes black and white on primaries, white on secondaries. Under side white, sometimes pure, but oftener with a greyish tinge; the spots and markings pale black or brown, often nearly or quite wanting; when distinct, primaries have a discal streak, a transverse row of six spots, mostly elongated, the third, fourth and fifth turned obliquely, the sixth frequently wanting; a marginal row of dots each preceded by a serrated tooth. Secondaries have three dots in a transverse row near the base; a discal streak; a row of eight minute spots across the disk, the two next costa much in advance of the others, the next four and the eighth nearly parallel to the margin, the seventh back of the line; the margin bordered by a row of black points, each preceded by a serrated tooth as on primaries. Body aboye blue, below white; palpi black above, white below, tipped with white; antenne black, ringed with white; club black tipped with ferruginous. Femae. Same size. The apical half of costal margin and the whole of hind margin of primaries and costal of secondaries broadly, and basal half of primaries narrowly, edged with black; the rest of primaries violet-blue, (sometimes lilac or green) except a large whitish patch on the disk; secondaries a duller blue, not metallic; the hind mar- gin edged by a row of small, rounded, blackish spots. Under side purer white than the average of males. Fringes as in the male. Larva unknown except as given in the plates of Abbot and Smith and in Boisduval and Leconte. The description accompanying the latter is as follows ; “Head black; body green, pubescent; back yellowish; a dorsal red stripe, inter- rupted, cut transversely near the middle by a red are which is concave posteriorly ; sides with oblique stripes of darker shade than the ground color; above the legs a stripe of obscure green.” LYCANA Il. The figure in Abbot represents the head as red ; body green; a dorsal black stripe uninterrupted ; sides with oblique black stripes ; and therefore differs mate- rially from Boisduval’s description, as it does also from his figure. The present species is found in Virginia, Ohio, and in the mountainous dis- tricts as far south as Georgia; also in Pennsylvania and occasionally in New York. I haye often seen it in the months of May and June, upon the Alleghanies of Virginia, sauntering listlessly along scarcely faster than the lumbering, old-fash- ioned stage coach which still forms the medium of travel in those picturesque re- gions. Its large wings and disproportionately slender body give this species a slower and more tortuous and tremulous flight than any other of our eastern Lycenide. On the Kanawha River it is rather a common species during its season, the males somewhat frequenting the roads, especially where they skirt the edges of the woods, but very much preferring the brooksides in the forest. The females are rarely to be seen in the same localities, but are found in the more open woods among shrubs and low plants. The second brood appears in July and is much less nu- merous than the first. At this season, the channels of the small streams are near- ly dry, and lying as they always do in this region, between lofty and abrupt hills, serve asa highway for many butterflies, Meliteas, Graptas and others. Many may be here taken that are not often seen elsewhere, as the rare P. Tarquinius and Hu- damus Cellus. This last named is exceedingly rare and very local in its habits. Mr. Ridings, while spending some weeks with me, in 1867, discovered a weather beaten log lying across one of these streams in the depths of the forest, on which for an hour or two the mid-day sun shone and on and about which he captured many specimens of Cédlus, returning for several successive days for the purpose. I was formerly under the impression that the males of all butterflies were very much more numerous than the females. They usually appear earlier and may be on the wing from a week to a fortnight, according to the species, before a female is seen. But I now incline to think the sexes nearly equal in number. This is the result of my experience in rearing from the larvee. ‘The females would naturally be in the neighborhood of the plants upon which their laryee feed, and upon which, the eggs are to be deposited. These are likely to be away from the flowers or the spots frequented by the males and remote; consequently as a rule far more males are taken by collectors than females. Abbot & Smith figured the present species under the name Argiolus, consid- ering it identical with the European species of that name, which it strikingly resem- bles in size and color of its upper surface, though differing beneath in several respects. Boisduyal and Leconte describe Psewdargiolus with no reference to Abbot and Smith’s figures or name, but refer to the true Aryiolus as yery near their species, LYCANA IL, as their name also indicates. In the description they make repeated comparisons with Argiolus, and close by saying; “the tint of the under side, the size of the black dots and the marginal lunules easily distinguish this species from Argiolus,” all which is correct as between the males of the two species in question. They also describe the fringes of the male as white cut with black implying the fringe of both wings. Of the female they say ; “The upper side is of a paler and less violet blue, with a large black border upon the forewings and a marginal series of points of same color nearly as in the female of Argiolus. At the extremity of the discal cell of forewings is likewise a small black are. The fringe of forewings is cut with black.” This description of the female is that of the species figured by Abbot and Smith. The figure of female on the plate also represents that species, and follows the text. But the description of the male, except in its comparisons with Argio- lus, and the figure corresponding on the plate, seems not to indicate the Argiolus of Abbot and Smith, any more than Neglecta or Violacea. The figures rather rep- resent the former of these two, especially in the long white fringe to hind wings, while the text describes the fringe of Violacea, that is, white cut with black on both wings. It is very difficult to determine closely allied species from any but the most carefully executed plates and in the case of Pseudargiolus, I think it prob- able the description was intended to cover what were considered varieties of one species. In this rather confused state of things it seems to me proper to fix the name Pseudargiolus upon that species which is nearest the true Argiolus, and which is also the one figured by Abbot and Smith. The figures of Pseudargiolus in Harris represent Lucia, Kirby; at least, the under side is of that species, while the text describes Neglecta, Edw. which replaces Pseudargiolus in the Northern States. The plant figured in our plate is the Sand Blackberry, R. cuneifolius, common in Virginia. oo LYCAENA NEGLECTA. 4 —6. Lycena neglecta, Edwards, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862. Pseudargiolus, Harris, Insects Massachusetts, 2nd edition, page 274, (text). Mare. Expands 1.1 inch. Upper side of primaries delicate azure-blue, paler in the disk and silvery on costal margin; secondaries greyish-blue, with a broad azure margin; both wings edged by a black line which expands towards apex of primaries into a narrow bor- der and runs a little way along costal margin; fringe of primaries white cut with black at tips of the nervures; of secondaries also sSmetimes cut with black, but usually wholly white. LYCHENA II. Under side pure white with a bluish tint; primaries have a fuscous discal streak and a transverse row of six fuscous, abbreviated streaks set obliquely ; secondaries have a discal streak, three points near base and eight points or streaks crossing the disk in a tortuous line; both wings bordered by confluent fuscous spots, which form a crenated band, each spot enclosing a darker point. Fremae. Same size. Upper sides of both wings of a deeper and more metallic blue; primaries have a broad fuscous hind margin, and this color extends more narrowly along costal margin to base, where it is sprinkled with blue scales; a faint discal streak ; hind margin of secondaries bordered by a row of small fuscous spots. Under side as in the male. Larva, according to Mr. Saunders “found feeding on Dogwood, 12th July. Fed it afterwards on Willow, which it readily ate. Length .45, somewhat onisci- form, distinctly annulated. Head small, dark shining brown with a black streak down the middle, mandibles brown with a transverse streak of paler color above. Body dull greenish white with a faint tinge of yellow; the second segment of a deeper shade of green, with a blackish line across its posterior edge; a brown dor- sal line; a dull green band across anterior portion of fifth segment and another in same position on eleventh; on each side of each segment, from fifth to eleventh, a spot of same hue extending obliquely backward. Entire upper surface covered with minute dots from which arise short, fine hairs.” Found in the Northern States from New England to Wisconsin; in Canada and in British America as far north as Lake Winnipeg; occasional in W. Virginia. This species replaces Pseudargiolus in the North and has usually been regard- ed as the species so named. It differs however in size, in shade of color and in the delicacy of markings on under surface. The existence of two distinct species confounded under the name Pseudargio- lus was suspected by Mr. Edward Doubleday as long ago as 1841, as appears from remarks by him in the “Entomologist” of that year, page 209. Neglecta is by no means a common species. So far as my own experience goes in the Northern States I have seldom seen more than two or three individuals up- ona June day. At certain spots in the Catskills, especially near the “Fawns Leap” in the Clove south of the Mountain House, a few may always be seen at that season flying about the wet spots by the road side. But in June 1866, in the vicinity of Coalburgh, W. Va., Neglecta appeared in large numbers, while I scarcely saw a doz- en Pseudargiolus, usually so abundant. In the following years to the present (1869), Neglecta has again béen rare in this district. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. Paprto Ayax.—The chrysalids mentioned in the text as having passed over the winter of 1871—2, commenced yielding imagos in February and continued till 12th April, with the following results: From 1st and 2nd brood Walshii—2 ¢, 29, Telamonides, 14, Marcellus. From Walshit of 23rd May—7 2, 22, Telamonides, 12, Marcellus. From Zelamonides of 27th May—7 2, 39, Telamonides. From Zelamonides of 28th May—3 2, 32, Telamonides. From Marcellus of 1st and 4th June—13 4, 232, Telamonides, 3°, Marcellus. From Marcellus of 29th July—14¢, 139, Telamonides. Total 46 4, 462, Telamonides, 14, 42, Marcellus, and no Walshii. — Nevertheless, between the 11th of April and Ist of May, Walshii was exceed- ingly abundant on the wing, and up to 29th of April, Mr. Mead, who was with me, had taken 65 specimens, while he had taken or seen but one Zelamonides. Soon after 1st of May, the latter variety appeared in small numbers, too early evidently to have sprung from Walshii of this year. By 25th of May, Te/amonides suddenly appeared in such force as to make it certain that they had now begun to come from the larvee produced from eggs of Walshii. But why not one of nearly one hun- dred chrysalids, from so many broods of 1871, and of all the varieties, should yield Walsh, while out of doors this variety was so abundant and for weeks the only one flying, is surprising. The same thing had happened with chrysalids carried over the winter of 1868—9, when of 32 imagos but one was Walshii. As the chrys- alids were kept in the house and the imagos emerged prematurely, some of them by several weeks, owing to the warm temperature, it is possible that the artificial acceleration may have had to do with producing the later varieties at the ex- pense of the earlier, or Wa/shii. Neopuasta Mernapra.—tThe figure given on the plate as the female is erro- neous. Until quite lately the two sexes were supposed to be similar, but specimens taken on San Juan Island by Dr. Bremner, show a wide difference. Fremate.—size of male. Color yellowish or soiled white; the black apical patch enlarged, the five enclosed spots being yellowish; costal stripe as in male; secondaries have a broad black border enclosing on the margin a series of separated, rounded yellowish spots that occupy the interspaces from outer angle to lower SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. branch of median nervure, each spot posteriorly and at the edge of the margin being orange; abdominal margin orange tinted. Under side yellow; primaries marked as above, but secondaries have all the neryures broadly bordered with black scales, which, beyond the disk, nearly fill the interspaces; the black marginal band as above, the spots smaller; an orange patch on edge of margin in each interspace; costal and abdominal margin orange. Comias EurytHeme.—From Mr. Hayhurst I have received an admirably executed drawing of the egg, larva and chrysalis of this species. The egg is long, fusiform, ribbed longitudinally. Length of mature larva 1.4 inch; cylindrical, tapering posteriorly from 11th segment; head green, translucent; body dark green, somewhat pilose, each segment transversely creased; a narrow white lateral band from second to last segment, through the middle of which runs a broken line of vermillion red. This larva is a little longer and larger than that of C! Philodice, which it much resembles, but is without the series of semi-circular black spots next under the lateral band, usually seen on the latter. The eggs were deposited on Buffalo Grass, (Trifolium reflexum) and the larvee fed thereon. Chrysalis .95 inch in length; cylindrical, tapering to a point posteriorly; the head case also produced to a point; mesonotal process rounded and not very prominent; a whitish lateral line runs from wing cases to extremity of abdomen, above which is a black stripe that crosses two or three of the upper abdominal segments. The shape differs from that of Philodice, in the attenuation of the head case and lesser prominence of the process; also in absence of the abdominal markings. This description however is given from the drawing. Commas ALexanpRA.—This species was found by Mr. Mead to be very com- mon in certain localities in Colorado. “It was first observed about June 15th, when four males were taken near the South Park; elevation 9000 feet. On 21st, at Turkey Creek Junction, 27 ¢ and 7 2 were taken, all in fine condition. But one or two of the females were albinos, this variety being exceedingly rare. The last Alexandra was taken August 28th. The eggs were laid upon Lupinus.” From an egg sent me, a magnified drawing has been made by Mr. Konopicky. The shape is fusiform, like that of egg of Hurytheme, and it is longitudinally fur- nished with 18 or 20 ribs, between which throughout are transverse ribs of less prominence, Areyynis Drana.—This butterfly continues to be the rarest of its genus. A few individuals appear about the first day of July, in Kanawha, when the milk-weeds (Asclepia) are in bloom, the flowers of which are very attractive to all butterflies. But it is only upon such patches of this plant as are near the SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. forest that it need be looked for. My garden is on the river side not more than forty rods from the woods and planted with flowers in masses expressly to at- tract butterflies, Petunias, Single Zinnias, Phloxes, &e. At-all times swarms of Papilios are to be seen, and when Cybele is in season it also abounds. But I do not recollect seeing more than one Diana there in years, and it flew about as if supicious of the place and presently darted off to the woods again. On the 10th of July of the present year, (1872) when travelling over the James River and Kanawha Turnpike, in Fayette Co. W. Va., west of Big Sewell Mountain, in course of a drive of ten miles through the white-oak forest, I saw twenty-five or thirty fresh males, no doubt that morning emerged from chrysalis. They were on the road, either upon sand or on horse dung, solitary except in one instance, when I saw two together. So intent were they usually upon their own concerns that I was able to alight and approach them without much difficulty, and as I always have a net at hand when travelling, I succeeded in taking four specimens in beautiful con- dition. But if struck at and missed, they were alarmed and flew wildly up and down the road with surprising swiftness, and frequently in and out of the wood, so that it was useless to follow them. ‘The same day, Mr. Julius Meyer, of Brooklyn, was in the yicinity and observed the same comparative abundance of individuals and their unusual gentleness and captured nine, (all males, no females being seen by either of us). But for several succeeding days, although he walked repeatedly over the same ground and over other roads in the neighborhood, he was not able to take a single one. They were two wary to be approached. Except in these in- stances I haye scarcely ever known of a perfect male being taken by any collector, for the surface of the wings is sensitive to the slightest touch, and flying about the forest as is the habit of these insects, frequently in furious chase of each other, the wings become rubbed and broken. I doubt if a perfect specimen could be found the sec- ond day trom chrysalis. This species is to be found here and there over a large extent of the Southern States, but it can nowhere be common. It seems irreclaim- able by civilization, and as if in process of extinction. } I succeeded, in September 1869, in obtaining eggs from females enclosed with both violets and our common iron-weed (Vernonia fasciculata) and in course of a few days the larvee were duly hatched. But they could be induced to eat nothing and shortly died. Mr. Hayhurst, then at Sedalia, Missouri, afterwards wrote me that he had suc- ceeded in raising one larva from some of these eggs that I had sent him, until it reached the second moult, when it died. This one fed on the leaves of the other species of Vernonia (Noveboracensis). Mr. Meyer suggests that the difficulty in raising Argynnis larve from the egg, is owing to the dryness of the breeding boxes. oD? In a state of nature these larvae feed in the forest, on low growing plants and in SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. moist places, and in the absence of the -proper conditions shrivel and die, dry up, in fact. ; The eggs were sub-conic, more rounded at the base than eggs of Cybele, strong- ly ribbed vertically and horizontally. Areynnis CyspeLe—Mr. Wm. Saunders has described the larva and chrys- alis of this species in the Canadian Entomologist for August, 1872. The larve were taken early in June, when just about to change to chrysalids, having gathered in some numbers under pieces of bark placed by Mr. Saunders near the edge of a wood and in the vicinity of patches of violets with the view of enticing the larve to take refuge thereunder when ready to change. By this happy thought the way is pointed out for obtaining the larva of any species of Argynnis. The eggs of Cybele I have myself obtained abundantly from females enclosed with plants of violet, but although they hatched, the larvee refused to eat and soon died. These eggs are generically like those of Aphrodite, Diana, Atlantis, and several other spe- cies that I have procured in same manner. They are all sub-conic, resting on a broad base, furnished with strong vertical ribs which are strengthened by smaller cross ribs. The eggs of the several species differ mostly from each other in com- parative height, breadth of base and curvature of sides. There is but one annual brood. In West Virginia, the eggs are deposited late in the season, in September, and as they hatch in fourteen days after, it is probable that the larve, after having moulted once or twice, stop feeding and pass the winter in a torpid state, ready to revive with the first approach of Spring. Areynynis Hatcyonr.—Mr. Mead writes; “This species began to appear, 6th July, at Fairplay. It was frequently seen at Twin Lakes.” FrmaLe. Expands 3 inches. Upper side paler fulvous than the male, the submarginal spots faded to sordid white; on under side the spots are well silvered. Areynnis Epwarpsi.— ‘Specimens were taken around Denver, June Ist, also on Turkey Creek and in the South Park, but none were seen at Twin Lakes, July 8th to 21st. A single much worn specimen was taken in the Middle Park, Aug.12th. The second brood appears about the middle of August.” ARrGyNNIS Hesprris.—‘ This species was first found on Turkey Creek, June 24th, when four males were captured at wet places in the road. They were ex- ceedingly shy. A few days after, several were taken high up on a mountain side where they were attracted by various flowers, especially Labiate, and were then very accessible. With them were Arg. Atlantis.” SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. Areyynis Atiantis.—I was much surprised at finding several Atlantis among Mr. Mead’s collections. They were seen near Turkey Creek and also in the Arkansas Valley. A female in captivity deposited eggs on violets. The larva and chrysalis of At/antis are described in Packard’s Guide, p. 252. Areyynis ApHroprre—Three specimens were obtained by Mr. Mead, vary- ing somewhat from those found in the Atlantic States, in that the male approaches the female in style of coloring, haying the deep ferruginous under side of seconda- ries and the fiery hue above that is seen in the females. It is a striking variation, and only after much consideration did I conclude that the species was Aphrodite. The females were very much as in eastern specimens. No Cybele was seen by Mr. Mead. Grapta Faunus.—This species has been taken by Mr. Julius Meyer (July 1872) in Fayette Co. W. Va., the most southern locality as yet known to me. Lorenttis WetpemMeyert.—Of this species Mr. Mead says, “I found my first specimen on the banks of Turkey Creek, June 6th. No more were seen until 25th. It seems to be very local and is not found aboye the altitude at which wil- lows flourish.” Loenttis Proserpiva.—In his paper entitled “A Systematic Revision of the American Butterflies, &e.” Report Peabody Acad. Sci. 1871, Mr. Scudder gives Proserpina as asynonymn of Ursula, with which opinion I by no means agree. Proserpina seems to be confined to the mountain districts, and apart from the re- markable white band that characterises it, has a great resemblance to L. Arthemis in the coloring of the under surface and which Ursuda has not. The only test of a Species, next to the certain one of breeding it from the egg, is constancy to type, and when a particular form is found year after year, in any locality, the inference is irresistible that it perpetuates its own type and is therefore distinct. We call such form a species, without knowing more of its history than appears on the sur- face, and it is upon exactly this sort of evidence that half our species rest. If ever by breeding from the egg Proserpina shall be proved to be only a variety or di- morphous form of Ursula, the discovery will be most interesting, as well as con- vincing. Apatura ArictA—In the paper above quoted, Alicia, together with Celtis, is given as synonym of Lycaon, Fab. It is possible that the former may be LIycaon, as seems to be the opinion of Mr. Butler, in Cat. Diur. Lep. of Brit. Mus. 1869. p. 57, but I cannot doubt its distinctness from Ce/tis, Bois. The figure of SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. this last species in Boisduval and Leconte agrees well with the common Apatura, of West Virginia, the larva of which feeds on Celtis occidentalis. It is of an oli- vaceous brown quite different from the fulvous of Alicia, which species is very exactly represented on the plate. There are many other differences which may be seen on comparing the two plates in question. These species are allied, but no more nearly than Comma and Faunus, or many others that could be cited. In the notes on Alicia as first printed, the species was compared with Clyton by mistake for Celtis. Heading of Plates. PAPILIONID®. Papilio I. Papilio IT. Papilio III. Parnassius I. Parnassius II. Parnassius ITI. Parnassius IY. . PIERIDZ. Pieris I. Pieris) LI. - Anthocaris I. Anthocaris II. . Colias I. Colias Il. . Colias IIT. Colias IV. Colias V. Colias VI. Colias VII. Colias VIII. NYMPHALID. Argynnis I. . Argynnis II. Argynnis IIT. Argynnis IV. SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Numerical , Order of Plates. NOD OP WD Heading of plates. Argynnis V. Argynnis VI. Argynnis VII. Argynnis VIII. Argynnis IX. Argynnis X. Argynnis XI. Argynnis XII, Argynnis XIII. Argynnis XIV. Melitea I. Grapta I. . Grapta II. Grapta IIT. Grapta IV. Grapta V. Grapta VI. Limenitis I. Limenitis IT. Limenitis ITI. Limenitis IV. Apatura I. Paphia I. Thecla I. . Thecla II. Lycena I. Lycena II. Numerical Order of Plates. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 390 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Norr.—This Index will enable the Binder to arrange the Plates. ALPHABETICAL INDinxe Plate. Anthocharis Cooperii. 10 ss Reakirtii. 10 i Sara. ial Apatura Alicia. . 45 Argynnis Aphrodite. 22, SS Atlantis. 24 « Behrensii. 31 ss Callippe. 25 e Cybele. 21 s¢ Diana. 20 i Mdwardsii. . . 3 = Haleyone. 28 z Hesperis. 26 ee Leto. . 29 ff Monticola. . . 27 * Nevadensis. . 33 ge Nokomis: «5 = 23 ae Zerene. 32 Colias Alexandra. 12 “ — Behrii. 13 “Chippewa (Helena). 12 “ Christina. 13 < Edwardsii. . 17 “—) wWurydice: 9.2 as. 26 “ Eurytheme. 14 Keewaydin. . . . 108 “ Meadii. 1g) “ Oceidentalis. 18 “ — Seudderii. 19 Grapta Comma. . 06 eh aunns: 35 “ Interrogationis var. Fab- By) yy P) og © — ~TI C2 ©) OD OD co ~T OC ke! Or COO > cH OD =T OO =~T < 115 Plate. Grapta Interrogationis var. Um- brosas. Wie 20 SoS Dryas. 2 eecuse = Beton “ Satyrus. 5 40 = Zep hy Tiss = es eee Limenitis Californica (Bre- dowii). 44 ce Lorquini. 45 ‘s Proserpina. 41 4 Weidemeyerti, . 42 Lycena Lygdamas. 49 “< Neglecta. 50 “ Pseudargiolus. 50 « Violacea. 49 Melitzea Chalcedon. . . . 34 Neophasia Menapia. Papilio Ajax var. Walshil. . 1 «Ajax var. Teiamonides. 2 «Ajax var. Marcellus. 3 Paphia Glycerium. Parnassius Clarius. sf Clodius. 3 Evyersmanni. so Smintheus. Smintheus. . ce Smintheus. Pieris Beckerii. < Vernalis. “ “Virginiensis. . Thecla Acadica.