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CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
LABORATORY
OF ORNITHOLOGY
LIBRARY
Gift of
fhcch Op clon)
‘il
ornell University Library
iii
DATE DUE
Cornell University
The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022557353
HOW TO KNOW THE
BUTTERFLIES
Plate |
PLATE J
Frontispiece
TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE MONARCH
(See page 204)
Fig.
1. Full-grown larva.
2. Larva preparing to transform.
3. Chrysalis.
4. Empty chrysalis skin and butterfly.
(From photographs by Professor M. V. Slingerland, colored by Mrs. Slingerland.)
HOW TO KNOW THE
BUTTERFLIES
A MANUAL OF THE BUTTERFLIES
OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES
BY
JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK
PROFESSOR OF ENTOMOLOGY IN CORNELL UNIVERSITY
AND
ANNA BOTSFORD COMSTOCK
LECTURER IN NATURE STUDY IN CORNELL UNIVERSITY
WITH FORTY-FIVE FULL-PAGE PLATES FROM LIFE
REPRODUCING THE INSECTS IN NATURAL COLORS
Laboratory of Ornithotegy
1159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Cornell University
tthaca, New York 14850
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK - - - - - MCMIV
CopyRIGHT, 1904, BY
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
Published May, 1904
TO
SAMUEL HUBBARD SCUDDER
CONTENTS
PAGE
LIST OF PLATES : 3 ‘ 3 ; AX
PART I
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
I, THE RELATION OF BUTTERFLIES TO OTHER IN-
SECTS : : : : ; : ‘ ; eo oa
II. THE STRUCTURE OF BUTTERFLIES . : : 33
II]. THE CLOTHING OF BUTTERFLIES . : ‘ . 16
IV. THE METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES . : - 20
V. THE STUDY OF THE LIFE OF BUTTERFLIES . - 25
PART II
THE CLASSIFICATION OF BUTTERFLIES
SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA : . : . + 35
FaMILy I. THE PARNASSIANS . ; : : + 42
fs I]. THE SWALLOW-TAILS . ; ‘ . » 45
sc II. THE PIERIDS . ; 3 ; : : . 69
«¢ IV. THE NYMPHS . ; : : ‘ zi . 102
Vil
CONTENTS
FAMILY V. THE MEADOW-BROWNS .
«VI. THE HELICONIANS . . .
«| VII. THE MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES
“« VIII. THE LONG-BEAKS
«IX. THE METAL-MARKS
ne X. THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES.
PART IIT
THE SKIPPERS
SUPERFAMILY HESPERIOIDEA
FAMILY I. THE GIANT SKIPPERS . é ‘
es II. THE COMMON SKIPPERS ‘ ;
INDEX . é é é ‘i ‘ ‘i ‘ ;
vill
LIST OF PLATES
PLATE Bases
I. Transformations of the Monarch . Frontispiece
II. The change from a Caterpillar to a Chrysalis . 20
III. The first three stages of a Butterfly. : a 24
IV. Parnassians and Papilio ; : ‘ : § 42
V. The Zebra Swallow-tail . ‘ 4 : : . 50
VI. The Tiger Swallow-tail . ; ‘ ‘ : ~ 52
VII. Swallow-tail Butterflies . ; : : : . 56
VIII. Transformations of the Giant Swallow-tail . am oh 5
IX. The Green-clouded Swallow-tail . ; . = “60
X. The Black Swallow-tail . : : F : 2 762
XI. Transformation of the Black Swallow-tail . . 64
XII. The Blue Swallow-tail . 2 ; : é . 66
XIII. The Whites and the Olympia Orange-tip. ee
XIV. The Whites. ‘ ; : ‘ : j ~ 96
XV. The Orange-tips and the Yellows . : ; . 86
XVI. The Larger Yellows : ; ‘ : A . 88
XVII. The Yellows . : 2 : : : ; 3.402
XVIII. Fritillaries : : : : : : ; + 108
XIX. The Diana Fritillary . ‘ Z § . 110
XX. The Regal Fritillary . : : ‘ ‘ « Y12
XXI. The Three Eastern Argynnids : ; : . 114
XXII. The Smaller Fritillaries and the Crescent-spots . 122
XXIII. The Angle-wings . ‘ ‘ . ; t . 134
XXIV. The Angle-wings . 2 4 5 ; : . 140
1X
PLATE
XXV.
XXXVI.
XXVIII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
XXX.
XXXII.
XXXII.
XXXII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIILI.
XXXIX.
XL.
XLI.
XLII.
XLIII.
XLIV.
XLV.
LIST OF PLATES
The Mourning-cloak . : . A
The Vanessas
The Purples
The Monarchs and their Mimics
The Emperors .
The Meadow-browns
The Meadow-browns ‘ ; Z
The Zebra and the Milkweed Butterflies
Metal-marks and Hair-streaks .
Hair-streaks
Hair-streaks
The Coppers
The Blues
The Spring Azure : : 2
Skippers with a Brand and their Allies .
Skippers with a Brand and their Allies .
Skippers with a Brand and their Allies .
Skippers with a Brand and their Allies .
The Silver-spotted Skipper
Skippers with a Costal Fold and their Allies.
Skippers with a Costal Fold and their Allies.
FACING
PAGE
. 148
» 154
166
. 170
- 174
INTRODUCTION
THERE are many students of Nature who
know the more common birds and flowers; but
our experience as teachers has convinced us that
there are comparatively few that know the com-
mon butterflies. This fact seems remarkable
when we consider the abundance of butterflies
and their attractive features; and it can not be
due to an unwillingness on the part of students to
study these creatures. The reason for this condi-
tion must be a lack of suitable aids to beginners
in this study.
The literature treating of American butterflies
is a very rich one; it includes large, scholarly
works with magnificent illustrations, and a con-
siderable number of smaller manuals. But we
believe that there is a field for still another book
on this subject; one that is richly illustrated
without a confusing array of figures of species
from remote parts of our country ; one with brief
descriptions of species but sufficiently full so that
the reader can definitely determine the species
studied: and one that shall give the more impor-
Xl
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tant facts of the lives of our butterflies. It is
with the hope of meeting this need that this book
has been written.
It is hoped that the work will be of use to
students in all parts of our country ; but in order
that it may be of moderate size, the descriptions
of species, with few important exceptions, have
been restricted to those that occur in the eastern
half of the United States. Many of these spe-
cies, however, have a much wider distribution,
some extending to the Pacific Coast.
Xi
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
PART I
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
I. THE RELATION OF BUTTERFLIES TO OTHER
INSECTS
Butrerrvigs belong to a class of animals, the
Insects, that far outnumbers in species all other
classes of animals taken together. The members
of this vast assemblage of species agree, however,
in the more general features of the structure of
their bodies.
In all insects the body is composed of a series
of segments or rings; these segments are most
easily seen in the hind part of the body (Fig. 1).
The segmented condition of the body is also
characteristic of certain other animals, as the mil-
lipedes, centipedes, lobsters, and others; but in-
sects can be distinguished from all of these by the
following combination of characteristics: they
breathe by means of a system of air tubes or
I
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tracheze opening through the sides of the seg-
ments; the body-segments are grouped into three
Fic. 1.—A butterfly showing the segmented condition of the abdomen.
regions, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen
(Fig. 2); they have one pair of antennz; they
have three and only three pairs of legs; and in
the adult state they usually have one or two pairs
of wings.
The class of insects
is known to the zool-
ogists as the class Wex-
apoda, a name suggested
by the six-footed con-
dition of these crea-
YIG. 2.—A wasp showing the divi- tures,
sion of the body into head, The class Hexapoda
thorax, and abdomen. : Bes 7
is divided into several
orders; thus the beetles constitute the order
Coleoptera, the two-winged flies, the order Dip-
2
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
tera, and the dragon-flies and damsel-flies, the
order Odonata. Sixteen of these orders are
commonly recognized.
The moths or “millers,” the skippers, and the
butterflies constitute the order Leprdoptera.
The members of this order have four wings,
which are membranous and covered with over-
lapping scales; the mouth-parts are formed for
sucking; and in the course of their development
they undergo what is known as a complete meta-
morphosis.
II. THE STRUCTURE OF BUTTERFLIES
The body of a butterfly consists of three
regions, which are known as the head, the thorax,
and the abdomen. The head is the first of the
three regions ; the thorax, the intermediate ; and
the abdomen, the last.
The head bears the eyes, the antennz, and the
mouth-parts.
The eyes are two in number, one on each side
of the head. They are easily recognized by their
position and hemispherical form. But when
they are examined with a lens they present a
very different appearance than do the eyes of
man ; each eye being composed of a large num-
ber of little eyes, or ommatedia as they are
3
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
termed. As the ommatidia are closely massed
together, the outer surfaces of each is hexagonal
in outline like the cells of honeycomb (Fig. 3).
Eyes of this type are termed compound.
Many insects have simple eyes, or oce//z, in
addition to compound eyes; but ocelli are very
rarely found in butterflies.
The aztenne are the long, more or less thread-
like appendages that project from the upper part
of the head; they are what children are apt to
call the horns of the butterfly.
Each antenna consists of many
segments or ringlike divisions.
The antennz are supposed to
bear the organs of smell. In
Fic. 3.—Part of a com- : .
pound eye, greatly butterflies the terminal seg-
magnified.
ments of the antennz are en-
larged so as to form a club.
The mouth-parts of butterflies consist chiefly
of a pair of fa/pz and the sucking organs, max-
elie. The palpi are the jointed organs that pro-
ject forward from the lower side of the head.
They vary greatly in length in different families,
and vary in the relative length of their segments,
so that use is made of them in the classification
of butterflies. The maxillz are greatly modified
jaws, which are so lengthened that they have lost
4
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
all resemblance to the jaws of biting insects.
Each maxilla is furnished with a groove, and the
two maxillz are so fastened together that the two
grooves form a tube through which liquid food is
sucked. When not in use, the maxillz are coiled
between the palpi.
The thorax bears the organs of locomotion,
the legs and the wings.
The Zegs are six in number. Each leg con-
sists of a series of segments. The basal segment,
that by which the leg is attached to the body,
is the coxa, next is a small segment, the ¢ro-
chanter , then follows the principal segment of
the leg, the femur, the next approaches the
femur in size, and is the ¢zdza, the remaining
segments constitute the foot or ¢arsus. The
last segment of the tarsus usually bears a pair of
claws.
The wzuzgs are four in number and are always
present in adult butterflies. In many species of
moths the wings are wanting in one sex; but
this is true of no butterfly.
In the study of the classification of butterflies
much use is made of the variations in the struc-
ture of the wings. This is also true in the study
of any of the groups of winged insects; but in
the Lepidoptera, where the body is covered with
5 5
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
a dense clothing of scales which hides from view
most of the distinguishing characteristics used in
the classification of beetles and other compara-
tively naked insects, the structure of the wings
presents an even larger proportion of the easily
available criteria for separating the order into its
subdivisions.
It is essential, therefore, that the student of
butterflies should learn at the outset the more im-
portant facts regarding the structure of the wings,
and become familiar with the terms that have
been applied to the different parts of a wing.
Fortunately it is an easy matter to do this.
The two pairs of wings are designated as
the fore wzngs and the znd wzngs respectively.
Some writers on butterflies term the fore wings
the przmarzes, and the hind wings the secondartes.
The wings are more or less triangular in out-
line ; a wing, therefore, presents three margins:
the costal margin, or costa (Fig. 4, a—0) ; the outer
margin (Fig. 4, 6-c); and the zzner margin
(Fig. 4, c-d).
The angles limiting these margins have also
received names. The angle at the base of the
costal margin (Fig. 4, a)is the humeral angle ;
that between the costal margin and the outer
margin (Fig. 4, 6) is the afex of the wing ; and
6
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
the angle between the outer margin and the inner
margin (Fig. 4, ¢) is the axzal angle.
The wings are large membranous appendages,
which are thickened along certain lines. These
thickened lines are termed
b
the vezws of the wing; and
their arrangement is de-
scribed as the venation of
the wings.
A study of the wings of
all orders of winged insects
has shown that there is a
striking uniformity in the
more general features of the
venation of the wings of the
more generalized or “lower”
members of the different ie
orders; while in the more Fic. 4.—Margins and an-
specialized or “higher” Ee NES
members of each order this generalized type of
venation is more or less modified.
An investigation of the various ways in which
this generalized type of wing venation has been
modified and: of the varying degrees of these
modifications has contributed much to our knowl-
edge of the relationships of the different groups
of insects.
7
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
These studies have shown that all winged in-
sects have doubtless descended from a common
winged ancestor. And although we do not know
the exact form of this primitive winged insect,
which lived during the Silurian age, we may infer
that those structural features that are common to
the generalized members of the different orders
of winged insects have been inherited from this
common ancestor.
The features of the wing-venation which are
commonly present with the generalized members
of the different orders of winged insects, and
which we therefore infer were possessed by the
primitive winged insect, are represented in Figure
5. From this hypothetical primitive type of
wing-venation there can be derived, by methods
of modification of which we have many illustra-
tions among living insects, all the forms of vena-
tion of insect wings known.
The venation of the wings of butterflies is one
of the more specialized types of wing-venation,
and one which can not be understood by the study
of the wings of butterflies alone. It is necessary,
therefore, to lead up to the explanation of this
type by describing more simple or less modified
types. We wiil describe first the hypothetical
primitive type and then point out the ways in
8
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
which this type has been modified in the Lepi-
doptera.
Taking the hypothetical type (Fig. 5) as an
illustration, we see that the veins of the wings
can be grouped under two heads: first, Zorgztadz-
nal veins, those that normally extend lengthwise
of the wing; and second, cross-veens. those that
3d A 2d A
Fic. 5.—Hypothetical venation of the primitive winged insect
extend transversely from one longitudinal vein to
another.
The names that have been applied to the longi-
tudinal veins, beginning with the one nearest the
costal margin of the wing, are costa, subcosta, ra-
dius, media, cubttus, first anal, second anal, and
third anal. In descriptions these veins are often
designated, as they are in Figure 5, by the follow-
ing abbreviations of these names: C, Sc, R, M,
Cu, 1st A, 2d A, and 3d A.
Beginning with subcosta, the four veins that
9
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
traverse the middle portion of the wing are
branched; the subcosta divides into two branches,
the radius into five, the media into four, and
the cubitus into two. In this primitive type
the costa and the three anal veins are not
branched.
In designating the branches of a forked vein
they are numbered, beginning with the one near-
est the costal margin of the wing. Thus, the first
branch of radius is designated as radzus-one,; and
for this term the abbreviation R, is used.
In some insects there are very many cross-
veins, but it is believed that the greater number
of these have been developed secondarily. There
are, however, a few cross-veins that are so con-
stantly present among generalized insects that we
feel warranted in believing that they were pres-
ent in the wings of the primitive winged insect.
These are represented in Figure 5, and are desig-
nated as the Aumeral cross-vetn (Fig. 5, h); the
radto-medtal cross-vein (Fig. 5, r-m); the medial
cross-vetn (Fig. 5, #2); and the medzo-cubztal cross-
vern (Fig. 5, m-ci).
In Figure 6 is represented the venation of the
wings of S¢henopfzs, a moth, which is one of the
most generalized of the living Lepidoptera. Here
is found quite a close agreement in venation with
10
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
that of the hypothetical type. The more impor-
tant modifications are the following :
The costa forms the costal border of the wing,
and does not appear as a distinct vein. This is
the case with nearly all insects; but in many pu-
pz the costa is distinct, and it is only in the later
Fic. 6.—Venation of the wings of Sthenopis.
stages of the development of the wings that it
coincides with the costal margin.
In the hind wings, veins M, and Cu, unite for
a short distance, and then separate ; in the fore
wing these veins unite and remain united through-
out the remainder of their length (Fig. 6, M, +
Cu,).
Il
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
It is only in a very few Lepidoptera that there
is any indication of the existence of vein M, In
nearly all moths and in all butterflies media ap-
pears to be only three-branched ; and it is custom-
ary to regard the vein labeled M, + Cu, in the
above figure as merely cubitus-one. For the sake
of simplicity this course is followed in this work.
The most striking modification of the primi-
tive type that has taken place in the wings of
butterflies is the loss of the main stem of media
and the joining of the branches of media to the
veins on either side. Thus vein M, appears to be
a branch of radius; vein M,, of cubitus; and
37
vein M, is sometimes joined to radius and some-
times to cubitus. That this change has taken
place is easily seen by comparing the venation of
Sthenopis (Fig. 6) with that of the various but-
terflies figured here.
Not only has the main stem of media been lost,
but in nearly all wings of butterflies one or two
of the three anal veins have disappeared. A care-
ful study has shown that in the reduction of anal
veins in the Lepidoptera the first anal vein is the
first to disappear, and the third anal vein is the
next to go.
The number of the branches of a branched
vein is often reduced by the growing together, or
12
<
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
coalescence, of adjacent veins. Thus in many but-
terflies radius of the fore wings instead of being
five-branched is only four-branched or even three-
branched (Fig. 7). In a case of this kind the
designation R,,, indicates that veins R, and R,
have grown together to form
a single vein.
In the hind wings of all
butterflies the radius differs
greatly from that of the fore
wings. By referring to the
venation of Sthenxoprs (Fig.
6) it can be seen that at the
first forking of radius the
vein is divided into two un-
equal parts; one of these
is vein R,, the other gives
rise to the remaining four Fis. 7—Venation of the
branches of radius. This “8% *metshmark-
second part is termed the radzal sector, and is
labeled R, in the figures. In all butterflies the
branches of the radial sector of the hind wings all
coalesce so as to form a single vein, and vein R,
coalesces with the subcosta. This is well shown in
the hind wing of Papz/zo (Fig. 8). It will be ob-
served that in this wing vein R, soon after its
separation from vein R, joins vein Sc and the
T3
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
two extend to the margin of the wing as a single
vein, which for this reason is marked Sc+R,. It
will also be seen that the radial sector extends to
the margin of the wing as an unbranched vein,
R, R,
=]
Ca,
Fic. 8.— Venation of the wings of a
swallow-tail.
marked R,.
In some butter-
sg
te Ro og:
(eaten fs flies a short spur
extends from the
subcosta near the
humeral angle of
the wing; such a
spur is termed the
humeral vein
(Pig. 7, 11).
The thin spaces
of the wings which
are bounded by
the veins are called
cells. In descrip-
tions of wings, es-
pecially in indicat-
ing the location
of markings, it is
often desirable to
refer to one or more cells. It is necessary, there-
fore, to have a nomenclature of the cells of the
wing
14
g, as well as of the wing-veins.
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
Having named the wing-veins, the simplest
possible method of designating the cells of the
wing is to apply to each the abbreviation of the
name of the vein that forms its front margin.
In Figure 9 the veins are designated by letters at
the margin of the figure; the cells by letters
within the figure or at the ends of the dotted
lines.
Near the center of the basal half of the wing
there is a large cell
which is bounded in
front by the main
stem of radius and
which for this reason
might be called cell
R. But this cell is
really composed of
two cells. which have Fic. 9.—Fore wing of a butterfly with
: the veins and cells named.
been thrown together
by the fading out of the main stem of media.
For this reason this cell is designated as cell
R-+M. This is the dzscal cell of most writers
on the Lepidoptera.
The details of the venation of the wings can
be seen best, in Lepidoptera, on the lower sur-
face of the wings; as on this surface the veins
are not so obscured by scales as on the upper
15
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
surface. If necessary the scales can be removed
from a small part of a wing with a small brush in
order to expose the veins. A drop of chloro-
form applied to a wing causes the veins to be
more prominent for a moment; the chloroform
soon evaporates and leaves the wing uninjured.
At the base of each fore wing there is a prom-
inent scalelike appendage; these are known as
the patagza.
The third and last region of the body, the ad-
domen, requires little discussion in this place. It
consists of several ringlike segments, and bears
appendages at the caudal end connected with the
organs of reproduction. The forms of these ap-
pendages vary greatly in the different species,
consequently much attention is devoted to them
in the more technical works.
Ill. THE CLOTHING OF BUTTERFLIES
Every country lad knows that if a butterfly
be handled there comes off from it upon the
fingers a dustlike substance ; this is the clothing
of the butterfly. If this dust is examined with
a microscope each particle is seen to be of regular
form, although a wide range of forms may be
obtained from a single butterfly. The form that
is most abundant on the wings is a flattened
16
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
scale, beautifully ribbed, with a series of project-
ing teeth at one end, and a single pedicel at the
other (Fig. 10).
If a piece of a wing of a butterfly be ex-
amined with a microscope, it will be seen that
these scales are arranged in regular, overlapping
rows; the arrangement being as regular as that
of the scales on a fish or of the shingles on a
Fic. 10.—A series of scales taken from the body and wings of a single
moth. (From Kellogg.)
roof (Fig. 11). In the upper part of the figure
the membrane of the wing is represented with
the scales removed.
The scales of butterflies are modified hairs.
That is, they are hairs which, instead of growing
long and slender as hairs usually do, remain
17
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
short, but grow very wide as compared with their
length. Every gradation in form can be found
from the ordinary hairlike form, which occurs
most abundantly upon the body, to the short and
broad scale, which is best seen upon the wings
(Fig. 10).
The use of the scales on the wings is to
strengthen them. We thus see that the wings
of these insects are fur-
nished with much fewer
cross-veins than are the
wings of similar size in
other orders. A_ sec-
ondary use of these
scales is that of orna-
mentation; for the
beautiful colors and
Fic. 11.—Part of the wingofa markings of these in-
DIESE) SEALY REMC ~ coats are due entirely to
the scales, and are destroyed when the scales are
removed. Upon the body, legs, and other ap-
pendages, the scales and hairs doubtless serve to
protect the insect, being a sort of armor.
In the wings of males of many butterflies
there are scent glands that open through scales.
It should be stated in this connection that scales,
like other hairs of insects, are hollow and well
18
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
fitted to be the outlets of glands. The odor
emitted by these scent-glands is supposed to
attract the females; as do the bright plumage
and the songs of male birds.
To these scales, characteristic of the males,
has been applied the name azdroconza (an-dro-
co’ni-a), a word signify- y
ing male dust.
S,
Ltrs
aes
Androconia are of re-
hy
DH
Co
I
Ne ree
=
markable and _ various
forms. ‘“ Among the
Nymphalidz the andro-
conia are usually long,
slender, and feathered at
the tip (Fig. 12, @); in
the Pieride they are
usually fringed at the
apex and_ heart-shaped
at the base, the pedicel Fic. 12.—Androconia from the
, ! 4 wings of male butterflies.
being peculiarly devel-
oped into a slender stem with a ball at its tip
(Fig. 12, 6) ; in the Lyczenidz a battledore shape
is presented, the scale usually being quite small
(Fig. 12, ¢). The androconia are found almost
without exception on the upper side of the wings,
and are more commonly met with on the fore
wings than on the hind wings. They are often
19
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
found in certain limited spots or in folds of the
wings.” (Kellogg.
The most familiar illustrations of the group-
ing of the androconia in distinct patches are in
the “brands” of the males of certain skippers,
and in the discal patch of the fore wings of hair-
streaks. It is among the skippers also that we
find the most striking examples of folds formed
for containing androconia, 1. e., in the skippers
with a costal fold. In the milkweed butterflies
the androconia are in a little pocket close to vein
Cu, of the hind wings (see Plate xxxii.)
In caterpillars the fine hairs scattered over the
surface of the body are sense-organs and are prob-
ably tactile ; and it is believed that the organs of
taste and of smell of insects are modified hairs.
We thus see that the clothing of these insects
serves many and widely different uses,
IV. THE METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES
A butterfly in the course of its existence ap-
pears under four distinct forms ; these are the egg,
the larva or caterpillar, the pupa or chrysalis, and
the adult.
The eggs are small, and consequently are
rarely seen except by those who observe very
closely. They are attached by the parent butter-
20
PLATE II
THE CHANGE FROM A CATERPILLAR TO A CHRYSALIS
Fig.
1. Larva of the Mourning-cloak Butterfly fastened to a twig, ready to
transform. Note the button of silk to which it is fastened. (Figure
enlarged.)
2. Chrysalis just before freeing itself from its larval skin. (Figure
enlarged.)
(From photographs by Professor M. V. Slingerland, colored by Mrs. Slingerland.)
Plate II.
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
fly to the particular kind of plant upon which the
larva feeds. The eggs may have smooth oval
shells ; but often the shells are beautifully ribbed
and: pitted {Plate Ill, Fig; 2: Plate XXV,
Fig. 1); sometimes they are ornamented with
spines, and frequently they are exquisitely col-
ored.
When the young butterfly emerges from the
egg it is what is known as a /arva. This is a
general term applied to the corresponding stage
of all insects that appear under four distinct forms
in the course of their development. Usually the
larvee of butterflies and moths are called ca¢er-
pillars; both terms are used in the following
pages.
Caterpillars vary greatly in appearance ; but
g, more or less wormlike in form.
they are long,
This fact has suggested the common names of
many species; thus the cabbage-worm and the
tomato-worm are caterpillars; the former is the
larva of a butterfly, the latter develops into a
moth.
There is no characteristic by which we can
distinguish the larvze of butterflies from those of
moths; but with a little experience the student
can learn to recognize the larvee of our larger
and more common butterflies.
3 21
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
In the caterpillar state the division of the
body into three regions is not so well marked as
it is with the adult butterfly. The 4ead is always
distinct ; following the head there are thirteen
comparatively similar segments, which constitute
the thorax andthe abdomen. The first three seg-
ments following the head form the ¢orax of the
adult insect ; each of these segments bears a pair
of legs, which develop into the legs of the adult.
The remaining ten segments constitute the a@dé-
domen. On the lower side of the abdomen there
are five pairs of fleshy appendages, which are
known as the frolegs, these are borne by the
third to the sixth and the last abdominal seg-
ments. Each proleg is armed at the tip with a
series of hooks by which it clings to the object
upon which the caterpillar is walking, When a
caterpillar changes to a chrysalis the prolegs are
lost, being shed with the last larval skin.
The larve of butterflies differ greatly in re-
spect to the clothing of the body ; some are ap-
parently naked, the few hairs with which the
body is clothed being inconspicuous (see Plate
XI, Fig. 2); with others the hairs are more
numerous and larger (Plate IV, Fig. 1); and
still others are clothed with large spines (Plate
XXV, Fig. 2).
22
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
All insects in the course of their development
shed their skin at regular intervals. This process
is termed mol¢zng, and the cast skin is referred to
as the exuvee (ex-u’vi-e).
Before an insect molts a new skin is formed
beneath the old one; then the old skin bursts
open, and the insect crawls forth, clothed in a soft
skin, which stretches, if necessary, to accommo-
date the increased size of the insect. Very soon,
however, this new skin becomes hard. Caterpil-
lars molt four or five times during their larval life ;
some other insects molt many more times.
When a caterpillar is full-grown it makes
preparation for the quiet period that is to follow.
The larvee of some moths go into the ground and
form a cell within which the pupa state is passed;
the larvze of others spin a dense silken case about
the body which is known as the cocooz ,; some of
these cocoons are familiar objects. The larvee of
skippers, which are commonly classed with but-
terflies (see Part III), spin a cocoon; but almost
no true butterflies do so.
A few butterflies undergo their transforma-
tions in a crevice or cell upon or in the ground ;
but nearly all species fasten themselves to some
object and hang suspended during the pupa stage.
There are two distinct methods of suspension;
23
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
in one, the chrysalis hangs suspended by the tail
alone (Plate I, Fig. 3), in the other, the tail is
fastened in a similar manner, but there is also a
girth about the middle of the body (Plate IT],
Pigs 2),
When a caterpillar is full-grown it stops eat-
ing and seeks a convenient place in which to
transform. It then spins, upon the object to
which it is to fasten itself, a button of silk, into
which it fastens the prolegs at the hind end of
the body. Plate IJ, Figure 1, represents a cater-
pillar which has done this and is ready to trans-
form ; and Plate III, Figure 2, represents another
caterpillar which has suspended itself by a button at
the tail anda girth about the middle of the body.
After suspending itself, the caterpillar rests
for a time; then its skin splits open in the
middle of the back, and the head end of the body
is worked out through this opening. Plate II,
Figure 2, represents one which was photographed
just as it reached this stage in the transformation.
As the shed skin dries it shrinks back toward
the tail, where it is attached to the button of
silk. Before the body is entirely freed from the
skin, the tail of the chrysalis, which is armed
with hooks, is withdrawn from it and firmly fast-
ened to the button of silk.
24
PLATE III
THE FIRST THREE STAGES OF A BUTTERFLY
Fig.
1. Eggs of the Cabbage-butterfly; greatly enlarged.
2. Full-grown larva of the Cabbage-butterfly, fastened up by a button
of silk at the tail and a girth around the middle, ready to trans-
form; enlarged.
3. Chrysalis of the Cabbage-butterfly ; enlarged.
(From photographs by Professor M. V. Slingerland, colored by Mrs. Slingerland.)
Plate III.
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
The duration of the chrysalis state varies
greatly ; in the summer time in many cases it is
only a few days; on the other hand, it may be
several months, as is the case with those that pass
the winter in this state.
When the butterfly emerges from the chrysa-
lis skin, the wings are at first small and limp.
The butterfly hangs for a time by the legs; the
wings expand rapidly, and soon become stiff and
fitted for flight. On Plate 1, Figure 4, and Plate
XXV, Figure 3, are represented recently emerged
butterflies which were waiting for their wings to
dry.
V. THE STUDY OF THE LIFE OF BUTTERFLIES
If one would know the butterflies he must
study their lives, and their relations to each other.
We do not feel that we are acquainted with a
man when we merely know his name; and our
acquaintance with a butterfly is only begun when
we have determined its species. The learning of
the names of species should be regarded as merely
a means, not the end of our studies. It is neces-
sary to learn by what name an insect is known in
order to find out what has been published regard-
ing it; but having learned the name we should
not stop there. The name is merely the kev that
25
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
will let us into the storehouses of knowledge ac-
cumulated by our predecessors.
The determining of the name of a butterfly
may teach us much about the insect if it be done
in the better way; for there are two ways in
which the names of the species described here can
be determined. The student may learn the name
by comparing a specimen with the pictures.
This is probably the way in which many who use
the book will begin; and some will not be able
to devote the time to this subject necessary to
study it in a more serious manner.
But there is another way of classifying our
specimens, one by means of which we may learn
something of the relation of the various kinds to
each other, and of their distinguishing character-
istics, that is, by the use of the analytical tables,
which are given throughout the book. The stu-
dent is advised, even when he knows the name of
a species, to make use of the tables for the sake
of learning the distinctive characteristics pointed
out in them.
After a species has been properly classified,
we are ready to begin the study of its life. This
will be found to be the most fascinating part of
the study; for it includes the watching of the
ways of the butterflies in the field, the observing
26
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
of their transformations, and, often, the working
out of the relations between the different forms
of the same species.
In studying the transformation sone may be-
gin either with larvae or with eggs; the latter
way is the more desirable, but more difficult.
By careful watching, one can often see a butterfly
laying its eggs upon the food plant of its larva,
and in this way obtain them; but if one fails to
find the eggs, it is easy to find the larvee later.
In many cases the eggs can be readily obtained
by caging a living female
butterfly with the proper
food plant.
Breeding-cages are nec-
essary for rearing cater-
pillars. A good home-
made cage can be built by
fitting a pane of glass into
one side of an empty soap-
box. <A board, three or
four inches wide, should
be fastened below the glass so as to admit
Fic. 13.—A home-made
breeding-cage.
of a layer of soil being placed in the lower part
of the cage, and the glass can be made to slide, so
as to serve as a door (Tig. 13). The glass should
fit closely when shut, to prevent the escape of
sd
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
insects. The soil is put into the box so that if
larvee of moths are reared they may have a
chance to go into the ground to transform."
Branches of the proper food plant should be
stuck into bottles or cans which are filled with
sand saturated with water. By keeping the sand
wet the plants can be kept fresh longer than in
water alone, and the danger of the larve being
drowned is avoided by the use of sand.
Hibernating chrysalids may be left in the
breeding-cages or removed and packed in moss
in small boxes. Great care should be taken to
keep moist the soil in the breeding-cages, or the
moss if that be used. The cages or boxes con-
taining the pupze should be stored in a cool cellar,
or in an unheated room, or in a box placed out
of doors where the sun can not strike it. Low
temperature is not so much to be feared as great
and frequent changes of temperature.
An excellent breeding-cage can be made by
combining a flower-pot and a lantern-globe or a
large lamp-chimney ; the top of the lantern-globe
is covered with Swiss muslin.
The student of butterflies needs a_collect-
' The following suggestions for breeding insects and the care of speci-
mens are taken, in large part, from the work by the senior author, Zysect
Life, published by D. Appleton and Company, New York.
28
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
ing outfit, consisting of a net, a killing-bottle, a
few vials or pill-boxes for bringing home living
larvee, a cork-lined collecting box, and a vial of
chloroform with a small brush fitted in
the cork.
The usual form of an insect-net is
shown in Figure 14, and the killing-
bottle in Figure 15. The bottle is pre-
pared in the following manner :
Take a wide-mouth bottle holding
four or six ounces. Put in this a piece
Fic. 14.—An
insect-net.
of cyanide of potassium, about threc-
fourths of an inch square, and water
enough to cover the cyanide ; and then immedi-
ately, before there is time for the
cyanide to dissolve, put enough plas-
ter of Paris in the bottle to entirely
soak up the water. In this way the
cyanide will be firmly cemented in
place in the bottom of the bottle.
The bottle should then be left open
in a shady place for an hour to dry,
and then securely corked witha long
lie. 15.—Akill- Cork and labeled Pozso, after which
ing-bottle.
it is ready for use.
In using a cyanide bottle care should be taken
not to leave it open unnecessarily, lest it lose its
“0
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
strength. With proper care a bottle will retain
its strength for several months.
Specimens placed in the bottle to be killed
should be left there for at least a half hour. They
may be left in the bottle several hours, even over-
night, without injury.
Collectors of butterflies usually have a shal-
low tin box, lined with pith or cork, into which
specimens can be pinned, and fitted with a strap by
means of which it can be slung over the shoulder
(Fig. 16). A
cheap substitute
for such a box
can be made by
Fic. 16.—A collecting-box.
using a shallow
cigar-box, lined with cork and fitted with a
strong cord.
There is another method of caring temporarily
for specimens of butterflies, which is used when
it is not convenient to pin them. The specimen
is killed while it is yet in the net with chloroform
or by pinching the thorax, care being taken that
the wings are folded together above the back, so
that they shall not be rubbed. Then the speci-
men is dropped into a triangular envelope made
by folding a piece of paper, as shown in Figure
17, and a memorandum of the locality and date
30
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
of capture is written on the envelope.
When it
is desired to pin and spread specimens that have
been stored in this way, they are relaxed by put-
~
ee a
Fic. 17.—Folded papers for butterflies.
ting them on damp sand in a tightly closed vessel
and leaving them there two or three days.
For pinning insects a special kind of pin is
ordinarily used—one made of slender
wire—so that the specimens are muti-
lated as little as possible (Fig. 18).
These can be procured of any dealer
in entomological supplies. The pin
is pushed through the middle of the
thorax, and about one-fourth of its
length is left projecting above the spec-
imen.
It is necessary that specimens of
butterflies be ‘‘ spread” before they are
7 >
1 3 #5
Fic. 18.—
Insect-pins.
placed in a cabinet. For doing this a device
known as a spreading-board is used. This con-
sists of two strips of wood fastened a short dis-
31
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tance apart, so as to leave a groove for the body
of the insect, upon which the wings are fastened
in position and left until the insect is dry (Fig.
alll i
i i NW
i A =
i i
Yee
Hl 1
W
a haat WW
a
| i
Wf
|
ih
UK i
il i)
||| i ti
lh
Fic. 19.—A spreading-board.
1G, @):
Io): AL
cork is tacked to the low-
narrow strip of
er side of the two strips
this closes the
groove below, and serves as
of wood;
a support for the pin upon
which the insect is pinned.
Another strip of wood is
fastened to the lower side
of the cleats to which the
two strips are nailed. This
serves as a bottom, and
protects the points of the
pins which project through
the piece of cork.
In spreading a specimen
a narrow piece of paper is
used on each side to hold
the wings in place till they
are properly arranged (Fig.
The wings are moved into position by
shipping them forward or backward under the
slips of paper, using for this purpose a fine pin,
which is inserted near a strong vein of the wing.
32
GENERAL ACCOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES
When the wings are properly arranged their en-
tire surface is covered with wider strips of paper
(Fig. 19, 4). The specimens are left on the
boards till they are dry ; this usually requires two
or three days.
For pinning the sheets of paper over the wings
the sharp-pointed ‘ mourning-pins” are much
better than ordinary brass pins; and thin sheets
of mica are often used instead of sheets of paper
(ip, 10): 2):
If one wishes to keep a collection of butter-
flies, it is essential that they
be stored in tightly covered
boxes, for there is a small
beetle—the museum pest—
which is sure to destroy the
specimens if it can reach
Fic. 20.—A cabinet.
them. Various styles of in-
sect cases are sold by dealers; we prefer those
that have a glass top, and which may be stored as
drawers in a cabinet (Fig. 20). By using this
kind, the specimens can be seen without opening
the case.
The value of a collection of butterflies will be
greatly enhanced if specimens of the eggs, larvee,
and chrysalids be preserved with the adults. The
chrysalids should be killed in a cyanide bottle ;
33
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
they can then be pinned and preserved dry. It is
more difficult to preserve caterpillars, on account
of the soft nature of the body. They can be
preserved in vials of alcohol ; this is the simplest
way. But the fact that the appearance of many
larvee is greatly altered by preserving them in
alcohol leads many entomologists to remove the
viscera from such larvee and inflate and dry the
skins. The process is somewhat difficult and dis-
agreeable to perform,
but if it is well done
very beautiful speci-
mens are obtained,
which preserve the
Fic. 21.—A blown farva.
form and color of the
larvee much better than those prepared in any
other way (Fig. 21).?
In collecting butterflies each specimen should
be carefully labeled with the name of the locality
in which it was taken and the date of capture.
While this is important for all specimens, it is
especially so in the study of those species that
occur under different forms in different sections
of the country, and those in which the successive
generations of a year present a different appear-
ance.
1 Directions for inflating larvee are given in Jisect Life, pp. 301-303.
34
PART II
THE CLASSIFICATION OF BUTTERFLIES
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Pa-pil-i-o-noi’de-a)
In learning to know the butterflies the student
will find his work simplified, and his enjoyment
of it greatly increased, if he early learns some-
thing of the grouping of the species into families,
and of the principal divisions of the families.
This can be done, without learning the more
technical characteristics upon which this group-
ing is based, by reference to the following synopsis
of families. The technical distinctions are given
later in a tabular form.
SYNOPSIS OF THE GROUPS OF BUTTERFLIES
Tue Parnassians, Family Parnassida, p. 42.
THE SwALLow-TalLs, Famzly Papilionorde, p. 45.
THE Prerips, Famzly Prertde, p. 69.
THe WHITES, p. 71.
THE ORANGE-TIPS, p. 81.
THE YELLOWS, p. 84.
30
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
Tue Nymeus, Family Nymphalide, p. 102.
THE FRITILLARIES, p. 104.
THE CRESCENT-SPOTS, Pp. 123.
THE ANGLE-WINGS, p. 131.
THE SOVEREIGNS, p. 162.
THE EMPERORS, Pp. 173.
Tue Meapow-srowns, Fam2ly Agapetide, p.
180.
Tue Heticonians, Famzly Helicontde, p. 201.
THe Mitkweep Butterr cigs, Lanely Lymnaa-
2a@, p. 204.
Tue Lonc-peEaks, Family Libytherde, p. 210.
THe Metat-marks, Famzly Riodinide, p. 213.
THe GossaMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES, Famzly
Lycenide, p. 215.
Tue HAIrR-STREAKS, p. 217.
THE CopPERs, p. 236.
THE BLUES, p. 244.
The butterflies, the skippers, and the moths or
‘millers ” constitute the order Lepidoptera. The
student will have no trouble in recognizing the
members of this order as such. But it may
often happen that there is doubt as to whether
a given insect is a moth, a skipper, or a butter-
fly. The more available characteristics for dis-
36
THE CLASSIFICATION OF BUTTERFLIES
tinguishing these groups are given in the follow-
ing table.!
A. Lepidopterous insects (¢. ¢., insects with the wings
clothed with scales) in which the antennz are of various
forms, but never threadlike with a knob at the extremity.
Not discussed in this book. THe Morus.
AA. Lepidopterous insects in which the antenne are
threadlike with a knob at the extremity.
B. With the radius of the fore wings five-branched,
and with all of the branches arising from cell R+ M
(Fig. 22); the club of the antennz usually terminated
by arecurved hook. (Superfamily Hesperioidea), p. 256.
THE SKIPPERS.
BB. With some of the branches of the radius of the fore
wings coalesced beyond the apex of cell R+ M? the
1The following is the method of using the analytical tables given in
this book: Read carefully the statement of characteristics given opposite
A and AA respectively, and by examining the insect to be classified de-
termine which is true of this insect. This will indicate in which division
of the table the name of the group to which the insect belongs is to be
looked for. If this division of the table is subdivided, pass to B and BB
in this division and determine in a like manner under which the insect
belongs. Continue in this way, passing to the letters C, D, E, etc., in
regular order till the name of the group is reached. Then turn to the
page indicated and read the description of the group given there, com-
paring the specimens withthe description.
2 In some butterflies two or more branches of radius of the fore wings
coalesce to the margin of the wing (Fig. 23); in this case all of the
branches may appear to arise from cell R + M, as with the skippers, but
the fact of such coalescence is shown by the number of the branches of
radius being less than five. See page 38, Fig. 23.
4 oF
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
club of the antennz not terminated by a recurved
hook. (Superfamily Papilionoitea), p. 35.
THE BUTTERFLIES.
Of the eleven families of butterflies represented
in America north of Mexico, one (the /¢omzzde@)
Bosats
3d A
Fic. 22.—Venation of the wings Fic. 23.—Venation of the wings
of a skipper. of a hair-streak, 7hecla.
is represented only by three tropical species
whose range extends into the extreme southwest-
ern part of our territory. This family will not
be discussed here. The remaining ten families
can be separated by the following table :
38
THE CLASSIFICATION OF BUTTERFLIES
TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF
BUTTERFLIES!
A. Butterflies in which the cubitus is apparently four-
branched ; and in which the anal area of the hind wings
is more reduced than the anal area of the fore wings, as in
the fore wings there are always two anal veins, and usually
all three are at least partially preserved, while in the hind
wings there is only a single anal vein (Fig. 25).
B. The outer margin of the hind wings rounded, without
a tail-like prolongation. (Parnassiide), p. 42.
THE PARNASSIANS.
BB. Hind wings with one or more tail-like prolongations.
(Papilionide), p. 45. THE SWALLOW-TAILS.
AA. Butterflies in which cubitus is apparently three-branched ;
and in which the anal area ofthe fore wings is more re-
duced than the anal area of the hind wings, the former hav-
ing a single anal vein and the latter two (Fig. 27).
B. Palpi much longer than the thorax. (Lidytheid@), p. 210.
THE LONG-BEAKS.
BB. Palpi not as long as the thorax.
C. With only four well-developed legs, the front legs
being unused, much shorter than the others, and
folded on the breast like a tippet ; radius of the fore
wings five-branched. To determine the number of
branches of radius, count the two cubital and the
three medial branches first ; the branches left between
vein M, and the subcosta belonging to radius (Fig. 30).
1 For a table of the families of skippers see page 257.
39
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
D. With some of the veins of the fore wings greatly
swollen at the base (Fig. 36). (Agapetida), p. 180.
THE MEADOW-BROWNS.
DD. With none of the veins of the fore wings un-
usually swollen at the base.
E. Antenne clothed abundantly with scales, at least
above.
F. Fore wings at least twice as long as broad ; in
the only species occurring in America north
of Mexico the wings are black banded with
yellow. (Meliconida), p. 201.
THE HELICONIANS.
FF. Fore wings rarely twice as long as broad,
and then not black banded with yellow. (Vym-
phalide), p. to2. THE Nympus.
EE. Antenne apparently naked. (Lymnadide),
p- 204. THe MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES.
CC. With six well-developed legs, although in some
species the fore legs of the male are a little shorter,
and the tarsi of these lack one or both claws ; radius
of the fore wings (except in some orange-tips, p. 81)
only three- or four-branched (Fig. 27).
D. The first branch of media (vein M,) of the fore
wings arising at or near the apex of cell R+M
(Fig. 39), except in the wanderer (p- 237).
E. Hind wings with a costa and a humeral vein
(Fig. 39). (Reodinide), p. 213.
THE METAL-MARKS.
AO
THE CLASSIFICATION OF BUTTERFLIES
EE. Hind wings with neither a costa nor a hu-
meral vein. (Lycenid@), p. 215.
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES.
DD. The first branch of media of the fore wings
united with the last branch of radius for a consid-
erable distance beyond the apex of cell R M
(Fig. 27). (Pteride), p. 69. THE PIErIDs.
41
FAMILY I
THE PARNASSIANS
Family Parnassiidz (Par-nas-si’i-de)
THE parnassians are butterflies of medium size in which the
ground color of the wings is white shaded with black, and
marked with round red or yellow spots margined with black
Cu, Gu,
Fic. 24.—Venation of the
wings of Parnassius.
(Plate IV, Fig. 3).
In structure the parnassians are
closely allied to the swallow-tails ;
but in their general appearance
they show little resemblance to
them, differing in the ground
color of the wings, and in lack-
ing the tail-like prolongation of
the hind wings.
The most striking characteris-
tics of the venation of the wings
are that the cubitus appears to
be four-branched, and the anal
area of the hind wings is more
reduced than the anal area of the
fore wings (Fig. 24); in both of these respects they resemble
the swallow-tails and differ from all other butterflies. The
apparently four-branched condition of cubitus is due to the
fact that vein M, as well as vein M, is joined to cubitus;
while in other butterflies, except the swallow-tails, vein M, is
42
PW NH
PLATE IV
PARNASSIANS AND PAPILIO
. Larva of Parnassius showing the scent-organs, osmateria, protruded.
. Chrysalis of Parnassius.
. The Smintheus Butterfly, Parnassius smintheus.
. The Black Swallow-tail, Papilio polyxenes, male.
Plate IV.
THE PARNASSIANS
joined to radius. In the anal area of the hind wings only a
single vein remains; while in the anal area of the fore wings
two anal veins are distinctly preserved. In the fore wings
veins R, and R, coalesce, which reduces the number of the
branches of radius to four.
The larve (Plate IV, Fig. 1) possess the peculiar scent-
organs known as osmateria; these are also possessed by the
larvee of swallow-tails and by no other butterfly larvae. The
osmateria are described later, in the discussion of the larvee of
swallow-tails. The larva when about to pupate either draws
a leaf or leaves about its body by a few threads or it merely
hides under some object on the ground.
The pupa (Plate IV, Fig. 2) is cylindrical and rounded,
not angulate like those of the swallow-tails.
Only four species have been found in North America; they
all belong to the genus Parnassius. Of the four species, two
are Alaskan ; the others occur in the mountains of the Pacific
States, in Wyoming, and in the Rocky Mountains. One of
these, Parnassius smintheus (Par-nas’si-us smin/the-us), is
represented on Plate IV, Fig. 3.
Though the butterflies of the tropics may
delight our eyes with their beautiful colors, yet
we must needs climb high mountains to realize
the possibilities of beauty which these little crea-
tures possess. We would naturally suppose that
those butterflies found on high mountains and
in cold regions would be leathery of wing and
dull of color; but this is a wrong supposition,
for we find on the wings of these mountain-top
43
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
butterflies a beautiful combination of white with
a lemon-yellow tinge and soft brownish gray en-
livened by spots of vermilion margined with black.
The upper gray portion of the wing is quite trans-
parent, so that the writing on the labels beneath
~ the museum specimens may be read easily through
this delicate medium ; and we wonder again at
the exquisite frailty of these insects which endure
the rigor of high altitudes and arctic conditions.
44
FAMILY II
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
Family Papilionidz (Pa-pil-i-on’i-de)
THESE magnificent butterflies are easily recognized by their
large size and the tail-like prolongation of the hind wings.
The ground color of
the wings is black,
which is usually
marked with yellow,
and often with metallic
blue or green.
The swallow-tails
agree with the parnas-
sians and differ from
all other butterflies in
the fact that vein M,
of the fore wings ap-
pears to be a branch
of cubitus, making this
vein appear to be four-
branched (Fig. 25),
and also by the fact
that the anal area of
the hind wings is more
reduced than the anal
area of the fore wings,
the former containing yo. 25.—Venation of the wings of a
only a single anal vein, swallow-tail.
45
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
the latter two in the parnassians and three in the swallow-tails.
In the swallow-tails radius of the fore wings is five-branched,
veins R, and R, being distinct although closely parallel.
The caterpillars are never furnished with spines, but are
either naked or clothed with a few fine hairs. In a single spe-
cies in our fauna (Laertias philenor) the body of the larva bears
fleshy filaments. ;
A striking pecuharity of the larvze of this family is the pres-
”
ence of a pair of bright-colored fleshy ‘“‘ horns,’’ which can be
projected from a slit in the dorsal wall of the prothorax.
(Plate XI, Fig. 2.) These have been termed osmateria
(os-ma-te’ri-a), and are supposed to be organs of defense ;
for they exhale, when pushed out, an odor which in some
species is exceedingly disagreeable. They are little long
pockets which are turned wrong side out when used, thus
throwing out in the atmosphere all of the odor that has been
secreted in them. These caterpillars are the polecats of the
insect world.
The chrysalids are thickened in the middle and taper con-
siderably at each end; they are more or less angulated, and
have certain parts excessively produced ; they are suspended
by the tail and by a loose girth around the middle. (Plate
XI, Fig. 1.)
The Papilionidz includes many species ; more than twenty
of them have been found in America north of Mexico, and
eight occur in the eastern United States. The following ta-
ble will aid in the determination of these:
A. With a red or orange-colored spot on the upper side of
the hind wings near the anal angle; club ofantennz usually
strongly curved upward.
40
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
B. Front wings crossed by several bands of greenish white.
(I. ajax), p. 49. THE ZEBRA SWALLOW-TAIL.
BB. Front wings not crossed by bands of greenish white.
C. The larger part of the disk of the wings yellow. (P.
glaucus), Pp. 5%.
THE TIGER SWALLOW-TAIL ( Zurnus Form).
CC. The larger part of the disk of the wings black.
D. Principal markings of the upper side of the front
wings nearly parallel with the costal margin ;
wings black above, yellow beneath. (P. shoas),
p. 56. THE GIANT SWALLOW-TAIL.
DD. Principal markings of the front wings parallel
with the outer margin; wings black above and
below.
E. Hind wings crossed near the middle of the upper
surface with a band of yellow, or with a row of
yellow spots; this in addition to a subterminal
row of spots, and a series of marginal lunules of
the same color.
F. Yellow band near the middle of the hind
wings distinctly interrupted with blac« on the
veins.
G. Tails of hind wings about four times as
long as broad. (P. polyenes), p. 62.
THE BLack SWALLOW-TAIL.
GG. Tails of hind wings only about twice as
long as broad. (P. brewecauda), p. 61.
THE SHORT-TAILED PaPILIO.
47
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
FF. Yellow band near the middle of the hind
wings barely, it at all, interrupted by the veins.
(P. palamedes), Pp. 55-
THE PALAMEDES SWALLOW-TAIL.
EE. Hind wings without a band of yellow near
the middle of the upper surface.
F. Hind wings with a red or orange-yellow spot
in cell R, on the upper surface.
G. Lower surface of hind wings with two trans-
verse rows of orange spots, the row near the
middle consisting of a well-marked spot in
each cell except cell M,. (P. ¢rorlus), p. 59.
THE GREEN-CLOUDED SWALLOW-TAIL.
GG. The row of orange spots near the mid-
dle of the lower surface of the hind wings
only feebly represented. (P. g/aucus), p. 51.
THE TIGER SWALLOW-TAIL
(Glaucus Form).
FF. The yellow spot in cell R, on the upper
surface, if present, of the same color as the
submarginal row of spots. (2 folyxenes), p. 62.
Tue Biack SwaLLow-TaIL (Female).
AA. Without a red or orange-colored spot on the upper side
of the hind wings near the anal angle; club of antennze
not curved upward. (LZ. philenor), p. 66.
THE BLuE SWALLOW-TAIL.
48
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
THE ZEBRA SWALLOW-TAIL
[phiclides ajax (Iph-i-cli’des a’jax)
PLATE V, Fic. 1, 2
This butterfly differs from all other swallow-tails found in
the eastern half of the United States in having the wings
crossed by several bands of greenish white. This is one of
the most interesting of our butterflies, as it occurs under three
distinct forms, two of which were considered for a long time
distinct species. Without taking into account the more
minute differences these forms can be separated as follows :
(1) The Early-spring Form, Iphiclides ajax marcellus (mar-
cel'lus).—This form expands from two and six-tenths inches
to two and eight-tenths inches; and the tails of the hind
wings are about six-tenths inch in length and tipped with
white. (Plate V, Fig. 1.) This form was described by Mr.
Edwards under the name zva/siit and is still often incorrectly
so called.
(2) The Late-spring Form, [phiclides ajax telamonides (tel-
a-mon’i-des).—This form is a little larger than marcel/us and
has tails nearly one-third longer; these tails are bordered with
white on each side of the distal half or two-thirds of their
length.
(3) The Summer Form, /phiclides ajax ajax.—The summer
form is still larger, expanding from three and two-tenths
inches to three and one-half inches, and has tails nearly two-
thirds longer than the early-spring form. (Plate V, Fig. 2.)
Owing to an unfortunate error this form is often called
marcellus.
The life-history of this species has been carefully worked
out by Mr. W. H. Edwards. He has shown that there are
49
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
several generations each year, and that the winter is passed in
the chrysalis state. But the early-spring form and _ the late-
spring form are not successive broods; these are both com-
posed of individuals that have wintered as chrysalids, those
that emerge early developing into marce//us, and those that
emerge later developing into ¢edamonides. All of the butter-
flies produced from eggs of the same season, and there are
several successive broods, are of the summer form, aax ajax.
CATERPILLAR.—Length about two inches. Largest at the
third thoracic segment, which is made conspicuous by a wide
black velvety band edged with yellow. The rest of the body
is pea green with narrow cross bands of yellow and black.
food-plants.—Pawpaw, spice bush, and upland huckleberry.
This gorgeous butterfly is well named, for its
wings are cross-striped in a way that at once sug-
gestsazebraor atiger. To accentuate the beauty
of these colors and markings two purplish-blue
crescents ornament the anal angle of the hind
wing, and above each there are one or two spots
that look like drops of blood; on the lower sur-
face the “blood” trickles across the entire wing.
This species responds to the influence of the
seasons. The first form to appear in the spring
with the peach blossoms is called marcellus ; it
has the “‘swallow-tails” of moderate length. The
form that appears next is ¢e/amontdes, which has
longer tails; while the form that occurs in mid-
summer, ajax ajax, has still longer tails, and the
50
PLATE V
THE ZEBRA SWALLOW-TAIL
Fig.
1. The Early-spring Form, I phiclides ajax marcellus.
2. The Summer Form, I phiclides ajax ajax,
Plate V.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
tips of the front wings are also extended. It is
as if summer in a pleasant mood had seized this
butterfly by the tips of each pair of wings and
stretched them out, making it larger and far
more gracefully proportioned than the forms
which came from the winter chrysalis. Though
it may be more beautiful in form, this later variety,
ajax ajax, has almost buried its purple crescents
in black and has but one drop of “blood” on the
upper surface of each hind wing. It seems to
have neglected its colors in order to produce tails
an inch long.
The zebra swallow-tail is common in the south-
eastern United States. It flies low with much
fluttering and is found about low thickets. The
caterpillar is well protected by its scent organs,
which when protruded give off a sickish odor.
The winter is passed in the chrysalis stage.
THE TIGER SWALLOW-TAIL
Papilio glaucus (Pa-pil'i-o glau’cus)
PLATE VI, Fic. 1, 2
In the adult state two distinct forms of this insect occur.
These differ so greatly in appearance that they were long con-
sidered distinct species. They may be distinguished as fol-
lows :
(1) The Turnus Form, Papilio glaucus turnus (Plate VI,
Fig. 1).—The wings are bright straw-yellow above, and pale,
51
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
faded straw-yellow beneath, with a very broad black outer
margin, in which there is a row of yellow spots. On the fore
wings there are four black bars, extending back from the
costa; the inner one of these crosses the hind wings also.
This species is represented by both sexes, and is found in
nearly all parts of the United States and Canada.
(2) The Glaucus Form, Papilio glaucus glaucus (Plate VI,
Fig. 2.)—In this form the disk of the wings is entirely black,
but the black bands of the Turnus form are faintly indicated,
especially on the lower surface, by a darker shade. The
marginal row of yellow spots is present, and also the orange
spots and blue scales of the hind wings. This form is repre-
sented only by the female sex, and occurs only in the more
southern part of the range of the species, i. e., from Delaware
to Montana and southward. In this region both yellow and
black females have been reared from eggs produced by a
single female.
CaTERPILLAR.—Enlarged at the third thoracic segment and
about two inches long when fully grown. In color it is deep
green, and the enlarged thoracic segment bears on each side a
large greenish-yellow spot edged with black enclosing a black
streak above and having a pupil of blue bordered with black.
The hind edge of the first segment of the abdomen is banded
with yellow and the front edge of the next segment is banded
with black.
Lfood-plant——Birch, poplar, ash, wild cherry, fruit trees,
and many other trees and shrubs.
The tiger swallow-tail disports itself on its
great yellow wings from the Atlantic to the
Pacific and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
52
PLATE VI
THE TIGER SWALLOW-TAIL
Fig.
1. The Turnus Form, Papilio glaucus turnus.
2. The Glaucus Form, Papilio glaucus glaucus.
Plate VI.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
And as if to demonstrate that it is truly at home
wherever it may be and that it has no race or
color prejudice, it has in the South wives that are
black. It is a brave flyer and lifts itself easily
over houses and trees. It is especially a habitant
of the latter ; from our upper windows we have
watched it fluttering about among the tip-top
branches quite as much at home as on the lilac
bushes or on the peonies of the lawn. It has a
catholic taste in the matter of odor, and is equally
devoted to fragrant flowers and to waste matter
by no means fragrant. Its especial weakness
is tobacco smoke. When fishing in the Adiron-
dacks it was one of the daily diversions of the
senior author, while resting to smoke a cigar, to
watch the tiger swallow-tails come one by one
out of the wilderness and flutter about him with
every sign of enjoyment; if he held quite still,
they would settle comfortably on his forehead or
shoulders a little to the leeward so as to enjoy to
the utmost the luxury of a second-hand smoke.
The caterpillar has most interesting ways: it
makes at first a silken rug on the leaf where it
rests when not feeding (Fig. 26). When fully
grown it pulls the edges of the leaf together
slightly and weaves a web across, thus making
for itself a spring mattress on which to doze; it
5 53
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
keeps its bed very clean and never bites into the
leaf on which it is spread. That bird would be
Fic. 26.—The larva of
the tiger swallow-tail
upon its bed.
brave indeed which would touch
one of these caterpillars if it
simply saw the front end of the
body; the thorax with its fierce
yellow eye-spots looks like the
head of a wicked little green
snake; and this deceptive ap-
pearance is heightened when the
scent organs are shot out forked,
like a snake’s tongue, while the
caterpillar rocks itself to and fro
with a most insidious motion.
This false face deceives even the
novice in entomology who be-
lieves these spots are true eyes,
whereas the latter are mere dots
on the head of the caterpillar.
In the far North the tiger
swallow-tail is single-brooded ; it is double-brooded
in New York State and triple-brooded in the
Gulf States. It passes the winter as a chrysalis.
Yes! There came floating by
Me, who lay floating too,
Such a strange butterfly !
Creature as dear as new:
54
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
Because the membraned wings
So wonderful, so wide,
So sun-suffused, were things
Like soul and nought beside.
BROWNING.
THE PALAMEDES SWALLOW-TAIL
Papilio palamedes (Pa-pil'i-o pal-a-me’des)
PLATE VII, Fic. 1
This species is found in the southern half of the United
States, east of the Mississippi. It resembles to a great extent
in color and markings the black swallow-tail (Plate IV, Fig.
4); but it is a much larger insect, expanding from four inches
to four and six-tenths inches, and differs in markings as fol-
lows. The yellow band near the middle of the hind wings is
barely if at all interrupted by black on the veins; and the
orange-colored spot near the anal angle has not a black center.
On the thorax and head there is a yellow line extending from
the tip of the patagia to the base of the front legs, encircling
the inner edge of the eye, and including the palpi.
CATERPILLAR.—The last two thoracic and the first abdom-
inal segments are enlarged. The body is pale velvety green
in color, specked and marked with lighter green. It is buff
below. The eye-spots on the third thoracic segment are black,
and have a glassy black pupil in a circle of orange. Scent-
organs yellowish brown.
Food-plants.—Magnolia, Persea, sassafras.
Palamedes looks like a giant male of the black
swallow-tail, as its wings are black and are mar-
gined and banded with yellow spots. The habits
ae
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
of the butterfly are graphically described thus by
Dr. Wittfield. ‘‘ Palamedes roosts on the highest
tree it can find, oak or palmetto. I have seen
four to six near sundown fluttering about the
tree where they finally settle and remain. Some-
times three or four rest on one palmetto leaf with
spread wings.”
The caterpillar behaves very much like that of
troilus, folding the leaf together and holding it
there with silken threads crossed, and_ hiding
within. However, it differs from troilus in this
respect, that it eats the leaf of which the nest is
made until it is too small for protection and then
it moves on to another leaf. This species is con-
fined to the southern half of the United States,
east of the Mississippi. In the more southern
part of its range there are at least three broods
annually ; and the winter is passed by both larvee
and chrysalids.
THE GIANT SWALLOW-TAIL
Papilio thoas (Pa-pil'i-o tho’as)
PiaTeE VII, Fic. 2; PLate VIII
This is the largest North American butterfly known, ex-
panding from four inches to five and a half inches. The
wings are black above and yellow beneath. The front wings
are crossed on the upper side by a row of ten, more or less
56
PLATE VII
SWALLOW-TAIL BUTTERFLIES
Fig.
1. The Palamedes Swallow-tail, Papilio palamedes,
2. The Giant Swallow-tail, Papélio thoas.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
confluent, yellow spots extending from the apex to the basal
half of the inner margin. There is near the base of the hind
wings a yellow band, which, when the wings are spread, is
continuous with the longitudinal row of spots of the front
wings. here is also a row of yellow spots extending from
the middle of the longitudinal row on the front wings to near
the anal angle of the hind wings.
This species pertains especially to the South; but it appears
to be slowly and steadily invading the North. There are
four broods of this butterfly in Florida and two at the north-
ern limit of its distribution.
This is the species commonly known as Papilio cresphontes ;
but it was first named ¢hoas by Linneus.
CATERPILLAR.—Length about two inches. The front part
of the body is much expanded. In color it is reddish mot-
tled brown ; a saddle at the middle, the two or three rear seg-
ments, and the stripes at the side near the front are dirty
cream white. There is a row of more or less obscure eye-
spots across the swollen thoracic segment.
food-plants.—Orange and other citrus foliage, rue, prickly
ash, Lombardy poplar, and others.
On broad and leisurely wing the giant papilio
is invading the North. It is still sufficiently rare
in the New England and Middle States, so that
there the heart of the butterfly lover stands still
when he gets a glimpse of these magnificent
black wings crossed with brilliant yellow, wings
that look on the under side as if they were lined
with some delicate lemon-colored fabric which
37
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
allows the markings to show through. It is ever
an indolent beauty, and loves to settle on flowers
and let its wings droop while it luxuriates in a
sun bath. When disturbed, no butterfly of them
all has a flight so dignified and haughty as that
of the giant swallow-tail ; it scorns to escape the
net by a margin of more than three or four
inches,
The caterpillar (Plate VIII) is a most unpre-
possessing creature in appearance. At best it is
an elongated brown and white blotched object
pinched in the middle and looking far more like
bird-lime than like a thing of life. However, if
disturbed it lifts the head and throws out a pair
of long orange horns which exhale a stench that
renders its immediate neighborhood quite unin-
habitable by man or bird. The species is three-
or four-brooded in the Southern States, and oc-
curs there in such numbers as to be most destruc-
tive to the citrus fruit trees. In the North it
feeds upon wild plants; so we here may with a
clear conscience give ourselves up to the enjoy-
ment of this largest and most striking butterfly
of our fauna. It was taken in New York first in
1864. The first specimen was taken at Ithaca
in 1899, and since then a limited number of the
butterflies have appeared here each year.
58
PLATE VIII
TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE GIANT SWALLOW-TAIL
Fig.
1. Two chrysalids; one, at the right, removed from its girth to show
dorsal view, Papilio thoas.
2. Larva, the Orange-dog, Papilio thoas.
(From photographs by Professor M. V. Slingerland, colored by Mrs. Slingerland.)
Plate VIII.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
Brave butterfly, what wild ambition filled thy breast
To leave thy orange-groves and fling on chilling breath
Of Northern winds thy golden cross? What race unrest
Hath driven thee here to bravely battle frost and death?
THE GREEN-CLOUDED SWALLOW-TAIL
Papilio troilus (Pa-pil’i-o tro’i-lus)
Piate UX, Fic. 4, 2
Wings black ; front wings with a row of pale straw-colored
or greenish spots near the outer margin; and in some speci-
mens a part of a second row parallel to this extends from the
inner margin. On the lower side this second row is much
more distinct. The discal half of the hind wings is profusely
powdered with either pale yellow-green or pale blue-green
scales, these scales forming a cloud near the middle of the
wing. On the upper side of the hind wings there is an
orange spot near the middle of the costal margin and one
near the anal angle; and near the outer margin there is a
row of six pale yellow-green or pale blue-green lunules. On
the lower side there are two rows of orange spots, each row
consisting of seven, except that the spot of the inner row in
cell M, is very small or wanting ; its place being occupied by
an extension of the blue or green cloud, which covers the
basal part of the area between the two rows of spots.
This species is found in the Atlantic States and in the
Northwest Territories.
CATERPILLAR.—Body largest at the third thoracic segment;
length when fully grown about two inches. In color it is
dark green above and lighter green underneath. The eye-
spots on the enlarged segment are light yellow and double
59
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
pupiled, a turquoise blue pupil above and a black velvety one
below. There are a pair of pale yellow spots rimmed with
black and with blue centers near the front edge of the first
abdominal segment. Fach of the other abdominal segments
bears six blue oval dots edged with black.
Lood-plants.—Spice bush, sassafras, and others.
The whole color effect of this butterfly when
on the wing is velvety black with a sheen of
green that shades into the paler greenish spots on
the border of the wings. The tails are paddle-
shaped and are set at right angles to the plane of
the wing, so that when seen from above they
look like mere lines. The green-clouded swal-
low-tail flies swiftly, and its shimmering wings
seem never to tire as it flutters on and on just
above the low herbage of low-lying fields or the
marshy growth of open wet woods.
The caterpillar is most secretive in character;
when young, it bites a furrow from near the tip of
a leaf to the midrib and folds the end over on the
leaf, holding it there by loose threads of silk; in
this retreat it rests. In its later stages it folds
together the two edges of an entire leaf, leaving a
passageway next to the petiole out of the nest thus
made. It keeps this nest very clean and never
feeds upon the folded leaf of its home, always go-
ing forth to eat other leaves when it is hungry.
60
PLATE IX
THE GREEN-CLOUDED SWALLOW-TAIL
Fig.
1. Papilio troilus, male.
2. Papilio troilus, female
Plate IX.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
The peculiar double eye-spots on the thorax
give a sullen look to the mock face. When it
moves it does so by a series of spasmodic glides,
which added to the glowering effect of the eye-
spots is most disconcerting and terrifying to the
bird that stops to look before it leaps.
This species is very common in the South and
is not rare in the North. It is double-brooded
and passes the winter as a chrysalis.
THE SHORT-TAILED PAPILIO
Papilio brevicauda (Pa-pil'i-o brev-i-cau’da)
This species resembles the black swallow-tail in color and
in the arrangement of its markings; but it is sharply dis-
tinguished by the brevity of the tail-like extensions of the
hind wings, as these are only about twice as long as broad ;
and in the female the inner row of spots of the front wings
are more or less orange and as distinct as in the male. This
species is known only from Newfoundland and the shores and
islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The wings expand from
two and three-fourths inches to three and one-half inches.
CATERPILLAR.—This closely resembles the caterpillar of
the black swallow-tail. When fully grown it may be green
crossed by black stripes, or black crossed by white or pale
green stripes. Its scent-horns are bright yellow.
food-plants.—Parsley and other Umbelliferze.
In this species we evidently have another
instance of the niggardliness of the cold North.
61
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
The short-tailed papilio resembles the black swal-
low-tail in almost every particular except that the
female may have orange instead of yellow mark-
ings and that in both sexes the tails are reduced
to mere points. It is as if the butterfly in the
short northern season was obliged to economize
somewhere and so gives up the luxury of swallow-
tails. The caterpillar has learned to cope with
the climatic conditions and hides itself among
the leaves during the cold nights; and it gets
thoroughly warmed by day by sunning itself on
the stones and coarse gravel which become
heated by the midday sun.
THE BLAcK SWALLOW-TAIL
Papilio polyxenes (Pa-pil’i-o po-lyx’e-nes)
Pate IV, Fic. 4; PLATE X; AND PLATE XI
The wings are black, crossed with two rows of yellow spots,
and with marginal lunules of the same color. The two rows of
spots are much more distinct in the male (Plate IV, Fig. 4) than
in the female (Plate X), the inner row on the hind wing forming
a continuous band crossed with black lines on the veins. Be-
tween the two rows of spots on the hind wings there are many
blue scales ; these are more abundant in the female. Near
the anal angle of the hind wing there is an orange spot with
a black center. On the lower surface of the wings the yellow
markings become mostly orange and are heavier.
62
PLATE X
THE BLACK SWALLOW-TAIL
Fig.
1. Papilio polyxenes, female.
2. Papilio polyxenes, female; variety with the first row of yellow spots
indistinct.
For figure of the male, see Plate IV, Fig. 4.
Plate X.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
This species is found throughout the United States and in
the southern part of Canada.
Owing to an unfortunate mistake this species is commonly
known under the specific name as¢crias.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length about two inches. In the early
stages it is angular and covered with spiny warts; the color
is black with a white saddle at the middle. When fully
grown it is green and each segment has a black band across
it which near its front edge encloses six yellow spots. The
scent-horns are orange.
Lood-plants.—Parsley, wild carrot, caraway, celery, and
other Umbellifere.
This graceful butterfly haunts the weedy way-
sides, the flower beds on lawns, and the kitchen
gardens in every state in the Union, though it is
found but rarely in the Rocky Mountain region.
The female is more familiar to us than is the
male, perhaps because her habits of egg-laying
make her bolder when visiting the garden herbs
on which her young must feed. Her wings are
so much darker and have so much more metallic
blue on them than do the yellow banded wings
of the male that the two sexes are often regarded
as different species by the amateur collector.
When we were children “ caraway-worms,” as
we called the caterpillars that fed on that spicy
herb in our backyard, were favorite playmates of
ours; at least we played with them, though we
63
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
have never known how they esteemed us. We
watched them by the hour from the time they
were little black spiny creatures until they at-
tained the gorgeous green, gold and black velvet
costume of mature larvahood. We saw them
shed their “ dresses” on little silken carpets which
they seemed to weave for the purpose. We ad-
mired the neat and methodical way in which they
trimmed off the caraway leaf, taking a leaflet at a
time up one side, and making a ‘‘clean job” of
it down the other. We poked them with straws
to make them push out their orange horns, and we
understood that this was an act of defiance ; but
we never thought of connecting with it the strong,
sickening odor of caraway which we often per-
ceived when playing with the caterpillars. Once
we saw two large ones marching with slow, dig-
nified tread toward each other on a slender stem ;
on they came until they were in actual contact,
and then they drew back spitefully and butted
each other like a pair of billy goats; we heard
the whacks distinctly three or four times, when
both suddenly turned around in a panic and fled
in the opposite direction with all possible haste.
The ‘‘caraway-worms” were the ones that re-
vealed to us the mystery of the pupa and butter-
fly. We saw one climb up the side of a house
64
PLATE XI
TRANSFORMATION OF THE BLACK SWALLOW-TAIL
Fig.
1. Chrysalis.
2. At the left, a full-grown larva with the scent-organs protruded; at
the right, an immature larva.
(From photographs by Professor M. V. Slingerland, colored by Mrs. Slingerland.)
Plate XI.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
and watched it as with many slow, graceful move-
ments of the head it wove for itself the loop of
silk which we called the “swing ” and which held
it in place after it changed to a chrysalis. We
wondered why such a brilliant caterpillar should
change to such a dull-colored object, almost the
color of the clapboard against which it hung,
Then one day we found a damp, crumpled black
butterfly hanging to the empty chrysalis skin, its
wings ‘‘all mussed,” as we termed it, and we
gazed at it pityingly; but even as we gazed
the crumpled wings expanded and then there
came to our childish minds a dim realization of
the miracle wrought within that little dingy,
empty shell.
In the North this species is double-brooded,
and winters as a chrysalis. The adults of the
first brood appear in May, those of the second
brood about the middle of July.
Thou winged blossom! liberated thing !
What secret tie binds thee to other flowers
Still held within the garden’s fostering?
Will they, too, soar with the completed hours,
Take flight and be like thee
Trrevocably free,
Hovering at will o’er their parental bowers?
T. W. Hiccrnson.
65
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE BLUE SWALLOW-TAIL
Laertias philenor (La-er'ti-as phi-le’nor)
PuaTE XII, Fic. 1, 2
The front wings are lustrous blackish brown ; the hind
wings are blackish with green or blue reflections. The fringe
on the outer margin of the wings is alternately black and
white, the white appearing conspicuous by contrast. Parallel
to the outer margin is a row of whitish spots ; these may be
very indistinct or wanting on the front wings. Beneath, the
spots are more distinct, especially the row on the hind wings,
which consists of seven large orange spots. The discal half
of the hind wings is very bright by reflected light. Expanse
of wings from three and one-half inches to four and one-half
inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length nearly two inches. The body is
nearly cylindrical and naked. In color it is dark purplish
brown, almost black, with a row or two of coral-red dots
along each side. On the segments at either end of the body
are pairs of brown fleshy filaments prolonged and extended
like horns.
foot-plants.—Dutchman’s-pipe, the Virginia snakeroot,
black bindweed.
Once an individual of this species was our com-
rade during a June sojourn in Virginia. Day
after day we watched it floating about close to
the ground in the open space of the park about
the hotel. It visited all the flowers in the beds
and spent long periods sunning itself near the
piazza, where we were able to observe it close at
66
PLATE XII
THE BLUE SWALLOW-TAIL
Fig.
1. Laertias philenor, male.
2. Laertias philenor, female.
Plate XII.
THE SWALLOW-TAILS
hand at our leisure. This was a fascinating oc-
cupation, for at every movement of the graceful
body a blue-green wave of metallic sheen would
start somewhere in the blackness of the velvet
front wings and surge and break over the hind
wings in a shimmering glow that sent a thrill
of delight to our color-loving senses. When we
followed it around we found that though it flut-
tered lazily and aimlessly on, it knew quite well
what it was about and did not choose to let us
come too near.
An interesting fact about the male of the spe-
cies is that he has the inner margin of the hind
wing folded over, including scent-scales. This
unique pocket full of perfume he undoubtedly
carries for the purpose of attracting and delight-
ing his lady-love.
These butterflies, being very fond of nectar,
visit many flowers and, are especially useful in
carrying the pollen baskets of the orchids.
When we look at the weird flower called the
Dutchman’s-pipe and see how curiously it is ar-
ranged to be an effective death-trap to smaller
insects, we feel that poetic justice is meted to the
plant which produces it, when we find its large
round leaves eaten greedily by a robust cater-
pillar. The long projecting filaments give the
67
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
caterpillar an untidy and funguslike appearance ;
its scent-organs give off little odor so far as we
can detect. In its northern range the species is
double-brooded, and winters sometimes as a but-
terfly and sometimes as a chrysalis. It is rarely
found in New England, but is common in the
Southern States and on the Pacific Coast.
The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie,
The silken down with which his back is dight,
His broad outstretched horns, his hairy thighs,
His glistening colors and his glorious eyes.
SPENSER.
68
FAMILY III
THE PIERIDS (Pi-er’ids)
Family Pieride (Pi-er'i-dx)
THESE butterflies are usually of medium size, but some of them
are small; they are nearly always white, yellow, or orange,
and are usually marked with black. They are the most
abundant of all our but-
terflies, being common
everywhere in fields
and roads. Some spe-
cies are so abundant as
to be serious pests, the
larvee feeding on culti-
vated plants.
The _ characteristic
features of the venation
of the wings are the
following (Fig. 27):
vein M, of the fore
wings is more closely
connected with radius
than with cubitus, the
latter appearing to be
three-branched ; vein
M, of the fore wings
coalesces with radius
6
Fic. 27.—Venation of the wings of Pontia
protodice.
69
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
for a considerable distance beyond the apex of cell R+M;
and only three or four of the branches of radius remain dis-
tinct.
In this family the fore legs are well-developed in both sexes,
there being no tendency to their reduction in size, as in the
following families.
ee eae
The larve are usually
mu siender, green worms
M, clothed with short, fine
hairs ; the well-known cab-
bage-worms are typical il-
lustrations.
The chrysalids are sup-
ported by the tail and by
a loose girth around the
middle. They can be dis-
tinguished at a glance by
the presence of a single
pointed projection in front.
(Plate III, Fig. 3.)
In order to facilitate the
ed A
Fic. 28.—Venation of the wings of
Eurymus philodice.
study of the family, our
genera can be separated, somewhat arbitrarily, into three
groups; these are the Whites, the Orange-tips, and the Yel-
lows. In the first two groups the prevailing color is white ; in
the third, it is either yellow or orange. These groups can be
separated as follows :
A. Vein M, of the front wings arising from radius, and
cutting off obliquely the apex of cell R+M; radius of
the front wings only three-branched, or if four-branched
with one branch (vein R,) exceedingly short, arising just
70
THE PIERIDS
before the margin of the wing (Fig. 27). Prevailing
colors white, p. 71. THE WHITES.
AA. Vein M, of the front wings arising from the cross-vein
at the end of cell R+M, the apex of this cell not cut
off obliquely by it (Fig. 28); radius of front wings dis-
tinctly four- or five-branched (except in Nathalis, in which
it is only three-branched, but in this genus vein M, clearly
arises from the cross-vein, arising nearly midway between
veins M, and M,).
B. Lower side of hind wings marked with a greenish net-
work. Prevailing colors white, p. 81.
THE ORANGE-TIPS.
BB. Under side of hind wings not marked with a greenish
network. Prevailing colors yellow, or orange, p. 84.
THE YELLOWS.
THE WHITES
The more common representatives of this group are the
well-known cabbage-butterflies ; in fact, all of the species that
occur in the eastern United States feed upon cabbage and al-
lied plants. ‘They are white butterflies more or less marked
with black ; occasionally the white is tinged with yellow, and
yellow varieties of our white species sometimes appear.
Our Eastern forms can be separated by the following table:
A. Unusually large species, expanding from two to three
inches. (P. monuste), p. 72.
THE GREAT SOUTHERN WHITE.
AA. Smaller species, expanding about two inches or less.
B. With a black bar at the end of cell RM. ( pro-
todice), Pp. 73. THE CHECKERED WHITE.
ik
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
BB. With no black bar at the end of cell R+M.
C. Wings usually without spots, but sometimes with a
dark spot in cell M, of the fore wings. (LP. nafz),
p- 75- THE GRAY-VEINED WHITE.
CC. Lower side of fore wings with a dark spot in cells
M, and Cu, ; upper side of hind wings with a spot in
cell R,. (2 rape), p. 78.
THE CaBBaGE BUTTERFLY.
THE GREAT SOUTHERN WHITE
Pontia monuste (Pon'ti-a mo-nus’te)
PLATE XII, Fre. 1
This species is the largest of our Eastern pierids, expanding
from two to three inches. In the ma/e the wings are almost
entirely white except a very narrow black border on the cos-
tal and outer margins of the fore wings. In the female the
black margins are wider, and the outer margin of the hind
wings is marked with a series of black triangular spots; there
is also on the fore wings a bowed black band bordering cell
R+M in front and at the outer end.
CATERPILLAR.—Length a little over one and one-half
inches ; head large; general color of the body lemon yellow
with purple stripes.
Food-plants.—Cabbage, lettuce, and turnip.
A very interesting note has been made on the
migratory habits of this species by Dr. Melli-
champ, of Bluffton, S.C. He says: ‘Thousands
of these white butterflies have been steadily pass-
72
PLATE NIT
THE WHITES AND THE OLYMPIA ORANGE-TIP
1. The Great Southern White, Pontia monuste, male.
2. The Checkered White, Pontia protodice, female, lower side of wings.
3. The Checkered White, the Typical Form, Pontia prolodice protodice,
male.
4. The Checkered White, the Typical Form, female.
5. The Checkered White, the Spring Form, Pontia protodice vernalis,
male.
. The Checkered White, the Spring Form, female.
. The Olympia Orange-tip, Synchle olympia.
. The Olympia Orange-tip, lower side of wings.
. The Checkered White, Spring Form, male, lower side of wings.
Oo onan
Plate XIII.
THE PIERIDS
ing over this place from west to east apparently
against the wind for two days. Being white, they
can be seen at a long distance, and they come
along in twos, threes, and fours, and sometimes in
greater numbers, seldom stopping, going steadily
fifteen or twenty feet above the earth. A colored
man stated that they came into his field like a
swarm of bees, and he was so frightened at this
that he dropped his hoe and came home.”
The great Southern white is widely distributed
in the Gulf States; it occurs also in the greater
portion of the southern continent as well as in
the West Indies; it is a common species over a
large extent of territory.
THE CHECKERED WHITE
Pontia protodice (Pon'ti-a pro-tod’i-ce)
PuaTeE XIII, Fic. 2-6, anp 9
There are two forms of this species, which are designated as
Pontia protodice protodice and Pontia protodice vernalis re-
spectively.
(1) The Typical Form, Pontia protodice protodice.—The
two sexes differ greatly in appearance. In the ma/e the wings
are white above and below; at the outer end of cell R+M
of the front wings there is a dark bar which is usually divided
by a line of white scales on the medial cross-vein ; there is
also a submarginal row of three more or less distinct spots,
es
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
and the outer margin is more or less dusky; the hind wings
are without spots.
In the femaze the bar at the outer end of cell R+M and
the submarginal spots are present and are more conspicuous
than in the male. There isin addition to these, on the upper
surface, a row of triangular spots on the outer margin of both
fore and hind wings, and a submarginal zigzag bar on the
hind wings. On the lower surface, the veins, especially of
the hind wings, are more or less tinged with greenish yellow,
and flecked with gray.
Expanse of wings one and six-tenths inches to two and one-
fourth inches.
(2) The Spring Form, Pontia protodice vernalis—This
form of the species is much smaller than the typical one; it
appears in early spring, and in much smaller numbers than
the later broods, which are of the typical form. On the lower
surface the greenish-gray banding of the veins of the hind
wings is much broader, so that the white is reduced to narrow,
wedge-shaped spots.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length about an inch. The body is
cylindrical and downy. It is striped lengthwise with yellow
and greenish purple dotted finely with black. It has a small
head.
Food-plants.—Cabbage and other Cruciferz
The females of this species are the ones that are
attired in checkered raiment, the males being
dotted rather than checkered, which, by the way
is not a very good term for the beautiful diamond
design on the wings of the female. The cater-
74
THE PIERIDS
pillar feeds upon the outer leaves of the cabbage,
and, therefore, is less obnoxious than that of
Pierts rape, which bores holes into the cabbage
heads. It is triple-brooded, and spends the winter
as a chrysalis. The individuals which come from
these hibernating chrysalids are smaller than those
of later broods, as if they had literally been pinched
with the cold. These small butterflies were for
some time considered a distinct species.
The checkered white is distributed over the
whole United States, though its natural home is
in the Mississippi Valley. It was once very
abundant ; but the introduction of the European
species has imposed upon the checkered white a
checkered career and it is now rarely taken.
THE GRAY-VEINED WHITE
Pieris napi (Pi'e-ris na‘pi)
PLATE XIV, Fic. 6-9
In the most common form the wings are white above and
below, with a scarcely perceptible tinge of greenish yellow.
Sometimes there is a dark spot in cell M, of the fore wings,
but usually the wings are immaculate. The base of the wings,
however, and the basal half of the costal margin of the front
wings, are powdered more or less with dark scales, and the
veins of the wings, especially on the lower side, are grayish.
Expanse of wings one and seven-tenths inches to two inches.
This species occurs throughout Canada and the more north-
49
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
ern portions of the United States. It appears in many differ-
ent forms; eleven named varieties are now recognized in the
United States, and still other forms are known in Europe.
This polymorphism is partly seasonal and partly geograph-
ical. Thus, to illustrate a seasonal polymorphism, in the
State of New York the butterflies emerging from pupz that
have passed the winter are of two distinct forms: first, P. zapi
verginiensts, Which is smaller than the other, and with more
delicate wings, which are always white below ; and second,
P. napt oleracea, a larger form, with stronger wings, which
are usually tinged with yellow below. These two forms also
differ in the remarkable fact that o/eracea gives rise to other
broods which appear later in the season, and are of a differ-
ent form, while wgenrens7s is single-brooded. The summer
broods, the offspring of o/eracea, represent a third form, P.
napt cructferarum, Which is larger than the spring form from
which they have descended, with thinner wings, which are
of a purer white on the upper side.
In the extreme North and in the far West other forms of
this species occur which differ so greatly from our common
forms that they were long considered as distinct species, but
they have been shown to be merely geographical races.
CATERPILLAR.—Two-thirds of an inch long; body small
cylindrical, and downy. In color it is green finely dotted
with black except along the back.
Lood-plants.—Cabbage, horse-radish, and other Cruciferz.
Evidently this species has not concluded
whether it will in its final form be all white; or
have the front margins and tips of the front wings
blackish; or have one spot on each front and
76
PLATE XIV
THE WHITES
Fig.
1-5. The Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rape; 1, male, summer brood; 2,
female, summer brood; 3, female, spring brood; 4, The Spotless
Form, Pieris rape immaculata; 5, lower side of wings.
6-9. The Gray-veined White, Pieris napi; 6, lower side of wings; 7,
The Summer Form, Pieris napi crucijerarum, 8, The Spring Form,
Pieris napi virginiensis; 9, an individual with spotted wings.
Plate XIV.
THE. PIERIDS
hind wing; or have one black blotch along the
wings outside the middle; or if it will have the
veins of both wings above penciled with gray.
All the varieties above mentioned occur; and to
work out the history and different forms of the
successive broods and of the several varieties re-
quires a mind trained to mathematical precision
in methods of thought. To one not thus trained
this innocent white butterfly isa source of dire
confusion, because its history is so intricate and it
masquerades in so many guises. The caterpillar
feeds upon the outer leaves of cabbage, eating
holes in them rather than feeding along the mar-
gins. It resembles the caterpillar of P. rape,
except that the dorsal stripe is indistinct and only
marked by the absence of the black dots.
The species is essentially northern, but it spread
far south when Peerzs rape was introduced. In
some way the European species has greatly re-
duced its numbers; it has literally taken to the
woods as a result of this invasion and is seldom
found elsewhere. In most of its varieties the
gray-veined white is triple-brooded, and winters
as a chrysalis.
eg
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE CaBBAGE BUTTERFLY
Pieris rape (Pi'e-ris rape)
PLATE XIV, Fic. 1-5; Pvate III
Several varieties of this species are known, among which
are the following :
(1) The Typical Form, Prer?s rape rape.—The upper side
of the wings is dull white, occasionally tinged with yellow,
especially in the female ; there is a grayish-black patch across
the apex of the front wings, and a spot of the same color in
cell M,, also a similar spot on the costal margin of the hind
wings; in the female there is a second spot on the front
wings in cell Cu,; on the under side the fore wings are
white, with the apex yellow, and with two black spots in both
sexes corresponding to the two on the upper side of the fe-
male ; the hind wings are pale yellow, without marks, but
sprinkled with dark scales. Expanse of wings about one and
three-fourths inches. :
The typical form is dimorphic ; the spring brood, which
come from wintering chrysalids, is composed of smaller but-
terflies, which are of a duller white than the summer butter-
flies and with smaller black markings on the middle and tip
of the wings.
(2) The Sulphur Variety, Preris rape novangliea.—This
form is characterized by having the ground color of the upper
surface of the wings a uniform, delicate, canary yellow ; the
dusky markings are as in the typical form.
(3) The Spotless Form, Pier?s rape tmmaculata.—This
differs from the typical form in having no spots. It can be
recognized by the yellowish tinge of the lower side of the
hind wings, as in the typical form.
78
THE PIERIDS
CATERPILLAR.—Length, about one inch. In shape it is
cylindrical ; its color is velvety green with a yellowish stripe
down the back and on each side.
food-plants.—Cabbage and other Cruciferz.
If butterflies were in the habit of forming pro-
tective associations, some thirty years ago we
would have heard of cabbage leaf petitions signed
by various native Americans who were being sup-
planted by foreigners ‘plentiful and cheap.”
America had white cabbage butterflies of her own
with most interesting and intricate histories ; they
were conservative in habits and did not appear in
vulgar hordes, but took their toll quietly from all
our cruciferous plants of the garden and espe-
cially from the cabbage. In 1860 the European
cabbage butterfly was introduced at Quebec, and
in 1868 it gained footing in New York. From
these points has spread this importunate foreigner
and, by appearing earlier in the season and having
more broods a year, it has starved and driven out
of American gardens the native cabbage butter-
flies; these have fled before the invader to the
wilderness and there lead a precarious existence
on wild Crucifere. Scarcely a quarter of a cen-
tury had elapsed after this emigrant came to our
shores before it had captured America from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Gulf of
79
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
Mexico to Hudson Bay. The only consolation
the indignant American may experience when
contemplating this invasion is to be derived from
the fact that we gave the potato-beetle to
Europe.
This is not a pretty butterfly ; if it had peen we
might have forgiven its presence, especially those
of us not having our investments in the cabbage
patch; but its black-tipped and spotted white
wings lend no color to the landscape. The only
time we ever found it truly attractive was one
day when we saw it flitting serenely down Broad-
way in New York city in nowise dismayed by
the turmoil. If the caterpillars were neater in
their habits we might see some beauty in them,
for they are soft and velvety. However, what
the butterflies and caterpillars lack in attractive-
ness 1s compensated for by the beauty of the egg.
This is yellow in color and graceful in shape, and
is ribbed lengthwise and crosswise in a most
elaborate pattern. The chrysalis is also interest-
ing in that it often takes on the color of the sub-
stance against which it is hung. Once upon a
time we saw one of these hung against a pale-
brown clapboard and another against a dark-
brown window-casing not more than three feet
distant, and each resembling the color against
80
THE PIERIDS
which it was hung. The species is double-brooded
in the far North and many-brooded in the South;
it winters asa chrysalis. See Pate III for early
stages.
Far out at sea—the sun was high,
While veered the wind and flapped the sail ;
We saw a snow-white butterfly
Dancing before the fitful gale,
Far out at sea.
Above, there gleamed the boundless sky ;
3eneath, the boundless ocean sheen ;
Between them danced the butterfly.
The spirit-life of this vast scene,
Far out at sea.
R. H. THORNE.
THE ORANGE-TIPS
These, like the butterflies comprising the preceding group,
are white, marked with black. Their most characteristic fea-
ture is the presence on the lower surface of the hind wings of
a greenish network, or a marbled green mottling (Plate XIII,
Fig. 8). This usually shows through the wing so as to appear
as a dark shade when the wings are seen from above (Fig.
29). Many species have a conspicuous orange spot on the
apical portion of the front wings. This has suggested the
common name orange-tips for the group. But it should be
remembered that some species lack this mark, and that in
some others it is confined to the males. Nearly all of our
species are confined to the far West.
81
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
In reference to the orange-tips, Mr. Scudder states that
they are eminently butterflies of early spring, and what is re-
markable is that they are usually single-brooded, mature rap-
idly, and by the end of June at latest in temperate regions, or
earlier than that farther south, are already in the chrysalis,
from which they do not emerge till the following season. In
keeping with this their food is usually found to be those cru-
ciferous plants of a similar habit, that is, which fruit early in
the season, and then absolutely disappear from sight, dying
down to the ground.
Nine species are found in the United States; the two fol-
lowing are the only ones that occur in the East.
THE FALcATE ORANGE-TIP
Synchloe genutia (Syn'chlo-e ge-nu'ti-a)
PLATE XV, FIG. 1, 2
In this species the apex of the fore wings is hooked, remind-
ing one of the hook-tip moths. In the males there is a large
apical orange-patch.
CATERPILLAR.—Length, four-fifths inch ; head with papillz
on top; body slender and downy ; color bluish green with a
lighter stripe down the back and along each side. When ex-
amined closely it may be seen that the body-color is made up
of fine stripes of various hues.
Food-plants.—Rock-cress, bitter cress, shepherd’s-purse,
Sisymbrium, and other Cruciferee which are slender in form.
This rare little butterfly taught the junior au-
thor the meaning of falcate, that word having es-
82
THE PIERIDS
caped her vocabulary until she made the acquaint-
ance of this orange-tip. Never was a more
charming definition than these graceful front
wings with their brilliant curved tips. It seems
to be the female of this species, as with the birds,
that has the esthetic taste to choose glowing col-
ors in the raiment of her spouse; while he, ‘not
noticing dress,” is content that her white wings
shall lack the orange-tips which make his beauti-
ful. On the lower side of her wings as well as his
is an intricate pattern wrought out in greenish
yellow-brown and white. The species is found
throughout the southeast United States not in-
cluding Florida. It has been taken as far north
as New Haven, Conn.
THE OLYMPIA ORANGE-TIP
Synchloe olympia (Syn'chlo-e o-lym’pi-a)
Fic. 29; PLATE XIII, Fic. 7, 8
In this species the orange patch is wanting in both sexes.
There is a conspicuous black bar at the end of cell R+ M
of the fore wings, and the apical portion of these wings is gray,
including a large irregular white band (Fig. 29).
CATERPILLAR.—Striped lengthwise with pale slate color and
bright yellow ; feet, legs, and head grayish green,
Food-plants.—Hedge-mustard and other Cruciferee.
83
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
This species being an Olympian, it has appar-
ently shared with the gods the privilege of incon-
sistency, for it is an orange-tip with the orange-
tips left off. However, the under sides of the
hind wings are spangled
elaborately with brilliant
yellowish green, so it is
by no means a plain
butterfly. There is a
southern form called
rosa which has a beauti-
Fic. 29.—Synchle olym pia. ful pink flush like the
upper clouds at sunrise,
spread over the under sides of the hind wings,
making a rosy background for the spangles.
THE YELLOWS
The yellows are easily recognized by their bright yellow
colors, although in some species whitish forms occur. They
abound almost everywhere in open fields, and are common
about wet places in roads. To this group belong the larger
number of our pierids.
Our more common species, which are described below, can
be separated by the following table:
A. Antenne with a distinct club, which is flattened, and is
rounded at the apex.
B. Front wings with a black bar along the inner margin.
(XW. zole), p. 86. Tue Dainty SULPHUR.
84
THE PIERIDS
BB. Front wings without a black bar along the inner margin.
C. Ground color of wings yellow. (Z. euterpe), p. 98.
THE LITTLE SULPHUR.
CC. Ground color of wings orange. (Z. nicippe), p. 97.
THE SLEEPY YELLOW.
AA. Antenne gradually increasing in size toward the tip;
the club ill-defined, slender, cylindrical, and terminating
abruptly.
B. The outer margin of the upper surface of the front wings
distinctly bordered with a dark-brown or black band.
C. Fore wings with a dog’s-head figure. (Z. c@sonia),
p. 90. THE Doc’s-HEAD.
CC. Fore wings without a dog’s-head figure.
D. Colors normally yellow. (£. philodice), p. 92.
THe RoapDsIDE BUTTERFLY.
DD. Colors normally orange. (2. eurytheme), p. 95.
THE ORANGE SULPHUR.
BB. The outer margin of the upper surface of the front
wings not bordered with a brown or black band; some-
times, however, there is a series of dark spots on the
outer margin.
C. Ground color of the upper surface of the wings
canary-yellow.
D. Outer margin of hind wings with a broad orange
band. (C. phzlea), p. 87.
THE RED-BARRED SULPHUR.
DD. Hind wings without broad orange band. (C. ew-
bule), p. 88. THE CLOUDLESS SULPHUR.
7 85
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
CC. Ground color of wings orange or pinky-white. (#
agarithe), p. go. THE LARGE ORANGE SULPHUR.
THE Dainty SULPHUR
Nathalis tole (Na-tha'lis i’o-le)
PLATE XV, Fic. 4, 6
This little butterfly can be distinguished from all others de-
scribed here by its small size, as it expands only from less than
one inch to one and one-fifth inches. It is of a pale canary-
yellow color, with dark-brown markings. There is a large
apical patch on the fore wings, and a broad band parallel with
the inner margin ; on the hind wings there is a stripe on the
basal two-thirds of the costa, and spots on the ends of the
veins ; these are more or less connected on the margin of the
wing, especially in the female.
CATERPILLAR.—Length, one-half inch; body covered with
stiff hairs ; color, dark green with a broad purple stripe down
the back and a double stripe of yellow and black along the
side. The segment next to the head hasa pair of cone-shaped
bristly tubercles, reddish in color and projecting forward.
Lood-plants.—The fetid marigold and garden marigold.
The dainty sulphur may have been called so
just naturally by the first person who ever saw
these little black and yellow beauties. In the
case of the female the yellow deepens to orange,
and she flits about on wings that show the liv-
ery of Lord Baltimore and emulate the brilliant
color contrasts of the oriole. The species is at
86
PLATE XV
THE ORANGE-TIPS AND THE YELLOWS
Fig.
. The Falcate Orange-tip, Synchle genutia, male.
. The Falcate Orange-tip, Synchle genutia, female.
. The Sleepy Yellow, Eurema nicip pe, male.
. The Dainty Sulphur, Nathalis iole, male.
. The Sleepy Yellow, Eurema nicippe, female.
The Dainty Sulphur, Nathalis iole, female.
. The Little Sulphur, Eurema euter pe, male.
. The Little Sulphur, Eurema euter pe, female.
. The Little Sulphur, the pale form, Eurema euterpe alba, male.
The Little Sulphur, the pale form, Eurema euterpe alba, female.
OMY ANFWNH
I
9°
<}
10
Plate XV.
THE PIERIDS
home in the southwest United States and Mexico,
and is found in the Colorado Mountains at the
height of eight thousand feet. However, it has
not yet adapted itself sufficiently to the climatic
condition of Colorado to belong to the successful
of that great State ; for very often the first frosts
kill the food-plant when the caterpillars of the last
brood are not more than half grown and they die
the ignoble death of the great unfit ; and for two
years thereafter no more dainty sulphurs gladden
that region.
“« Those old days when the balancing of a yellow butterfly
over a thistle bloom was spiritual food and lodging for a
whole forenoon.’’ LowELt.
THE RED-BARRED SULPHUR
Calidryas philea (Cal-lid’ry-as phil’e-a)
PLATE XVI, Fic. 1
This is the largest of all the yellows found in the eastern
United States, the wings expanding from three inches to
nearly four inches. The wings are bright yellow above with
a large orange patch in the male crossing cell R+M of the
front wings somewhat beyond the middle of the cell; and
with the outer margin of the hind wings orange in both sexes.
In the female there is a row of dark-brown spots along the
outer third of the costa of the front wings and along the outer
margin of both wings; and on the fore wings there is a sub-
marginal row of nine spots in cells R, to Cu,.
87
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
This is a tropical species that invades the United States in
Texas, and occasionally flies northward to the Mississippi
Valley.
THE CLOUDLESS SULPHUR
Callidryas eubule (Cal-lid’ry-as eu-bu’le)
PLATE XVI, Fie. 3, 4
This large butterfly expands two and one-half inches. The
wings above are of uniform bright canary-yellow. In the male
they are without spots, except frequently an inconspicuous
brown dot at the tip of each vein, and a lilac-brown edging
of the costal border. In the female there is a discal dot on
fore wings and a marginal row of brown spots at the ends of
the veins.
CATERPILLAR.—Length, one and two-thirds inches ; color,
pale yellowish green with a yellow band along each side. The
segments are dotted with black in crosswise rows.
food-plants.—Cassia and other legumes.
Thus says that classic book, Smith and Abbot
(1797), Opposite the page whereon the cloudless
sulphur is depicted in all its canary-colored glory
near a flowering branch of cassia: “It is curious
to obferve the conformity of colours between the
flowers of this plant and the fly bred upon it. We
fhall have occafion to note other inftances of the
fame kind, and there are many of them through-
out nature. In fome cafes thofe refemblances
feem to anfwer the purpofe of protection; as
88
PLATE XVI
THE LARGER YELLOWS
Fig.
. The Red-barred Sulphur, Callidryas philea, male.
. The Large Orange-sulphur, Phebis agarithe, male.
- The Cloudless Sulphur, Callidryas eubule, male.
I
3
4. The Cloudless Sulphur, Callidryas eubule, female.
oer
Plate XVI.
THE PIERIDS
when a chryfalis refembles the bark to which it
is fixed ; or a caterpillar the flower or leaf it feeds
upon ; but that purpofe feems not to be anfwered
here. Do fuch fimilarities of appearance, in
ferving to exercife the attention and powers of
difcrimination of animals deftined to devour the
fly, or of others that feed upon the flower, thus
increafe the general fum of happinefs in conse-
quence of the employment of intellect and the
fuccefs of its exertion ?”
The cloudless sulphur is most socially inclined,
congregating in great numbers on flowers and
forming a moving mass of brilliant yellow under
the rays of the hottest, brightest sunshine. But
the most interesting of its habits is that of mi-
grating in flocks from southeast to northwest
in the spring and from northwest to southeast
in the autumn. A stream of them “six or eight
yards wide and about as many high” was once
observed near Charleston. Another record in
Georgia mentions ‘‘a half a dozen visible all the
time pursuing an undeviating course, fying over
and not around houses and obstructions.” An-
other observer has witnessed the autumn migra-
tion for twenty-six consecutive years.
The species is double-brooded, and is usually
abundant in the Southern States and migrates
89
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
each season up the coast to New England and up
the Mississippi Valley to Wisconsin. The chrys-
alis has a very peculiar form, being concave in
the back, and having the wing cases fan-shaped so
that it looks like a fading flower of the cassia
attached to the branch. The male butterfly has
a perfume which Miss Murtfeldt describes as
resembling that of violets.
THE LARGE ORANGE-SULPHUR
Phebis agarithe (Phoe'bis a-gar’i-the)
PLATE XVI, Fic. 2
This differs from the two preceding species, which it
resembles in size, in that the ground color of the wings is
orange. The figure on the plate represents the male; the
female has generally golden orange, sometimes pinky-white,
fore wings with a diffused orange patch over the end of cell
R +M, and a brown spot at the end of this cell. Expanse
of wings two and one-half to two and three-fourths inches.
This species is found in the southern portion of the Missis-
sippi Valley and southward. The larva feeds upon cassia.
THE Doc’s-HEAD
Zerene cesonia (Ze-re'ne cz-so’ni-a)
PLATE XVII, Fic. 5, 6
The wings are lemon-yellow above, bordered on the outer
margin with black. On the hind wings the border is narrow,
90
THE PIERIDS
but on the fore wings suggests a head of a dog or of a duck,
a prominent black spot on the medial vein serving as the eye.
CATERPILLAR.—Length about three-fourths inch; its color
is light or dark yellowish green; usually there are cross stripes
of black or yellow, and each segment bears a cross row of
papillee, usually black.
food-plants.—Lead-plant or false indigo and clover.
It is certainly a new species of dog that is de-
lineated in yellow against black on the wings of
this butterfly. It looks far more like a duck with
bill opened in the act of quacking than it does
like a dog. However, it is a very alert-looking
creature whether it be bird or beast. A large
black eye adds much to its vivacious expression
of countenance.
The dog’s-head is abundant in the southwest-
ern United States and extends to the Pacific and
into Central America. It is sometimes found as
far north as Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Wisconsin.
In its northern range it is three-brooded, and
winters as a chrysalis. It loves to settle on the
red-purple blossoms of the thistle, clover, and
the milkweed; and as if in sympathy with the
color of these flowers, the females of the late
broods have the veins of the hind wings outlined
in reddish purple. It is said that this butterfly is
fond of the open pine woods, and has habits
gi
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
similar to those of our roadside butterfly, and
that it congregates in large numbers on damp
spots in roads and fields.
Its food-plant is largely Amorpha fructiosa,
called sometimes lead-plant because of the super-
stition prevalent that wherever it occurs lead is
to be found; whereas the truth is, wherever it is
found there also are golden butterflies.
Tue RoapsipE BUTTERFLY OR THE CLOUDED SULPHUR
Eurymus philodice (Ewry-mus phi-lod’i-ce)
PLaTE XVII, FIG. 1-3
The wings above are rather pale greenish yellow, with the
outer borders blackish brown; the border is broader on the
front wings of the female than on those of the male, and con-
tains a submarginal row of yellow spots which are absent in
the male; the discal dot of the front wings is black, that of
the hind wings is orange, usually with a smaller accompany-
ing dot. The antennz, the costal margin of the fore wings,
the fringes of the wings, and the hairs on the pronotum are
pink. The wings below vary from a rather pale to a rather
deep sulphur yellow and are flecked more or less with brown
scales ; the discal spots are silvery in the center; that of the
front wings is black, that of the hind wings brown, sur-
rounded by a pinkish brown ring; there is a submarginal
row of dots; the three in cells, M,, Cu,, and Cu, of the front
wings are usually black, the others brown or pinkish ; there is
a pink spot at the base of the hind wings. The wings ex-
g2
PLATE XVII
THE YELLOWS
1. The Roadside Butterfly, Eurymus philodice, male.
2. The Roadside Butterfly, Eurymus philodice, female.
3. The Roadside Butterfly, Eurymus philodice, female, the white form.
4. The Orange Sulphur, Eurymus eurytheme, male.
5. The Dog’s-head, Zerene cesonia, male.
6. The Dog’s-head, Zerene cesonia, female.
o
Plate XVIF
SS
THE PIERIDS
pand from one and three-fourths inches to two and one-half
inches.
The females are dimorphic, there being a form in which
the ground color of the wings is white instead of yellow
(Plate XVII, Fig. 3).
CATERPILLAR.—Length slightly more than an inch; body
downy and green in color with faint stripe down the back
and a pale pinkish stripe along the side, which has a black
border below; or the body may be pale yellowish along the
sides.
Lfood-plants.—Clover, vetch, lupine, etc.
With the words ‘yellow butterfly” there al-
ways comes to the mind a vision of this species,
it being familiar to us all who live in the eastern
United States. It hovers over flowers of the
field, especially loving the yellow blooms; but
more than all this, it loves to hold banquets
around the mud-puddles in the road. Almost any
time in August when driving along a country
highway we may see ata distance in front of us
a shining yellow blotch which scatters on our
approach into a hundred yellow butterfly frag-
ments; and if we afterward examine the spot
closely we can see the mud perforated with “ pin-
holes” where these thirsty creatures have thrust
their long tongues. The roadside butterfly is in-
quisitive, always wanting to know what is going
on; it is a jolly comrade, playing with its mate
oh)
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
in. the air, where it enters into many fluttering
matches which need no umpires. It loves the
brilliant sunshine ; let a heavy cloud obscure the
sun of a summer’s day anda field that seemed
full of butterflies suddenly shows not one ; for
to them the cloud is a sign that it is time to hide
beneath clover, or down in the grasses, in which
places they pass the night.
In this species some of the females are white
and are often mistaken for the cabbage butterfly.
Though we all have had such a long acquaint-
ance with the roadside butterfly, I wonder how
many of us ever saw its little green caterpillar on
the clover. Little wonder that this is so, for the
small chap is well hidden, clinging to the midrib
of the leaf or to the stalk, which it resembles very
closely, and at a touch will drop to the ground.
There are three broods, and it is supposed that
the winter is passed in the caterpillar stage.
This species occurs from the mouth of the St.
Lawrence to South Carolina and westward to the
Rocky Mountains.
From dewy lanes at morning
The grapes’ sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterflies.
HELEN Hunrv.
94
THE PIERIDS
THE ORANGE SULPHUR
Eurymus curytheme (Ku'ry-mus eu-ryth’e-me)
PLATE XVII, Fic. 4
This species closely resembles philodice in size, shape, and
markings. The typical form differs from philodice in being
of an orange color instead of yellow above; the costal margin
of both wings and the inner margin of the hind wings are,
however, yellow. Except in this difference in the ground
color of the wings, the description of the clouded sulphur
given above will apply quite closely to the more common form
of this species.
This is one of the most polymorphic of all butterflies, and
the forms differ so much that they have been described
several times as distinct species. The typical form described
above is the only one occurring in the East.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length nearly one and one-fourth inches.
Color grass-green, with an indistinct line down the back.
Along each side of the back is a white stripe on which are
irregular patches of vermillion or orange yellow; at the
center of each segment below the stripe are darker markings.
Food-plants.—Clover, buffalo-clover in the West, milk-
vetch, lupines and pea-vines.
This orange imitation of the clouded sulphur
appears in many forms, each succeeding brood
of the year being a different shade of yellow from
the others, except in the far South, where it seems
to have reached its limit in depth of color after
the third brood. In some of the later broods
95
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
part of the females are pale, looking distinctly
anemic when compared with their brilliant. sis-
ters. The orange sulphur has had to adapt itself
to various conditions. It has to summer in
Texas, where its food-plant occurs only during
the fall and winter; and it has to winter in the
north, after the food-plant is frozen. It has been
a source of great entertainment to the ento-
mologists of the past who were species hunters,
and they have described its different forms as dis-
tinct species. The records show that it has the
following baptismal names: eurytheme, chryso-
theme, hagenii, eriphyle, edusa, barbara, harfordii,
keewaydin, ariadne, amphidusa and others. It
can be seen from the above that this butterfly,
which looks like a California poppy blown off the
stem, can compete successfully in names with
any of the crowned heads of Europe.
The species is most abundant in the Mis-
sissippi Valley; but it is found on the Pacific
coast and also along the Atlantic coast as far as
Maine. It is very much like the roadside butter-
fly in its habits, being an active flyer and social in
its disposition.
This insect is from two- to four-brooded, de-
pending on the locality ; and it winters in both
the adult and larval states.
96
THE PIERIDS
THE SLEEPY YELLOW
Leurema nicippe (Eu-re’ma ni-cip'pe)
PLATE XV, FIG. 3, 5
The wings above are bright orange, marked with blackish
brown as follows: on the fore wings a narrow bar at the apex
of the discal cell, the apical portion of the wings, and the
outer margin ; on the hind wings, the outer margin. In the
female the outer marginal band is interrupted at the anal
angle of each wing, and on the hind wings it may be reduced
to an apical patch, The expanse of wings is from one and
six-tenths inches to one and nine-tenths inches.
CATERPILLAR.—One inch in length; body, slender and
downy; color green, witha white stripe along the side marked
with yellow and bordered below with blackish.
food-plants.—Cassia, clover, senna.
The black spots which decorate the middle of
the front wings of the yellows are reduced in this
species to narrow, transverse lines, which look
like eyes almost closed; because of this feature
our name for this butterfly has always been the
sleepy yellow. The common popular name that
has been applied to it, the ‘“ black-bordered yel-
low,” is not very distinctive in a family which
particularly affects black borders. The male is a
bright orange, while his wife is of a paler hue.
The lower side of the front wings is a brillant
orange yellow at the base, fading near the edges
and looking like the western sky after sunset.
97
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
The sleepy yellow loves society, and flocks
over the clover fields and upon forest-bordered
meadows; when gathered in numbers on the
moist earth they look like a patch of brilliant
sunlight. It is a southern species extending
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Sometimes it
appears as far north as New York, Ontario, and
Wisconsin.
The caterpillars eat the tips of the cassia leaves
at first. There are three distinct broods and
probably more, as Mr. Edwards found in Septem-
ber in West Virginia a branch of senna on which
was every stage of this butterfly, from the egg to
the newly emerged adult.
Thou spark of life, that wavest wings of gold!
Thou songless wanderer ’mid the songful birds,
With nature’s secrets in thy tints unrolled
Through gorgeous cipher, past the reach of words,
Yet dear to every child
In glad pursuit beguiled,
Living his unspoiled days ’mid flowers and flocks and
herds. HIGGINSon.
THE LITTLE SULPHUR
Lurema euterpe (Ku-re’ma eu-ter’pe)
PLATE XV, Fic. 7, 8, 9, 10
Although this species is larger than the dainty sulphur, it is
considerably below the average size of our yellows, the larger
98
THE PIERIDS
specimens expanding less than one and one-half inches. The
wings are canary-yellow above, with the apex of the fore
wings and the outer margin of both fore and hind wings
blackish brown. The border of the hind wings is narrow and
is sometimes wanting.
There is a pale variety of the species, Zurema euterpe alba ;
this is represented by Figures 9 and 10 of the Plate.
CATERPILLAR.—Three-fourths of an inch long; body,
downy ; color grass-green, with one or two white lines along
each side.
Food-plants.—Cassia and other legumes, preferring the spe-
cies with finely divided leaves.
This is a pocket edition of the roadside butter-
fly, except that the black spot in the middle of
the front wing is reduced to a mere dot. Yet
though so small and fragile and with “ flight
timid and feeble,” it has taken possession of a
large portion of the United States ; it is found in
the South from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and it
has even gained a foothold in southern New Eng-
land and northern Ohio and Wisconsin. More
than this, there are on record two instances where
it invaded the Bermudas, flying with the wind the
six hundred miles from the mainland. The Ber-
mudans saw one day a ‘cloud coming from the
northwest” ; but when the cloud came nearer it
resolved itself into ‘‘an immense concourse of
99
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
small, yellow butterflies which flitted about the
open grassy patches in a lazy manner as if
fatigued with their long journey over the deep.”
It is to be feared that the little voyagers found
them inhospitable islands, for there is no record
that this species flourishes there to any great
extent.
The little sulphur is a social midget and makes
glad the open grass places with its numerous
flittings, or gathers in bright patches in large
family reunions around the festal mud-puddle ;
if such a gathering be observed in the South there
may be found in it many of the pale wives; for
this species, like the roadside butterfly, has some
white females. The caterpillar hides itself cun-
ningly on the cassia leaf by stretching itself along
a midrib when it is not eating, and in this posi-
g,
tion, because of its form and color, it is prac-
tically invisible. But if roughly disturbed it
swings off on a thread of silk, a performance
quite unusual for a butterfly caterpillar. The
species is at least three-brooded in its southern
range,
Thy citron-yellow wings are bright,
And soft the rosy fringe they wear,
And rays of gloom and silver bright
Adorn thee, blossom of the air!
I0O
THE PIERIDS
The Cassia, on whose silken flower
Thy fragile life its being fills,
What hast thou garnered of its dower
To waft thee where thy spirit wills ?
Laura F. HINSDALE.
IOI
FAMILY III
THE NYMPHS
Family Nymphalidz (Nym-phal’i-de)
The family Nymphalidz, or Nymphs, includes chiefly but-
terflies of medium or large size; but a few of the species are
small.
This family is the first of a
series of four families in which
the front legs are very greatly
reduced in size zz both sexes.
So great is the reduction that
these legs cannot be used for
walking, but are folded on the
breast like a tippet.
The nymphs can be distin-
guished from the other three
families of four-footed butterflies
as follows: the veins of the fore
Cu, i 2d A wings are not greatly swollen at
the base as in the meadow-
Fic. 30.—Venation of the wings
Oe HusMarchin ast anise browns ; the fore wings are not
so long and narrow as in the
heliconians; and the antennz do not appear to be naked as
in the milkweed butterflies.
The venation of the wings of a characteristic species is
shown in Figure 30.
102
THE NYMPHS
The larvee are nearly or quite cylindrical, and are clothed
to a greater or less extent with hairs and sometimes with
branching spines.
The chrysalids are usually angular, and often bear large
projecting prominences ; sometimes they are rounded. They
always hang head downward, supported only by the tail,
which is fastened to a button of silk. (Plate II, Fig. 2.)
This is the largest of the families of butterflies. It not only
surpasses the other families in number of species, but it con-
tains a greater number and variety of striking forms, and also
a larger proportion of the species of butterflies familiar to
every observer of insects. There may be in any locality one
or two species of ycllows or of whites more abundant, but the
larger number of species commonly observed are nymphs.
In order to facilitate the study of the family our genera
have been separated into five groups, which are known re-
spectively as the Fritillaries, the Crescent-spots, the Angle-
wings, the Sovereigns, and the Emperors.
The structural features distinguishing these groups are in
some cases difficult to observe, and consequently are not
available here; but by means of the following somewhat
artificial table, our Eastern species can be placed in their
proper groups:
A. Eyes hairy, p- 131. THE ANGLE-WINGS (in part).
AA. Eyes naked.
B. Club of the antennz long and slender, increasing in
size gradually, as a rule hardly more than twice as broad
as the stalk.
C. Hind wings with tail-like prolongations (the Goat-
weed Butterfly), p. 173. THE Emperors (in part).
103
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
CC. Hind wings not tailed.
D. With a row of eye-spots near the outer margin of
the upper surface of the hind wings, p. 173.
THE EMPERORS (in part).
DD. Wings without eye-spots, p. 162.
THE SOVEREIGNS.
BB. Club of antennz short, more or less abruptly thick-
ened.
C. Lower surface of the wings with silvery spots, p. 104.
THE FRITILLARIES (in part).
CC. Lower surface of wings without silvery spots.
D. With two large eye-spots on the upper surface of
each hind wing (the Buckeye), p. 131.
THE ANGLE-WINGS (in part).
DD. With several eye-spots or with none on the upper
surface of the hind wings.
E. Palpi with the last segment extremely short,
p- 104. THE FRITILLARIES (in part).
EE. Palpi with the last segment from one-half to one-
third as long as the preceding segment, p. 123.
THE CRESCENT-SPOTS.
THE FRITILLARIES
The fritillaries are butterflies varying from a little below to
somewhat above medium size. The club of the antennz is
short and broad; and, as in the crescent-spots, it is marked
beneath with a singie elevated line or with none. The palpi
104
THE NYMPHS
are large and bushy, the last segment extremely short. The
color of the wings is fulvous bordered and checkered with
black ; but not so heavily bordered as in the crescent spots.
The lower surface of the hind wings is often marked with
curving rows of silvery spots. This is a large group contain-
ing many species, which are extremely difficult to separate.
Fic. 31.—Fore wing of A graulis Fic. 32.—Fore wing of Argynnis
vanilla. cybele.
More than fifty species occur in America north of Mexico.
The larvee feed upon the leaves of violets.
The more common species, which are described below, can
be separated by the following table :
A. Vein R, of the fore wings arising beyond the apex of
cell R+M (Fig. 31).
B. Fore wings with the apex produced, making the outer
margin concave (Fig. 33).
C. Lower side of wings marked with silvery spots. (4.
vanillé), Pp. 107. THE GULF FRITILLARY.
CC. Lower side of wings without silvery spots. (&.
claudia), p. 109. THE VARIEGATED FRITILLARY.
105
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
BB. Fore wings with the apex not produced, the outer
margin being convex throughout (Brenzhis).
C. Lower side of hind wings with silvery spots. (2. my-
rina), P.122. ‘THE SILVER-BORDERED FRITILLARY.
CC. Lower side of hind wings without silvery spots. (B.
bellona), p. 119. THe Merapow FRITILLARY.
AA. Vein R, of the fore wings arising before the apex of cell
R+M (Fig. 32).
B. Basal half of upper surface both pairs of wings blackish
brown or greenish black without spots on this part. (.S.
diana), p. Ifo. Tue Diana FRITILLARY.
BB. Basal half of the fore wings at least with spots.
C. Fore wings fulvous, hind wings black. (S. ¢daza),
p. 112. THE REGAL FRITILLARY.
CC. Both wings fulvous (4zgynuis).
D. The buff submarginal belt between the two outer
rows of silvery spots on the lower surface of the hind
wings broad.
E. With the outer-marginal and submarginal lines
of the upper surface of the wings separated by a
series of quadrangular fulvous bars, except some-
times near the apex of the fore wings of females ;
a larger species expanding from three to three
and one-half inches. (4. cydele), p. 114.
THE GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY.
EE. With the outer-marginal and submarginal lines
of the upper surface of the wings united into a
common black band throughout a considerable
part of their length, the quadrangular bars being
106
THE NYMPHS
obsolete or much less developed than in the great
spangled fritillary ; a smaller species expanding
from two to two and one-half inches. (4. atlantis),
p- 118. THE MountTAIN SILVER-SPOT.
DD. The buff submarginal belt between the two outer
rows of silvery spots on the outer surface of the hind
wings narrow or wanting, being greatly encroached
upon by the ground color. (4. aphrodite), p. 117.
THE SILVER-SPOT FRITILLARY.
THE GULF FRITILLARY
Agraulis vanilie (A-grau'lis va-nil'le)
Puate XVIII, Fic. 3, 2
Wings reddish fulvous above ; the veins of the front wings
are black on the outer two-thirds of the wing; the black ex-
pands into spots at the end of veins M, to anal; there are
two white spots in cell R+M and one on the medial cross-
vein each surrounded by black ; cells M,, Cu, and Cu, each
contains a round black spot. The outer margin of the hind
wings has a broad black border, which contains a fulvous spot
in each cell; there is a black spot at the base of cell M,, and
one in cell R,. The under surface of the wings is marked with
many large silvery spots ; of which there are about ten near
the apex of the front wings, three or four in cell R+M of
the same wings, and about twenty-four on each hind wing.
Expanse of wings two and one-fourth inches to three inches.
CaTERPILLAR.—In addition to the six rows of thorny
spines, which characterize the caterpillars of many other
fritillaries, this one has on the head a pair of backward bend-
107
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
ing spines branched like the others. The ground color of
the body is yellowish or pale brown, with two dark stripes
along each side and usually a more or less dark stripe along
the back. The spiracles are marked with orange.
Food-plants.—Various species of passion-flowers.
On wings that are longer and more slender
than those of other fritillaries does this one flit
above the flowery fields of the Gulf States. It
comes as far north as southern Virginia; and the
Pacific Ocean only limits its southward range in
the West.
In ground color it resembles the monarch more
than it does the fritillaries. It is true that it
bears the silver beneath the hind wings, but this
is in the form of bars rather than coin. The bril-
liant glittering orange red of the upper surface of
the wings makes it a fit companion for subtrop-
ical flowers. When one sees this bit of animated
sunshine one involuntarily wonders whether the
earlier stage spent in consuming the leaves of the
passion-flower has aught to do with the ardent
color of the butterfly. But this is idle specula-
tion rather than natural history.
The species occurs from New Jersey and Penn-
sylvania southward, also in Arizona and Califor-
nia.
108
PLATE XVIII
FRITILLARIES
Fig.
The Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanille.
. The Gulf Fritillary, A graulis vanilla, lower side of wings.
. The Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia, lower side of wings.
. The Variegated Fritillary, Ewptoieta claudia.
bo
RW
Plate XVILi
THE NYMPHS
THE VARIEGATED FRITILLARY
Luptoteta claudia (Eup-toi-e’ta clau’di-a)
Fic. 33; AND PLaTE XVIII, Fic. 3, 4
This species agrees with the preceding in having the apex
of the fore wings produced so that the outer margin is con-
cave; but differs in lacking silvery spots on the lower surface.
The wings are fulvous ; both pairs are crossed by a common
paler band, and marked with black and blackish fuscous.
The under surface of the wings is beautifully marbled with
brown and whitish.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-fourth inches. The
body is orange red with two dark stripes extending along each
side enclosing whitish blotches, which taken together make
an interrupted whitish band along the side. There are six
rows of thorny spines on the body; the top pair on the first
segment point forward over the head.
Food-plants.—Passion-flower, mandrake, stone crop, tick
foil, portulacca, violet.
Not only with a mosaic of blossoming weed
does Nature deck her waste places; lest the
flowers fade she
scatters there
many-hued _ but-
terflies; and by
these as well as
the blossoms she
tells us plainly :
that she has no Fic. 33.—The variegated fritillary
109
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
waste places where she has at hand water-power
and sunshine-power to help her manufacture life
and color. Above such lands neglected by man,
the variegated fritillary hovers on golden red wings
or rests basking in the sun on the sands of drought-
wasted streams. It is a true recluse in habits, for
at the sound of an approaching footstep it rises in
the air and executes some acrobatic feats in flight
that the untrained eye is quite unable to follow
and then suddenly disappears entirely. Its color
has more of sunshine than is on the wings of
preceding species. Its caterpillar feeds stealthily
by night on the mysterious passion-flower. The
rapid flight of the butterfly is equaled relatively
by the rapidity which characterizes the traveling
of the caterpillar.
The species is apparently triple-brooded in
some localities, and occurs throughout the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains, but is very
rare in the northern half of this region.
THE Diana FRITILLARY
Semnopsyche diana (Sem-nop-sy’che di-a’na)
PLATE XIX, Fic. 1, 2
This butterfly isremarkable for the great difference in col-
oring of the twosexes. In the ma/e the basal three-fifths of
the upper surface of each wing is dark velvety brown, the
IIo
PLATE XIX
THE DIANA FRITILLARY
Fig.
1. Semnopsyche diana, male.
2. Semnopsyche diana, female.
THE NYMPHS
outer two-fifths deep orange. The veins on the orange por-
tion are more or less shaded with brown, and this part of the
wing is crossed by two series of brown spots. In the female
the upper surface of the wings is blue or green-black; the
outer third of the fore wings is crossed by three rows of blue
or whitish spots; the outer third of the hind wings is dark
metallic blue or green interrupted on the veins by the ground
color, and with marginal and submarginal bands, and a series
of spots near the base of this third, all of the ground color.
The male expands three and three-fourths inches; the female
a little over four inches.
CATERPILLAR. —Black and velvety. The barbed spines
are fleshy and orange-colored at their base, and arranged in
six longitudinal rows. The head is brownish.
Food-plant.—Violets.
This is one of the largest and most beautiful
species of fritillaries; and when one sees both
sexes the resemblance between them is so slight
that one wonders how they have sufficient acumen
to select each other. It is true their wings are of
the same ‘‘cut,” and the silver crescents mark the
outer edge of the under side of the hind wings ot
both, and both are attired in textures of velvet.
But beyond these slight resemblances they are so
different in color and markings that no one would
guess they belonged to the same species, unless he
had knowledge of their habits. Even the colors
of the under side of the wings are different. The
aT
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
gorgeous orange and seal-brown wings of the
male disport a lining of buff, while the black and
metallic-blue wings of the female have a lining of
sober grayish brown, decorated on the fore wings
with blue and black patches. The chrysalis is
grayish brown with projections on the back that
are of lighter hue. Itis certainly a very ordinary
looking case to hold such an extraordinary but-
terfly.
The species is single-brooded, and occurs in
“the hilly country of the South, following the
Alleghanies, and a comparatively narrow belt
westward at about the 38th parallel of latitude.”
(Scudder. )
THE REGAL FRITILLARY
Speyerta tdalia (Spey-er'i-a 1-da’li-a)
PLATE XX, FIG. 1, 2
This species can be distinguished from our other fritillaries
by its having the fore wings fulvous and the hind wings black.
The sexes differ somewhat in markings. In the ma/e, the
upper surface of the fore wings is marked with black spots and
bars arranged as in typical fritillaries. The black markings,
however, are less prominent, except that there is a distinct
black band on the outer margin as in the mountain silver-
spot. The hind wings are black, with violet reflections ; the
base of the wings is tinged with fulvous. There is a black
spot in the cell R+M, a transverse row of yellowish spots
II2
PLATE XX
THE REGAL FRITILLARY
Fig.
1. Speyeria idalia, male.
2. Speyeria idalia, female.
Plate XX,
THE NYMPHS
beyond the cell, and a submarginal row of fulvous spots. In
“the female the outer marginal band of the fore wings is
broader ; it contains a row of white spots, and there are six
additional white spots near the apex ; on the hind wings the
outer row of spots is of the same color as the inner. Beneath
in both sexes the fore wings are orange and the hind wings
arich olive brown, with nearly thirty large silvery white spots.
Expanse three and one-half to four inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and three fourths inches.
Velvety black in color with dull yellow or reddish stripes. It
bears six rows of thorny spines, which are fleshy at the base.
The spines along the back are silvery or yellowish white
tipped with black. Sometimes the bases of the spines along
the sides are orange.
Food-plant.—V iolets.
This butterfly has honestly earned its name, for
it is truly a regal creature. Its broad large wings
are beautifully and richly colored above with
velvety orange and blue-black.
The silvery spots beneath the wings are tinged
with green and are angular in shape; and set
against an olive background, they shine like the
bangles against the dark breast of some Oriental
beauty. Even its flight is characterized by the
dignity and deliberation of a royal personage, and
its favorite resting-place is on a goldenrod throne.
It seems somewhat capricious as to the localities
it frequents, often being quite abundant in one
113
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
place and not to be found a few miles distant,
even though the physical features of the two
places are similar.
The caterpillar hatches from the egg in the
autumn and winters in its first stage. It feeds by
night, and Mr. Scudder thinks it is likely to have
another food-plant than violets.
The species is single-brooded, and occurs from
Maine to Delaware and westward to Nebraska
and Arkansas.
THE GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY
Argynnis cybele (Ar-gyn’nis cyb’e-le)
PLATE XXI, Fic. 1, 2
There occur in the eastern United States three species of
the larger Fritillaries, representing the genus Argynnis, which
- can be separated at a glance from their allies occurring in this
fauna, but which so closely agree in color and in markings
that it is with difficulty that they can be distinguished from
each other. These are represented on Plate XXI; and the
distinctive characteristics are given in the table above.
The males of these insects can be distinguished by a fringe
of long hairs in the basal two-thirds of cell R, of the hind wings.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and three-fourths inches. Black
more or less velvety, bearing on each side the characteristic
three rows of black thorny spines which in this case are
polished ; the base of these spines may be orange. Its habits
are nocturnal.
food-plant.—Any species of violet.
114
PLATE XXI
THE THREE EASTERN ARGYNNIDS
Fig.
1. The Great Spangled Fritillary, Argynnis cybele.
2. The Great Spangled Fritillary, Argynnis cybele, lower side of wings.
3. The Silver-spot Fritillary, Argynnis aphrodite, lower side of wings.
4. The Mountain Silver-spot, Argynnis atlantis.
THE NYMPHS
When we were children a familiar sight to us
on our journeys to and from school were certain
large round-winged tawny butterflies settling
themselves as best they could on the thistle blos-
soms. When finally engaged in exhausting the
sweets offered at this roadside restaurant, their
wings were lifted and closed and we saw on their
lower sides what we called ‘butterfly money.”
This currency was of various denominations, and
near the edges were what we called “dollars”
broken in halves and set in a row, a fact which
puzzled us until we discovered the lost halves set
in a row on the opposite wing ; a charming lesson
in short division this. Some of these butterflies
were much larger than others, and we never
doubted that the smaller ones were not yet grown
up. It had never been revealed to us that but-
terflies cease growing when they attain their
wings. The largest of these butterflies that
carried their wealth under their wings were un-
doubtedly great spangled fritillaries; and the
smaller ones were silver-spots. We never saw
that buff band just inside the ‘‘coins” along the
edge of the lower side of the hind wings which is
as wide in its narrowest place on the great
spangled species as is the diameter of the largest
“dollar” on the wing; and which in the siiver-spot
115
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
is narrower decidedly than the width of the larg-
est “coin.” The great spangled varies so in size
that specimens of it are often not larger than the
silver-spot, so this wide buff band is the only
thing that distinguishes the species.
The history of the great spangled caterpillar
is an interesting one. It hatches from the egg
in the fall as a tiny olive caterpillar; it may take
a bite or two of the egg-shell, but never another
mouthful ; with this scanty breakfast to sustain
it it meets the rigors of winter. It lies dormant
until spring melts its coverlet of frost and snow
and spreads an early banquet of new violet leaves
for this fasting baby. It is always a shy insect,
feeding only during the night and hiding by day ;
it changes to a dark-brown chrysalis beneath
stones or sticks or other objects on the ground
which may give it shelter.
The species is single-brooded in the North and
probably double-brooded in the South. It occurs
in Canada and the northern half of the eastern
part of the United States.
The mute insect fixed upon the plant
On whose soft leaves it hangs, and from whose cup
Draws imperceptibly its nourishment,
Endeared my wanderings.
WORDSWORTH.
116
THE NYMPHS
THE SILVER-SPOT FRITILLARY
Argynnis aphrodite (Ar-gyn'nis aph-ro-di'te)
PLATE XXI, Fic. 3
See description of the great spangled fritillary and the table
above for the characteristics of this species.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-half inches. This cat-
erpillar closely resembles that of the preceding species, except
that there is a velvety black spot at the base of each spine.
Food-plant.—Violets.
When we made our childish observations on
the butterflies that had adopted a free silver coin-
age we often crept up carefully and seized one of
them by his closed wings and counted his “dollars”
for him. The ones that we caught were un-
doubtedly the silver-spots, for of all the butter-
flies that frequent ‘The Sign of the Thistle” these
are most reckless and oblivious of danger when
tippling. This species is more common in the
northern United States than is the preceding. It
flies during July, August, and September. Once
about the middle of September I found a speci-
men caught in the net of the Argiope spider. I
rescued it, and while removing the web I was as-
tonished that it could have flown at all on such
torn and battered wings. The edges were frayed
for a third of the length of the wing, and the sil-
9 117
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
ver was tarnished and the red and black were
faded to a dull dust color. But its antenne were
active and its body bright, and it seemed grateful
for release and went careening along on its poor
wings, brave to the very last. Surely butterflies
have their troubles also in a world where the sun
does not always shine.
The habits of the caterpillar of the silver-
spot are like those of the great spangled. The
baby caterpillar rashly comes out of its protect-
ing egg at a time when most creatures are seek-
ing shelter.
THE MounNrtTAIN SILVER-SPOT
Argynnis atlantis (Ar-gyn’nis at-lan’tis)
PLATE XXI, Fic. 4
See description of the great spangled fritillary and the table
above for the characteristics of this species.
CATERPILLAR.
Length one and one-half inches. It is very
similar to the caterpillars of the silver spot and of the great
spangled species, except that it is purplish in hue and the
bases of the spines are light colored or pale.
Lvod-plant.—Violets.
If our childish fancy about butterfly money
were true this fritillary would carry on its wings
the currency of the Dominion of Canada, for there
118
THE NYMPHS
is its home and it only visits our mountains and
highlands.
While it so closely resembles the two preced-
ing species in habits of caterpillars and in appear-
ance, it may be distinguished from them by the
unbroken black band that borders the front half
of the front wings next to the fringe. In the
other species this black band is broken by orange
patches between the wing veins. The ‘‘ coinage”
on the lower surface of the hind wings shows off
to a greater advantage, too, against a background
of sepia than against cinnamon brown. Mr.
Scudder says that the male charms his lady-love
by a sandalwood odor which he exhales from his
front wings.
The species is single-brooded. It occurs in
Canada and the northern half of the eastern part
of the United States.
A butterfly, with golden wings broad parted,
Nestling a rose, convulsed as though it smarted
With over pleasure. Keats.
Tue Meapow FRITILLARY
Brenthis bellona (Bren'this bel-lo’na)
PLATE XXII, Fic. 2, 4
We have in the eastern United States two common species
of the smaller fritillaries, which can be distinguished at a
119
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
glance from the larger species by their size, as in no case does
the length of the fore wing exceed one inch. These butter-
flies represent the genus Brenthis which differs structurally
from Argynnis. The most available character for separating
the two is the origin of vein R, beyond the apex of the discal
cell in Brenthis, and before it in Argynnis.
The smaller fritillaries resemble Argynnis quite closely in
the markings of the upper surface of the wings; the under
surface not only differs from the pattern of Argynnis, but also
shows great diversity among the species. The two common
species of our Eastern fauna can be easily separated by the
characters given in the table above.
The obscurity of the marginal markings of the lower side of
the hind wings in the meadow fritillary (Plate XXII, Fig. 4)
is sufficient to distinguish this species.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length nearly one inch. Body black, mot-
tled with yellowish or greenish color. The spines arranged
in the usual manner of this family are dull brown. It is
not unlike the caterpillar of the preceding species except
that the pair of spines on top of the first segment are not es-
pecially prolonged.
Lood-plant.—Violets.
This little fritillary has put no money in its
purse ; there is not a single silver-spot, angular or
round, to be found on the lower side of its wings.
Neither is it so handsomely ornamented above as
as is the following species, lacking the black scal-
loped border that makes the wings of the silver-
bordered fritillary so ornate. It is to be found
120
THE NYMPHS
in wet open places where the mint grows, as its
favorite tipple is mint nectar.
It has some queer habits. Many of the butter-
flies of the first brood appearing early in May
evidently feel that they have the whole summer
before them and are likely to neglect the impor-
tant transaction of egg-laying for several weeks.
The second brood issues in July and the third
in September, but owing to the procrastination
of the earlier butterflies the broods are hopelessly
mixed. Mr. Scudder has found that while the
caterpillars of the last brood winter as they are
hatched from the egg, many individuals of the
second brood when only half grown turn their
backs on the flesh-pots of the caterpillar world,
fall into a lethargy and wait until spring to finish
their growth; from these come the earliest but-
terflies. Some of these little anchorites, how-
ever, seem to forsake their plan and after two or
three weeks of fasting turn to and eat their fill
and change to butterflies in September. The but-
terflies are more numerous in September than
during the summer months.
The species occurs in Canada, the northern
United States, and in Colorado. The butterfly is
found “only about wet meadows and bogs, where
it frequents the mint blossoms.” (Scudder.)
I2I
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE SILVER-BORDERED FRITILLARY
Brenthis myrina (Bren’this my-ri’na)
PLATE XXII, Fic. 1, 3
This species differs from the meadow fritillary in having on
the under side of the hind wings two transverse series of
silver spots, one marginal and one submarginal; there are
also several larger silver spots on the base of the wing.
CATERPILLAR.—Length three-fourths inch. In color a
mottled green, brown and purple, with spines like the cater-
pillars of Argynnis except that in this species the pair of
spines on top the first thoracic segment are several times as
long as the others.
Fovod-plant.—V iolets.
When in our childish ignorance we regarded
a small butterfly as not yet fully grown, we often
found on thistle blossoms in the pasture certain
small butterflies that carried “money” under
their wings and we thought them too young to
be trusted with so much silver. These small
Croesuses were the silver-bordered fritillaries.
The silver-bordered fritillary is a pretty little
creature decorated in rather conventional squares,
dots and scallops of black and orange that sug-
gest canvas embroidery. On the lower side of
the wings the silver spots are set in with brown
and yellow squares and lines; the border of “half
coins” on the hind wings is especially prominent
I22
Fig.
. The Silver-bordered Fritillary, Brenthis myrina.
. The Meadow Fnitillary, Brenthis bellona.
. The Silver-bordered Fritillary, lower side of wings.
. The Meadow Fritillary, lower side of wings.
. Harris’s Butterfly, Cinclidia harrisit.
. The Silver Crescent, Charidryas nycteis, male.
0 MOI AN PW DH
HHH
NoHo
cal
wn
PLATE XXII
THE SMALLER FRITILLARIES AND THE CRESCENT-SPOTS
The Silver Crescent, lower side of wings.
. Harris’s Butterfly, lower side of wings.
. The Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos, male.
. The Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos, female.
. The Baltimore, Euphydryas phaeton.
. The Pearl Crescent, lower side of wings of the summer form, Phy-
ciodes tharos morpheus.
. The Pearl Crescent, lower side of wings of the spring form, Phyci-
odes tharos tharos.
10
Plate XXIJJ.
THE NYMPHS
and ornamental; a border of black points shot
with silver margin the fore wings and make one
of the most decorative patterns ever found on a
butterfly wing, the place where Nature is at her
best as a decorator. Despite the small size and
slight form of this fritillary it is rather lazy in
its flight and is much more given to resting on
flowers than to dancing in the air.
The caterpillars that hatch late in the fall pass
the winter as they leave the egg. Other cater-
pillars half grown pass the winter in that stage
and produce butterflies early in the next season.
The species is presumably three-brooded, but
owing to the desultory egg-laying habits of the
butterflies the broods are not distinct. It is a
butterfly that is decidedly shiftless in family affairs.
The chrysalis looks a little like a stout hook, it
being bent forward somewhat.
The species occurs throughout Canada and in
the northern portions of the United States.
THE CRESCENT-SPOTS
This group includes some of the smaller nymphs; they
are distinguished as follows: the club of the antennz is
broad and distinct ; and is marked beneath, as in the fritilla-
ries, with a single elevated line or with none. The palpi are
slender, compact, the last segment from one-third to one-half
123
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
as long as the middle segment. The color of the wings in one
of our species is black with an outer marginal row of red
spots, but it is usually fulvous, with the front wings broadly
margined, especially at the apex, with black.
This is a large group, nearly sixty species occurring in
North America. But nearly all of these are restricted to the
far West; only five have been found in the Atlantic States,
and one of these is rare. Our four common species can be
separated by the following table:
A. Apex of the front wings produced, so that the outer margin
is about as long as the inner margin; color black with a row
of red spots next the outer margin, and two or more rows
of yellow spots on outer half of wings. (2. phacton),
p- 125. THE BALTIMORE.
AA. The outer margin of the front wings much shorter than
the inner margin ; color of wings fulvous checked with black
or black spotted with fulvous.
B. The outer margin of the wings on the lower side with
distinct, narrow, yellow, terminal line of nearly uniform
width. (C. zyefets), p. 127. THE SILVER CRESCENT.
BB. Terminal line, if present, greatly narrowed at the cross-
ing of each vein.
C. Lower side of hind wings with a broad, transverse
central band of white or light buff spots. (C. harrisir),
p. 126. Harris’s BUTTERFLY.
CC. Lower side of hind wings without a broad, trans-
verse, central band of white or light buff spots. (P.
tharos), p. 129. THe PearL CRESCENT.
THE NYMPHS
THE BALTIMORE
Luphydryas phacton (Ku-phyd'ry-as pha’e-ton)
PLATE XXII, Fic. 11
The wings above are black, with an outer marginal row of
dark reddish-orange spots, and two parallel rows of very pale
yellow spots ; on the fore wings a third row is more or less
represented. The wings expand two inches or more.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one inch. In the hibernating
stage when they are usually found, the head and first two
segments are shining black and the last three black with two
orange bands around each. All the other segments have a
ground color of orange with various narrow transverse lines
of black. ‘There are three rows of black spiny tubercles along
each side and one row down the middle of the back. There
are also a pair of smaller spines above each proleg. At this
stage the caterpillar is three-eighths inch long. Its colors
when fully grown are practically the same as described above.
It is gregarious in its habits.
Food-plants.—The snakehead and other plants.
This handsome, striking butterfly looks as if it
were done in Russian embroidery. The outer
border of orange and the regular rows of angular
yellowish white spots set against the black back-
ground give one the impression of conventional
needlework, instead of unconventional nature.
Especially is this true of the lower surface of
the wings where the pattern is the more elaborate.
In its habits the butterfly is very local, remain-
125
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
ing near one particular spot all its life. It may
be found near swampy places from the middle of
June until the middle of July, in Ontario and the
northern half of the United States.
The habits of the caterpillars are most eccentric.
They live together in a common nest made by
weaving together the leaves of their food-plant and
portions of the surrounding herbage. After the
third molt they cease feeding and remain thus
in their tent until the next spring. They do not
fall into a lethargy and so endure hunger in a
trance. They simply cuddle down and volun-
tarily fast in the presence of plenty. We kept
a brood in a box once during their fast-period.
Every time we opened the box inquiring black
heads would be lifted in an impatient manner
that said quite plainly ‘Let us alone, please.”
There they waited from midsummer until the
snakehead had put forth leaves next spring.
They resumed eating as calmly as if a fast of nine
months were no trick at all.
Harris’s BUTTERFLY
Cinclidia harrisit (Cin-clid’i-a har-ris’i-i)
PLATE XXII, Fic. 5, 8
The upper surface of the wings of this species closely resem-
bles in color and markings that of the butterflies of the genus
126
THE NYMPHS
Phyciodes. On the under surface the wings are fulvous, with
the veins and transverse lines and bars black, and with pale
yellow and silvery white spots. On the hind wings the
median, transverse, white band is traversed by two black
lines near the edges, so as to form three nearly complete
bands. Expanse one and three-fourths inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length nearly one inch; body orange in
color ringed with black stripes, with a black line down the
back, and ornamented with rows of black spines.
Food-plants.—Asters.
When flying, this butterfly so much resembles
the silver crescent that it is likely to be mistaken
for it; however, the lower sides of the wings
are much darker. The caterpillars have similar
habits to those of the silver crescent. It is a
New England species, seldom being found south
of the 42d degree of latitude.
THE SILVER CRESCENT
Charidryas nyctets (Cha-rid’ry-as nyc-te’is)
PLATE XXII, Fic. 6, 7
The silver crescent is most easily distinguished by the mark-
ings of the lower surface of the wings, the outer margin of
which has a distinct, narrow, yellow terminal line of nearly
uniform width, bordered within and without with brown.
Just within this line there is a series of silver-white lunules ;
these lunules are very small or wanting in cells M, and M, of
each wing. ‘There is a transverse band of silver-white or
ry
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
light buff spots near the middle of the hind wing on the lower
side, and a similar band near the base. Expanse one and
three-fourths inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length nearly an inch; body velvety
black, with an orange stripe along the side and with many
black spines arranged in lengthwise rows.
Food-plants. —Sunflower, Actinomeris, and other Composite.
At first glance the silver crescent seems to be
a dark-brown butterfly with a band of orange
across both wings; but a closer inspection reveals
the band to be made up of various ornamental
spots, lines, and patches; and the lower sides of
the wings with their many devious and diverse
markings of brown and silver reduce to de-
spair one who would write of them a graphic
description.
The caterpillars are social at first, but when
disturbed coil up and promptly drop to the ground,
climbing back again at their leisure when the
scare is over. When about half-grown the cater-
pillars leave the food-plant and hide under sticks
and stones or in convenient crevices, and there
remain until the next spring, when they finish
their growth. There is only one brood in the
North; in the South there are two broods, but
occasionally some caterpillars of the first brood
stop eating in midsummer and hibernate with
128
THE NYMPHS
their nephews and nieces of the next brood, the
offspring of their more ambitious brothers and
sisters that completed their growth and produced
eggs for the second brood.
The species occurs from Canada to North
Carolina and west through the Mississippi Val-
ley. It is single-brooded in the North and
probably both single- and double-brooded in
the South.
The gold-barr’d butterflies to and fro
And over the waterside wander’d and wove,
As heedless and idle as clouds that rove
And drift by the peaks of perpetual snow.
Joaquin MILLER.
THE PEARL CRESCENT
fhyciodes tharos (Phy-ci-o’des tha’ros)
PLATE XXII, Fic. 9, 10, 12, 13
This species varies greatly in the markings of both upper
and lower surface; but it can be distinguished from the allied
species found in the East by the characteristics given in the
table on page 124. It is not always easy to distinguish the
sexes; but usually the yellow of the outer half of the fore
wings is more broken by black lines in the female than in the
male, and frequently the sinuous row of spots just beyond the
middle of the fore wings is of a lighter color in the female. Ex-
panse of wings one and one-half to one and seven-tenths inches.
The species is dimorphic. The two forms are not dis-
129
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tinguishable from above, but differ in the markings of the
“lower surface of the hind wings.
(1) The Spring Form, Phyciodes tharos tharos.—The
ground color of the lower side of the hind wings varies from
bright yellow to brown sometimes with much white over the
basal area, and has strongly contrasting markings. This form
was described by Edwards under the name marcia.
(2) The Summer Form, Phyciodes tharos morpheus.—The
ground color of the lower side of the hind wings is a yellow-
buff with comparatively inconspicuous markings especially in
the male.
This is a widely distributed species ranging from British
Columbia and Labrador to Mexico and from the Atlantic to
Montana and Colorado. In the extreme North it is single-
brooded and only the spring form occurs. In New England
it is double-brooded, and the second brood is of the summer
form. In the South there are several broods.
CATERPILLAR.—Length, three-fourths of an inch. Body
ornamented with rows of yellowish spines ; body color black
with yellow dots and a yellow band along the side.
Food-plant.—Asters.
The general color effect of this butterfly is red
brown with uneven blackish margins; but when
examined closely the markings above and below
are seen to be most elaborate. It is very numer-
ous, and is found everywhere in the United States
except in southern Florida and in the Southwest.
It loves open, sunny, weedy places, and is one of
the butterflies which loves to drink socially with
130
THE NYMPHS
its fellows around the mud-puddle. It is a slow
flyer, being a sluggish insect in all its stages.
The caterpillars are social when they first hatch
from the egg and live on the parenchyma on the
lower side of the leaf; later they eat holes into
the leaf. When disturbed they coil up and drop.
There are two broods, and the caterpillars of the
second brood when about half-grown hide in safe
corners and there pass the winter.
THE ANGLE-WINGS
With the exception of a single species, the buckeye, all of
the angle-wings found in our Eastern fauna are sharply dis-
tinguished from other nymphs by having hairy eyes. The
club of the antennz is long and fairly distinct ; it is marked
with three slightly elevated lines. The wings are usually
decidedly angular and excised ; but in the last four species
described below this character is not so prominent as in the
others. A large proportion of the species hibernate in the
adult state, and some of them are the first butterflies to appear
in the spring. Some of the hibernating species, however,
remain in concealment till quite late in the season.
The species that occur in the eastern United States can be
separated by the following table :
A. Without a silvery spot on the center of the lower sur-
face of the hind wings.
B. Eyes naked ; upper surface of fore wings with one or
two conspicuous eyelike spots. (J. cwza), p. 160.
THE BUCKEYE.
131
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
BB. Eyes hairy ; upper surface of fore wings without con-
spicuous eyelike spots.
C. Fringe of wings alternately white and dark ; apical
portion of front wings with a group of white spots
(Vanessa).
D. The orange colors on upper surface of fore wings
confined to a single transverse belt. (V. afalanfa),
p. 154. THE RED ADMIRAL.
DD. The orange colors on upper surface of fore wings
not confined to asingle belt.
E. Two large eyelike spots on the lower surface of
the hind wings, each broader than acell. (V. hun-
tera), p. 156. THE PAINTED BEAUTY.
EE. At least four eyelike spots on the lower sur-
face of the hind wings, never broader than a cell.
(V. cardut), p. 158. THE COSMOPOLITE.
CC. Fringe of wings not composed of alternating black
and white sections; no white spots on apex of fore
wings.
D. Outer margin of wings black with an orange ful-
vous submarginal band. (4. m/berf?), p. 151.
THE AMERICAN TORTOISE-SHELL.
DD. Outer margin of wings yellow, with a submar-
ginal row of blue spots. (2. anfropa), p. 148.
THE MourninG CLoak.
AA. With a golden or silvery spot on the lower surface of
hind wings.
B. Inner margin of fore wings nearly straight. (2. 7-a/bum),
p. 146. THE Compton TORTOISE.
132
THE NYMPHS
BB. Inner margin of fore wings roundly excised beyond
the middle (Lodygonta).
C. Lower surface of hind wings with two silvery marks,
a dot anda lunule forming an interrogation-mark. (P.
interrogationis), P.134. THE VIOLET-TIP.
CC. Lower surface of hind wings with a single, central,
silvery comma or bent bar.
D. The silvery comma expanded at the ends.
E. The outer third of the lower surface of the
wings variegated with green. (P. faunus), p. 138.
THE GREEN COMMA.
EE. The outer third of the lower surface of the
wings variegated with wood-brown. (P. comma),
p- T4o. THE Hop-MERCHANT.
DD. The silvery comma tapering at the ends. (P.
progne), Pp. 143. THE Gray Comma.
GENUS POLYGONIA
The four immediately following species belong
to the genus Polygonza. Of all the angle-wings
these most deserve the name. They look as if
Mother Nature had with her scissors snipped the
edges of their wings, fashioning notches and
points according to the vagaries of an idle mood ;
and polygons they surely are. The upper sides
of the wings have a ground color of coppery red,
marked with velvety borders and_ spots, the
design being similar in all the species. The
10 133
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
under sides of the wings are marked and marbled
with beautiful and intricate patterns in browns
that vary from reddish to seal, and in grays of
all shades ; and each hind wing bears wrought in
shining silver an “initial” which characterizes
the species. In flight all these butterflies follow
a zigzag course, so swiftly that the eye can
scarcely follow them. They frequent woodsy
paths and roads and are likely to alight on the
trunk of a tree or on the ground and close their
wings, the variegated browns of the under sur-
face rendering them almost invisible. The cater-
pillars are spiny, and the head is sometimes
adorned with a pair of thorny spines. The chrys-
alids are angular, usually the color of dead leaves,
and are made inconspicuous by both colors and
pattern.
THE VIOLET-TIP
Polygonia interrogationis (Pol-y-go’ni-a in-ter-ro-ga-ti-o’nis)
PLATE XXIII, Fic. 1, 2, 4, 6
This species differs from its allies found in the East by the
presence of a black spot on the upper surface near the base of
cell M, of the front wings, a short distance from the black
bar on the discal vein, and opposite the spot in cell M,; and
in the form of the silvery mark on the lower surface of the
hind wings, which consists of a dot and crescent, resembling
134
PLATE XXIII
THE ANGLE-WINGS
Fig.
1. The Violet Tip; the typical form, Polygonia interrogationis interro-
gationis, female.
. The Violet Tip; the dark form, Polygonia interrogationis wmbrosa,
female.
. The Green Comma, Polygonia faunus.
. The Violet Tip; lower side of wings of the dark form, male.
. The Green Comma, lower side of wings.
. The Violet Tip; lower side of wings of the typical form. male.
. The Gray Comma; lower side of wings.
. The Gray Comma, the typical form, Polygonia progne progne.
N
Or AN Pw
Plate XXIII.
fon
THE NYMPHS
somewhat an interrogation-mark, but more nearly a semicolon.
On the upper side the outer margins of the wings and the tails
of the hind wings are tinged with violet. Expanse two and
one-half to three inches.
This species is dimorphic; and the two forms differ so con-
stantly and in such a marked manner that they were de-
scribed as distinct species. In P. interrogationis interroga-
tionis the upper surface of the hind wings is not much darker
than that of the fore wings, and there is a submarginal row of
fulvous spots in the broad ferruginous brown border; this
variety is commonly known as fadrice?. In P. interrogationts
umbrosa (P. i. um-bro’sa) the outer two-thirds of the upper
surface of the hind wings is blackish, and the submarginal
fulvous spots are obliterated, except sometimes faint traces
near the costal margin. Many other differences are pointed
out by Scudder. The relation of these two forms to each
other was thoroughly investigated by Edwards. The dimor-
phism is seasonal, but not strictly so. All of the wintering
butterflies are fadricii; and from their eggs are produced
chiefly wmbrosa,; but fabricit occurs in the summer broods.
CATERPILLAR.—A bout one and one-half inches long. Red-
dish-brown in color with lighter markings of irregular dots
and patches. It has many branching spines, a pair of them
being on the top of the head.
Food-plants—Elm, hop, hackberry, nettle, false nettle,
and linden.
It would seem at first glance that certain but-
terflies come to us labeled with a recognition
mark on the hind wings, so that we shall have no
trouble about identifying the species. The violet-
135
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tip thus wears a semicolon, wrought in silver and
very striking. But Fabricius evidently never
’
stopped to ‘count two” when he saw this, as he
should have done had he been versed in the
proper way of regarding pauses, but at once
named the species zz¢errogatzonzs, to the utter
confusion of beginners in butterfly study, who
try in vain to make an interrogation-mark out of
this very plain semicolon. The popular name of
this butterfly is much more apropos, for it is not
only violet-tipped but violet-edged. The border
on its wings of rich velvety maroon shading off
at the edge into lavender fills the lover of color
with a sense of luxurious content. The exquisite
shadings of brown on the under side of the wings
have a purplish tint that is almost an iridescence.
The violet-tip is the largest of the polygon but-
terflies and is the most graceful in shape of all the
butterfly family. As it passes the winter in the
winged stage it finds its first food in spring in the
sap of trees, and it undoubtedly rejoices in the
industry of sugar-making, which induces man to
kindly tap trees for its especial benefit. It fre-
quents open places within or near woodlands.
In the fall it is more neighborly, and may often
be found about our orchards taking its share of
the ripe fruit.
136
THE NYMPHS
The caterpillar is well disposed toward its
fellows, though not gregarious ; if you find one
feeding on a leaf you are likely to find others in
the neighborhood. It has a comical way of rest-
ing after eating its fill; it lifts its head and dis-
dainfully turns it away, as if to say, ‘‘ Please ex-
cuse me from any more of that.” The chrysalis is
suspended near the feeding-place and looks like
a bit of dried and broken leaf. It is said that
Fabricius thought this chrysalis looked like an
interrogation-mark and so gave the name; this
seems rather far-fetched considering the punctu-
ation plainly to be seen on the wings.
The butterfly is interesting in that it has two
forms, a summer form which has the upper sides
of the hind wings nearly black except at base,
and the markings almost obscured thereby. This
form is called wzmdérosa. The winter form is
called faérzcez. They were regarded as two dis-
tinct species until they were bred.
This species is found in Canada and throughout
the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
There are two broods in the North and three or
four in the South. The butterflies hibernate.
Zigzag butterflies many a pair
Doubled and danced in sunny air.
ELIZABETH AKERS.
137
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE GREEN COMMA
Polygonia faunus (Pol-y-go/ni-a fau’nus)
PLATE XXIII, Fic. 3, 5
The silvery mark of the hind wings is usually in the form
of a C or aG, the ends being more or less expanded (Plate
VI, Fig. 2), but sometimes it is reduced to the form of an L.
The lower surface of the wings is more greatly variegated than
in any other species of this genus; and there is a larger
amount of green on this surface than in any other of the
Eastern species, there being two nearly complete rows of
green spots on the outer third of each wing. Expanse two
inches or more.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length, one and one-fifth inches. Head
black and bearing a pair of spines. Body reddish, or yellow-
ish brown with a large patch of white on the back behind the
middle. The rows of branching spines are light colored. It
makes no nest and hides beneath the leaf.
Food-plants.—Black birch, willow, alder, currant, and
gooseberry.
The strong resemblance existing between the
different commas makes the recognition of the
species on the wing quite difficult. However, if
the sun glints across the wings of the green
comma, it reveals on the upper side markings of
a rich velvety obscure olive green; while below a
paler and brighter olive is wrought into the
ornate pattern. While all this is easily seen when
we hold a pinned specimen in the hand it is by no
138
THE NYMPHS
means so easily observed when the butterfly is flit-
ting about in the open. In western New York,
on a hill from whose crest a glimpse of Canada is
possible on a clear day, we once saw a comma
darting about a mass of ferns at the side of a road
threading a dense beech woods. We were very
sure that we detected on this butterfly the olive-
green color of the green comma. Breathlessly
we waited for the nervous creature to alight,
which it did on some not very attractive refuse in
the road. Yes, it was surely green! A _profes-
sorial hat was brought into use as an instrument
for capture. Stealthily the approach was made,
but at the last moment the butterfly, eluding the
headgear, made a wild flight far above the profes-
sorial head and we saw it no more. There is
something strange about the madness which pos-
sesses one hunting for species. What difference
did it make to us what that butterfly was or was
not? None at all! And yet the butterfly hunter
will understand that ever afterward when we
passed that spot we always grew pensive and
murmured, ‘‘Was it really a green comma?”
The caterpillar of this species is caparisoned in
a white saddle-cloth and looks quite different
from other caterpillars of the genus. The green
comma is a Northern species, not occurring south
139
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
of Massachusetts in the East; in the middle
West it is found as far south as Iowa. It is single-
brooded, although the butterflies may be found
all summer; it hibernates as a butterfly.
THE Hop-MERCHANT
Polygonia comma (Pol-y-go’ni-a com’ma)
PLATE XXIV, Fic. 1, 2; 4, 6
As in the preceding species, the silvery mark of the hind
wings is in the form of a C ora G; but the general color of the
lower surface of the hind wings is very different, being
marbled with light and dark brown ; and the green spots so
characteristic of fawzus are represented here by a few liliaceous
scales on a submarginal row of black spots. Expanse two
inches or more.
Two forms of this species occur. In one, P. comma adryas,
the hind wings above are suffused with black on the outer
half, so that the submarginal row of fulvous spots is obscured,
and on the lower side the wings are more yellowish than in
the other form. The latter is the typical form, P. comma
comma. ‘Vhis form has been known under the name /ar-
ristt.
This species resembles the violet-tip in appearance and in
its dimorphism ; but it is a smaller butterfly, and it lacks the
spot in cell M, of the fore wings. It also differs in the form
of the silver mark on the lower side of the hind wings.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one inch ; color varying from dark
brown to greenish or nearly white ; itis marked with blotches
and transverse lines and is most variable as to color and mark-
140
PLATE XXIV
THE ANGLE-WINGS
Fig.
1. The Hop-merchant; the typical form, Polygonia comma comma,
female.
2. The Hop-merchant; the dark form, Polygonia comma dryas, female.
3. The Buckeye, Junonia cenia.
4. The Hop-merchant; lower side of wings of the dark form, male.
5. The American Tortoise-shell, 4 gla?s milberti.
6. The Hop-merchant; lower side of wings of the typical form, female.
Plate XXIV.
THE NYMPHS
ings. It is armed with thorny spines, and has one pair on its
head.
Loot-plants.
Nettle, hop, elm, etc.
At first glance we might take this butterfly to
be a dwarf violet-tip. The shape of the wings is
similar to that of the violet-tip, and with sufficient
imagination one can sce the violet margins on
them. But the punctuation on the under side of
the hind wing is quite different. In this species
it is not an inverted semicolon, but looks more
like an erratic G, the lower portion of it wander-
ing off atan angle. If we hold the butterfly head
toward us we can perhaps make of this mark a
more or less distorted comma.
The hop-merchant hibernates as a butterfly,
and is one of those which we find dashing about
the woods during the first warm days in March.
Its flight is a miracle of erratic swiftness. It has
much curiosity and a disposition to meddle, evin-
cing the same by dashing at anything it happens
to see moving; and it is always more than will-
ing to join in any fray. It starts up like magic
from the path in front of us, the gleam of its red
wings making it seem like a bit of chain-lghtning
as it zigzags upward over our heads, when we
lose sight of it altogether; but after we pass, if
we take note, we will see that it has alighted again
I4I
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
on the selfsame spot where we first found it.
It is not visible unless its wings are open. The
mottled browns on the under side of the wings
and their angular outline afford one of the pretti-
est studies in protective coloring which we know.
The hop-merchant likes paths through the woods
and damp places.
A pretty superstition about the chrysalis gives
the species its common name. Along the back
of the angular chrysalid are rows of tubercles with
bases which shine like metal. If they shine
golden then the price of hops will be high; but
if they shine like silver then the price will be
low.
The caterpillar sometimes harvests the hops for
the farmer; but’usually it does not occur in suff-
cient numbers to do damage. For the way the
eggs are laid in columns and the action of the
young caterpillar when descending, see Mr. Scud-
der’s account in that most delightful of books,
Everyday Butterflies. The caterpillar about the
time of its third molt cuts the central veins of
the leaf near the midrib most cunningly, and
thus is able to draw the edges of the leaf togeth-
er, making for itself a safe house for protection
while eating. The chrysalis is like a bit of dead
and broken scrolled leaf, and is as perfectly pro-
142
THE NYMPHS
tected by shape and color as is the butterfly. The
species is double-brooded in the North, and at
least three-brooded in the South. It is a North-
eastern species, extending south to North Car-
olina and Tennessee.
Fluttering like some vain painted butterfly
From glade to glade along the forest path.
ARNOLD.
THE Gray ComMMA
Polygonia progne (Pol-y-go'ni-a prog’ne)
PLATE XXIII, Fic. 7, 8
In its general appearance this butterfly closely resembles
P. comma, but it can be readily distinguished by the form of
the silvery mark, which is L-shaped and tapers toward the
ends.
Two forms of this species occur, the lighter form, P. progne
progne, in which the ground tint of the upper surface of all of
the wings is concolorous ; and the tail at the end of vein M,
of the hind wings tapers gently with the tip broadly rounded.
And the darker form, P. progne Largentum, which has the
hind wings obscured above with dusky tints; the submargi-
nal series of fulvous spots nearly obliterated; the L-shaped
mark of the lower side slenderer, with the longitudinal limb
much shorter than the other, by which it approaches more
the exact form of an L, or is wholly obliterated ; and with the
tail at the end of vein M, of the hind wings almost trian-
gular. The difference in color between these two forms is
“not as marked as in the case of the two forms of the violet-tip.
143
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
CATERPILLAR.—About one inch long when mature. The
body is yellowish brown marked with greenish black. Its
spines are branched and mostly black. A pair of long slen-
der spines are on the top of the head. Feeds openly, and lifts
the tail and twists the head at right angles when resting.
Looks like a yellow leaf.
Food-plants—Currant, gooseberry, and elm.
This is another frequenter of woodsy paths
and roads, and would be difficult to distinguish
from the green comma were it not for the wide
angled L embroidered on the lower wing. The
upper surface of the hind wing is shaded from
coffee-color at center out to a darker edge,
and in this the coffee-colored spots near the
margin are not half circles as in the green com-
ma, but are mere points of color. The lower
side of the wings is made up of many wavy lines
of ashen hue. These fine lines on the beautifully
shaded background look like woof and warp in
more or less diagonal pattern extending across the
inner dark half of the wing as well as through
the light band and the dark edges where they fol-
low the jagged margin in a weft of beautiful
points and scallops. There is nothing from na-
ture’s looms that so fills one with the sense of
inadequacy of words for description as the under
surface of the gray comma’s wing. The butterfly
144
THE NYMPHS
knows the use of the wings too, for they are to it
the invisible cloak of the fairy tale. We saw one
the other day basking in the middle of a some-
what muddy wood-road. The shining red copper
of its upper wings made ita most striking object.
As we approached, it suddenly disappeared and
we were unable to point it out to our compan-
ions. But when we took another step and came
too close it dashed up above our heads and was
lost to our sight before we could exclaim ; at the
first disturbance it had simply closed its wings
and thus disappeared. It is frequently found in
orchards where the fallen and decaying fruit gives
it a tipple.
The gray comma abjures the world while the
October sun is still warm and hides itself and
goes to sleep to be awakened by the first balmy
breezes of spring.
The caterpillar, while giving preference to the
wild currant and gooseberry, sometimes takes ad-
vantage of the cultivated species.
This species occurs in Canada and in the
northern portion of the United States, except in
the extreme West.
145
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE Compton ToRTOISE
Lugonta j-album (Eu-go'ni-a j-al/bum)
Fic. 34
This butterfly resembles in its general appearance those of
the genus Po/ygonia, but it is sharply distinguished from them
by the inner margin of the fore wings being nearly straight,
by the heavier markings of the fore wings, and by the pres-
ence of a whitish spot on both fore and hind wings, near the
apex between two larger black patches. On the lower sur-
face of the hind wings there is a small L-shaped silvery bar.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-half to twoinches. It
is greenish in color, more or less speckled and striped with
lighter hues. Its head and its body bear black, bristly spines
like the caterpillars of the preceding genus. The caterpillars
feed in flocks and are rarely found.
Food-plants —White birch and willow.
This butterfly, though larger than the Poly-
gonias, strikingly resembles them in the cut of the
wings, except that the inner margins of the front
wings are straight. Not because it is so slow
is it called tortoise, but because of the shades
of brown and red and ochre yellow beautifully
blended on the upper surface of its wings which
resemble the tints of the tortoise-shell. The white
spot on each wing is so placed as to heighten by
contrast the rich velvety hues. While its color-
ing above is quite different from that of the Pol-
ygonias, it is very like them in the intricate pat-
146
THE NYMPHS
tern of shaded brown that covers the under side
of the wings. On the hind wing also may ap-
pear a small wide-angled L. Looked at one way
on one wing this does resemble a J somewhat,
and as it is wrought in white there is some faint
reason for calling the species 7-a/éum. However,
this white initial is sometimes omitted altogether.
Fic. 34.—The Compton tortoise.
The Compton tortoise, like the Polygonias,
haunts glades and wood roads. It is a swift flyer
and hard to capture, as it has the Polygonia trick
of folding its wings and disappearing against the
bark of a tree or the leafy floor. The butterfly
issues from a greenish gold-trimmed chrysalis
about the first of July; it flies all summer, and un-
daunted by the exigencies of butterfly life it seeks
a hibernating place in late October or November.
147
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
It awakens from its winter sleep while the spring
still lingers in the lap of winter and is on the
wing at least a month before the earliest leaves of
birch and willow give it place whereon to lay its
eggs. If it is single-brooded, as is supposed, the
Compton tortoise is a Methuselah among butter-
flies as it is nearly a year on the wing.
This species occurs throughout Canada and the
northern portion of the United States east of the
Rocky Mountains.
THE MourRNING-CLOAK
Luvanessa antiopa (Eu-va-nes’sa an-ti’o-pa)
PLATE XXV, Fic. 1, 2, 35 PLATE II, Fic. 1, 2; AND FIG. 35
The wings above are purplish brown, with a broad yellow
border on the outer margin sprinkled with brown, and a sub-
marginal row of blue spots (Fig. 35); there are also two yel-
low patches on the outer half of the costal margin of the front
wings. Expanse of wings two and one-half to three and one-
half inches.
CATERPILLAR. —Length two inches. Velvety black in
body-color, covered with small, white, raised dots, which pro-
duces a pepper-and-salt effect. The spines are long and
sparsely branched. There is a row of red spots along the middle
of the back. The head has no spines. The prolegs are reddish.
Lfood-plants.—Elm, willow, poplar, and others.
In the vanguard of the spring appears this
butterfly. Before the hepatica shakes its blos-
148
PLATE XXV
THE MOURNING-CLOAK
Fig.
1. Eggs greatly enlarged.
2. Full-grown larve.
3. Butterfly just out of the chrysalis skin.
(From photographs by Professor M. V. Slingerland, colored by Mrs. Slingerland.)
Plate XXV.
THE. NYMPHS
soms out of their blankets, or the pussy-willow
lifts its fur, the mourning-cloak bravely leaves its
winter quarters ; it flutters out into the sunshine
that filters down through the leafless trees, and
seeks a little refreshment wherever the sap-tides
push through bruised bark; or it rests on some
bare mossy mound with a southern exposure and
EZ,
Fic. 35.—The mourning-cloak.
spreads out its yellow-banded purple wings in an
effort to get what warmth it may from the March
sun. How the winter-tired eyes are gladdened
by this courageous flutterer must be known by
experience rather than by description. We are
glad that our European neighbors also have the
mourning-cloak as a sign of returning spring.
The wider its cheer is extended the better for all.
cc 149
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
Our English Cousins call it ‘‘ The Camberwell
Beauty.”
The eggs are laid in clusters and are often
placed in a compact mass around a twig. Very
beautiful eggs are they; but Madam Antiopa is
a careless mathematician. Sometimes her egg
is eight- and sometimes seven-sided, the areas
marked with ridges in a highly decorative man-
ner, as may be seen in Plate XXV._ As soon as
the caterpillars emerge from the egg they arrange
themselves side by side, close together, heads just
reaching the edge of the leaf on which they feed,
making an orderly eating class in the green
school-room. They are sociable little fellows for
all their bristly spines, and live together all their
lives and often hang up near each other when
they change to chrysalids. Once when a brood
was reared in our insectary it was discovered that
when a noise was made on a tin pan or anyone
with a bass voice sang, these caterpillars would
rise as one, lifting the front half of the body
from the leaf, and would shake or tremble as if
they had the palsy. They were not disturbed
by a very loud noise, but within a certain range
they would immediately respond, and when all
were thus trembling and shaking they presented
an absurd spectacle.
150
THE ,NYMPHS
The species is two-brooded in most localities,
the second brood of caterpillars appearing in
August. It is distributed from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, and from the arctic circle to the
Gulf of Mexico.
From time to time have seen the large Vanessa antiopa rest-
ing on the black willows, like a leaf still adhering.
THOREAU.
THE AMERICAN TORTOISE-SHELL
Aglais milberti (Ag'la-is mil-ber’ti)
PLATE XXIV, Fic. 5
The wings above are brownish black with a broad orange
fulvous band between the middle and the outer margin.
There are two fulvous spots in cell R+M of the front wings,
and a submarginal row of bluish lunules on the hind wings.
Expanse of wings two inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length about one inch; body above black,
covered with whitish papille. At the sides and underneath,
greenish yellow. It is beset with bristly spines, and the black
head has two white papillz on top. The larve are gregarious
in habits.
Food-plant.—Nettle.
This butterfly does not resemble tortoise-shell
in its colors as much as does the Compton tor-
toise. It is very easily recognized while flying by
the broad orange-brown band shading into yellow
on its inner edge that crosses both wings between
151
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
the middle and outer dark margin. The edges of
its wings just suggest the angles which give the
name to the group. Its dark-brown antenne are
prettily tipped with orange brown.
It is common throughout its range and may be
found in open hilly fields that border on wood-
lands; it also frequents roadsides where the ruddy
gleam of its wings makes it conspicuous. How-
ever, the under side of the wings, dark brown
with the band of wood color, renders it invisible
when its wings are closed. It hibernates some-
times as a chrysalis and sometimes as a but-
terfly.
A favorite fairy tale of our childhood was that
of the eleven wild swans where the captive maiden
had to weave an armor of nettles which she beat
with her own delicate hands for her eleven broth-
ers to free them from the magic of a wicked witch.
Once when that tale was fresh in our fancy we
discovered eleven little caterpillars ranged closely
side by side eating the edge of a nettle leaf. As
we touched the leaf, they all raised their heads
and wagged them back and forth in concert and
we stole away in awe, never doubting that the poor
princes were again in the toils of the witch. If
we had watched the later doings of these cater-
pillars and had seen the way they cut the nettle
152
THE NYMPHS
leaves and wove them together for a house we
would have been doubly convinced of the en-
chantment; for the life of this caterpillar from the
pale-green, barrel-shaped, ten-ribbed egg to the
pale-brown or golden-green chrysalis is like a fairy
tale.
The species occurs in the northern portions of
the United States and in Canada.
THE THISTLE BUTTERFLIES
‘“4t the Sign of the Thistle” is the favorite
lounging-place of many butterflies. But the three
following species are such inveterate frequenters
of this hospice of the open fields that they have
won for themselves the name of the Thistle But-
terflies. As if in token of their allegiance to the
soft purple-pink blossoms they all wear on the
under side of their fore wings, this color intensified
so that we call it rose color when we should call
it thistle-blossom color. Above they are orange
and black with white spots, and the antennz are
tipped with orange. The caterpillars are less
spiny than those of the preceding genera and live
singly in nests made of silk and the leaves of the
food-plant. The chrysalids often have golden
tubercles. These three butterflies have a wide
153
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
range, following the cosmopolitan thistle wherever
it flaunts its sign.
THE RED ADMIRAL
Vanessa atalanta (Va-nes'sa at-a-lan’ta)
PLATE XXVI, Fic. 1, 2
The wings are purplish black above. On the fore wing
there is a bright orange-colored band beginning near the
middle of the costa, and extending nearly to the anal angle ;
between this and the apex of the wing are several white spots ;
on the hind wing there is an orange band on the outer margin
enclosing a row of black spots. The lower surface of the
wings is shown on the plate. Expanse of wings two and one-
fourth to three inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-fourth inches; it
varies much in color, being usually dull yellow mottled with
black, and with a yellow stripe along the side. The head has
no spines, but the body has both branching spines and hairs.
Food-plants.—Nettle, hop.
This most striking butterfly has a cultivated
taste and is a frequenter of sunny gardens on
both continents. Its blue-black wings, the front
ones spotted with white and with a “bias” band
of orange red and the hind ones margined with
red, make it so conspicuous that even those who
are acquainted with only three or four butterflies
know the red admiral. However, the lower side
of the wings is the more beautiful, the “bias”
154
Fig.
. The Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta.
. The Red Admiral, lower side of wings.
An FW NH
PLATE XXVI
THE THISTLE BUTTERFLIES
The Painted Beauty, Vanessa huntera.
The Painted Beauty, lower side of wings.
. The Cosmopolite, Vanessa cardut.
. The Cosmopolite, lower side of wings.
Plate XXVI,
THE NYMPHS
band being of exquisite deep rose color shading
off at each end to pale pink, and between it and
the large white spot is an irregular oval outlined
in blue purple. The hind wings have an elabo-
rate peacock-feather border wrought in browns
varying from dark to pale wood color. In fact
the under side of the red admiral’s wings is won-
derful both in color and pattern. It is unfortunate
that after death the rose color disappears, leaving
only the copper red of the upper side, so that
this insect shows its real color only when it is
alive.
When we wonder what nettles were made for
we had best ask the question of the red admiral
caterpillar. If we ask it with diligence, we will
get the answer from a baby caterpillar ina new
leaf at the top of the plant which it has lined
and drawn together for protection and food ; or
from a larger caterpillar under a leaf lower down
which has been gnawed at the midrib near its
base and made to droop and thus fashioned into
a tent. Each time it molts, this caterpillar turns
civil engineer and architect and constructs a
new abode of a leaf. These tents are covered
above but open below, and may be easily found
because of the wilting leaf. The chrysalis is
often hung in the last tent and is an exquisite
he)
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
little object, brown and ashen with golden
spots.
There are two broods; both butterflies and
chrysalids hibernate, but the wintering butter-
flies remain long in their winter quarters, being
seldom seen before the second week in May.
This butterfly occurs over nearly the whole of
the European and North American continents.
Tue PaInTED BEAUTY
Vanessa huntera (Va-nes'sa hun’te-ra)
PuLaTE XXVI, Fic. 3, 4
The wings above are very dark brownish black, with large
irregular spots of golden orange. In the apical portion of
the fore wings there are several white spots. The lower sur-
face of the wings is represented on the Plate. A characteris-
tic feature is the presence of ¢wo submarginal eyelike spots
on the hind wing. Expanse of wings two inches to two
and one-half inches.
CATERPILLAR.
Length one and one-fourth inches. The
color of the body velvety black with narrow cross lines of
yellow ; and there is a silvery white spot on each side of each
of the posterior segments, making a row of white spots on each
side of the rear two-thirds of the caterpillar, The head has
no spines, but the body has rows of bristly spines.
Lood-plants.—Everlasting (Graphalium), and allied plants.
This butterfly may be seen along roadsides
from May until November, from morning until
156
THE NYMPHS
nearly sunset, hanging in apparent bliss to the
red purple blossoms of the thistle, fitfully lifting
itself to thrust its tongue down in another place,
opening wide its orange-yellow and black wings,
then shutting them to show the delicate rose
color of the under side of the front wings and
the two eye-spots of the hind wings. In watch-
ing it on its favorite flower one wonders if that
rose color on the under side of the front wings
is not protective, it harmonizes so well with the
pink of the blossom.
Much might be expected of a butterfly which
receives its early nourishment from the immor-
telle. Most interesting is the habit of the cater-
pillar when just from the egg. Mr. Scudder tells
us it constructs a mat of the silken hair of the
leaf of the everlasting woven together with its
silk, and beneath this it hides and feeds. Later
it fastens two of the leaves together and feeds
therein, and later in the season delights in eating
the blossoms, which it encloses in a web. It
hibernates as a chrysalis sometimes, but oftener
as a butterfly, not leaving its winter quarters
before the middle of May.
The species occurs in Ontario and nearly the
whole of the United States.
Heng
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE CoSMOPOLITE
Vanessa cardut (Va-nes'sa car'du-i)
PLATE XXVI, Fic. 5, 6
This butterfly resembles the preceding very closely in color
and markings. There is, however, a smaller proportion of
orange markings; and on the lower surface of the hind wings
there is a submarginal row of four or five eyelike spots. Ex-
panse of wings two and one-half to three inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-fourth inches. The
head is dark colored and has hairs on the top instead of spines.
The body is dull greenish yellow mottled with black, and has
a brighter yellow stripe along the side. The spines are
bristly and yellowish in color.
Food-plants.—Thistle, mallow, everlasting.
Nothing makes us feel more neighborly to
Europe, Asia, Japan and Australia than to realize
that the butterfly we saw this morning hovering
over the thistle blossoms in the pasture is haunt-
ing the thistle blossoms of these diverse coun-
tries. The cosmopolite is the most widely dis-
tributed of any of our butterfly species; only South
America and the Arctic regions are unfavored by
the presence of this beautiful creature. It isa
strong flyer and has been discovered hundreds of
miles out at sea; and there are records that it
migrates in flocks from clime to clime. On its
rose-lined wings it rises to the cold heights of
158
THE NYMPHS
the Rockies, the White Mountains, the Alps,
and the mountains of Asia. On these same
exquisite wings it hovers over the open fields
of India, Italy, Spain, Mexico and New Zea-
land, and over the tropical foliage of the Pacific
Islands.
The colors and markings of the cosmopolite on
the upper side of the wings are so like those of
the preceding species that even the eyes of ex-
perts might not distinguish the two. The under
side of the front wings bears the same rose-colored
band, but each hind wing of the cosmopolite
bears near the margin four small eye-spots in-
stead of two large ones as with the painted
beauty. In fact the under side of the hind
wings of the cosmopolite, with its eye-spots set
in complicated patterns of white and brown
and purple tints, looks like a web from Persian
looms.
One would think that the caterpillar would feel
quite protected by the sharp “prickers” that cover
its food plant, but from the beginning it protects
itself with a nest. At first it lives beneath a leaf
covered by a web. Then it takes possession of
the upper side, drawing the leaf together for pro-
tection. Then it makes a nest of several leaves
held together by a web which has woven into it
159
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
in exposed places bits of the leaves and the thistle
spines bitten off for the purpose. The pretty
pearly, greenish or bluish chrysalid seamed with
black and banded with pale brown and set with
gilt tubercles may be found in the last nest of the
caterpillar. In the northern United States the
butterfly is double-brooded and winters in the
adult stage. In Southern countries the cosmop-
olite is on the wing all winter.
Over the fields where the brown quails whistle,
Over the ferns where the rabbits lhe,
Floats the tremulous down of a thistle.
Is it the soul of a butterfly ?
HIGGINSON.
Tue BucKEYE
Junonia cenia (Ju-no’ni-a coe'ni-a)
PLATE XXIV, Fic. 3
The wings above are blackish brown; on each there are
two eye-spots, a large one and a small one; the small one of
the fore wings issometimes obscure. On the fore wings there
are two transverse fulvous bars in cell R + M, and an oblique
whitish band beyond these, which: arises on the costal margin
and extends to the larger eye-spot. Expanse of wings two
inches to two and one-half inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-fourth inches. It is
dark gray in color with yellow lengthwise stripes and is spotted
160
THE NYMPHS
with yellow or orange. It bears short, branching spines, one
pair being on the top of the head. It feeds without cover.
food-plants—Gerardin, especially the figworts, snapdragon,
and plantain.
From the Gulf States there comes northward
varying distances each season a butterfly bearing
on the upper side of its wings six large eye-spots.
Of these the front wings bear two and the hind
wings four. Its ground color of olive green
banded and margined with copper and decorated
with eye-spots makes this butterfly very striking in
appearance. On the lower side the eye-spots are
represented by indistinct dots on the hind wings
or very small ocelli. Strangely enough, in the
latter case the larger spot on the upper side is
transformed into two small ones on the under side.
But look at this butterfly, holding it under side
toward you, and you will see the use of the eyes
on the front wings. These, set in an irregular
band of flesh color, make the creature look like
an owl’s head with great staring eyes. It would
require great temerity on the part of a bird to
go near a flower that carried on its farther side
such eyes as these.
The buckeye loves open fields, and is es-
pecially saucy and impudent to other butterflies.
It is many-brooded in the South, but prob-
161
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
ably has a single brood late in the season in the
North.
And_I admired and took my part
With crowds of happy things the while :
With open velvet butterflies
That swung and spread their peacock eyes,
As if they cared no more to rise
From off their beds of camomile.
JEAN INGELOW,
THE SOVEREIGNS
The sovereigns differ from other nymphs in having the club
of the antennz marked with four slightly elevated lines, and
in that the first three veins of the hind wings separate at the
same point (Fig. 30). In the other nymphs the humeral
vein arises beyond this point. The club of the antennz is
very long, and increases in size so gradually that it is difficult
to determine where it begins. In its thickest part it is hardly
more than twice as broad as the stalk. The palpi are slender,
and the wings are rounded.
The larvee present a very grotesque appearance, being very
irregular in form, and strongly mottled or spotted with
color.
Only a single genus is represented in the eastern United
States. The species can be separated as follows :
A. Ground color of wings black.
B. Wings with a transverse white bow.
162
THE NYMPHS
C. White bow of wings broad and extending across both
wings. (B. arthemis), p. 167.
THE BANDED PURPLE.
CC. White bow of wings narrow and more or less im-
perfect. (B. proserpina), p. 170.
THE Hyprip PURPLE.
BB. Wings without any white bow. (B. astyanax), p. 166.
THE RED-SPOTTED PURPLE.
AA. Ground color of wings orange or red brown.
B. Ground color of wings orange. (B. archippus), p. 170.
THE VICEROY.
BB. Ground color of wings red brown. (LB. jloridensis),
p- 173. THE VICE-REINE.
The especially interesting feature of this group
is found in the caterpillar habits.
The egg is laid on the tip of the leaf of the
food-plant and as soon as the little caterpillar
hatches it begins feeding across the end of the
leaf, leaving the midrib. It feeds only by night,
and during the day rests stretched out on this
bare midrib, which it upholsters in silk and stiff-
ens with bits of the leaf woven in, as Mr. Scud-
der thinks, to keep the denuded midrib from curl-
ing. After a little it makes a bundle out of bits
of the leaf and fastens this on the midrib next to
the uneaten portion ; as it eats the leaf it moves
this bundle down. This seems to be a method
163
HOW TO. KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
of diverting the attention of any of its foes,
which should they start out exploring the mid-
rib and encounter this worthless bundle would
straightway turn back in disgust. After the sec-
ond molt it rests by day on a twig or a leaf-
petiole.
At first the caterpillar is cylindrical in shape
though somewhat warty, but as it molts it changes
form and becomes most grotesque in appearance.
It is humpy and spiny, and the enlarged second
thoracic segment bears two tall branched spines
like the pompons of a drum-major. It has sev-
eral absurd habits; sometimes it rests with its
head bent and the pompons touching the leaf and
its tail in the air as if it were trying to stand on
its head; or it moves fitfully and sometimes
trembles and shakes as if it were experiencing a
chill. Mr. Scudder says that it leans its head on
the leaf or by the side of the stem on which it is
resting as if ‘‘ weary of this world” ; and when at-
tacked, swings the head in a “ ferocious fashion.”
The chrysalis is peculiar in shape. The back of
the second abdominal segment bears a large ex-
crescence that has been compared to a ‘‘ Roman
nose.”
Most of the species are two-brooded in the
North, and some of them are three-brooded. The
164
THE NYMPHS
story of a caterpillar of this latest brood is very
interesting. It feeds on the tip of the leaf as de-
scribed, but when about one-third grown it chooses
a leaf and eats from the top about a third the way
down. It then fastens the petiole of this leaf to
the twig so that it will surely stay all winter ;
then covering the upper surface of the leaf with
a film of silk it draws it together lengthwise
above itself, making a tube just large enough to
hold its precious person; it then lines this tube
with silk. Thisis its winter home, and when done
the caterpillar crawls into it head first, the warty
last segment of the body fitting nicely the open-
ing and making a living door; and there it re-
mains until the first buds of spring call it out to
a vernal breakfast.
In case of the species which are two-brooded
the question is, How does this caterpillar know
how to make this winter house? It does it while
the summer is still warm, sometimes in August
when there is no suggestion of cold or winter
fasting. Its parents made no such house, and if
it inherited the habit it must have been from its
grandparents. This is one of the many mysteries
of butterfly life which we with our coarse senses
are not likely to fathom.
12 165
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE ReED-SPOTTED PURPLE
Basilarchia astyanax (Bas-i-lar'chi-a as-ty’a-nax)
PLATE XXVII, Fic. 3
The upper surface of the wings is velvety indigo-black
tinged with blue or green. ‘There are three rows of blue or
green spots on the outer third of the hind wings ; the spots of
the inner row vary greatly in width in different individuals.
On the lower surface there is a reddish orange spot in cell
R + M of the fore wings, and one on the medial cross-veins ;
on the hind wings there are two orange spots similarly situ-
ated, a third at the base of cell R,, and a row of seven spots
just within a double row of submarginal blue or green spots.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-half inches. The
body is naked and humpy and bears various tubercles. In
color it is mottled and streaked and blotched with brown and
green and buff. The large tubercles on the second thoracic
segment are thorny, and dark in color.
Food-plants.—Plum, thorn-apple, and other rosacee. How-
ever, it is a general feeder.
For beautiful and rich iridescence nothing can
surpass the upper side of the wings of the red-
spotted purple when it is flitting about in the
sunshine. The front wings are velvety, reddish
at the tips and purple black at the middle. The
hind wings show a dark metallic green, while the
triple rows of spots near the edge take on various
hues of blue and green and purple. The under
side of the wings is olive brown with rather con-
166
PLATE XXVII
THE PURPLES
Fig.
1. The Banded Purple, Basilarchia arthemis.
2. The Hybrid Purple, Basilarchia proser pina.
3. The Red-spotted Purple, Basilarchia astyanax.
Plate XXVII.
THE NYMPHS
ventional markings of red spots. It is somehow
surprising to find the wings so rich above and so
smooth and ordinary beneath ; it reminds one of
the right and wrong side of velvet. This sover-
eign loves shady roads, and is addicted to the
refuse of the road, which, according to butterfly
standards, is anything but waste material.
This species occurs throughout nearly the whole
of the eastern United States. But it is not found
in the northern parts of New England and New
York.
The butterfly the ancient Grecians made
The soul’s fair emblem, and its only name.
COLERIDGE,
THE BaNDED PURPLE
Basilarchia arthemis (Bas-i-lar'chi-a ar’the-mis)
PLATE XXVII, Fic. 1
The upper surface of the wings is velvety chocolate-black,
marked with a conspicuous white bow extending from the
middle of the costal margin of the front wings to near the
anal angle of the hind wings. On the lower surface the wings
are marked much as in the red-spotted purple with the addi-
tion of the white bow. Expanse of wings nearly three inches.
Length one and one-fourth inches ; color
CATERPILLAR.
of the body, various shades of green and greenish brown with
a saddle of pale buff, almost white. Its body is naked and
167
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
humpy ; a large pair of spiny tubercles ornament the second
thoracic segment.
Food-plants.—Birch, poplar, shadbush; it prefers black
birch.
We have had an intimate acquaintance with two
individual banded purples. One haunted a road
over which we passed frequently on our wheels.
It is a beautiful road, bordered on one side by
a high tree-covered bank, and on the other by a
wide stream above the foaming waters of which
the black and yellow birch love to lean. Every
time we passed this spot we saw our banded
purple spreading its white-banded, velvety wings
in the patches of sunlight that filtered between
the overhanging trees. It was always there and
alone ; as we approached it would flutter up over
our heads but soon returned to the preferred
place. The other banded purple took up its
abode on a side hill covered with young ash-trees
and larches very near our house. This one was
particularly fond of flying up among the branches
of a chestnut oak, in front of a second story win-
dow where we could watch it at our leisure the
while it moved briskly about on the leaves. It
spent the entire summer basking on the ground
and promenading on the leaves in the sunlight,
and thus day by day grew into our thoughts and
168
THE NYMPHS
finally into our affections. Mr. Scudder says
when these butterflies are numerous they are very
social, crowding against each other on moist
ground much to the detriment of their handsome
wings. Probably the species is rarer in our
vicinity, for our experience has always been with
lonely individuals who spent their whole lives
within a radius of a few yards. While the broad,
white band across the black velvety wings first
attracts the eye to this species, the hind wings are
beautifully iridescent with blue and green and
often ornamented with dark red spots. On the
under side of the wings the red spots and white
bands show against a brown background. The
species is double-brooded; and is essentially
northern, being a Canadian species which extends
a short distance into the northern part of the
United States.
There he arriving, round about doth flie
From bed to bed, from one to other border ;
And takes survey, with curious busie eye,
Of every flowre and herbe there set in order ;
Now this, now that, he tasteth tenderly,
Yet none of them he rudely doth disorder,
Ne with his feete their silken leaves deface,
But pastures on the pleasures of each place.
SPENSER.
169
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THe Hyprip PURPLE
Basilarchia proserpina (Bas-i-lar'chi-a pro-ser’pi-na)
PLatTE XXVII, Fic. 2
There is a form of basilarchia which was described as a
distinct species under the name froserpfina, which is now
believed by Scudder to be a hybrid between astyanax and
arthemis, and by Edwards to be a dimorphic form of arthemis.
This butterfly has the coloring of astyanax, with the addition
of a portion of the white bow of arthemis. It occurs in a
narrow belt of country extending from southern Wisconsin
and northern Illinois eastward to the Atlantic coast of New
England. It should be noted that this is the region which
forms the southern limit of the range of arthemis and the
northern limit of the range of astyanax, the place where the
two species meet. The hybrid purple varies greatly.
THE VICEROY
Bastlarchia archippus (Bas-i-lar’chi-a ar-chip’pus)
PLATE XXVIII, Fic. 2
The wings vary in color from a dull yellow orange tinged
slightly with brown to a dark cinnamon color ; they are bor-
dered with black, and all the veins are edged with the same
color. The fringe of the wings is spotted with white, and the
black border on the outer margin contains a row of white
spots.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length about an inch ; body humped and
naked, with many tubercles. In color it is dark brownish
yellow or olive green, with a pale buff or whitish saddle on the
170
PLATE XXVIII
THE MONARCHS AND THEIR MIMICS
Fig.
1. The Monarch, Anosta plexippus, female.
2. The Viceroy, Basilarchia archip pus.
3. The Queen, Anosia berenice.
4. The Vice-reine, Basilarchia floridensis.
Plate XXVIII.
THE NYMPHS
middle segment of theabdomen. The tubercles on the second
thoracic segment are club-shaped and spiny.
food-plants.—Willow and poplar.
This species is remarkable for its resemblance
to the monarch (A nosza plexippus). But aside
from the structural characters separating the two
subfamilies which these butterflies represent, the
viceroy can be easily distinguished from the
species it mimics by its smaller size, and by the
presence of a transverse black band on the hind
wings.
It is believed that the resemblance of these two
species is not merely accidental, but is a result of
the action of the law of natural selection. The
butterflies of the family to which the monarch
belongs, the milkweed butterflies, are exempt
from the attacks of birds. It is supposed that
this exemption is due to the possession by these
butterflies of a disagreeable odor. With such an
odor the conspicuous coloring of the butterflies is
protective, the birds soon learning that such but-
terflies are not fit for food. And it can be seen
that these birds will naturally leave undisturbed
any other butterflies that resemble the ill-smelling
ones, even though they do not possess a similar
odor. According to the theory of natural selec-
tion these resemblances have been produced as
171
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
follows: In the case of a variable species that is
unprotected by any disagreeable quality, any
variation toward a protected species will tend to
preserve the life of the individual possessing it.
And in turn such offspring of these individuals as
still more nearly resemble the protected species
will be most likely to be preserved. The con-
tinued action of this natural selection will result
in producing a species that closely resembles the
protected one, even though it may be very dif-
ferent structurally from the one that it. mimics.
Many instances of unconscious mimicry of this
kind are known. They are especially abundant
in the tropics where the foul-smelling heliconians
are most abundant. The bad odor of these but-
terflies when living is so marked that it can be
detected by the human nose ; and it is found that
many species of them are mimicked by other
butterflies, and especially those of the Pieride.
The mimicry is not confined to similarity in
coloring, but extends to the shape of the wings
and manner of flight.
The larva of the viceroy feeds upon willow,
poplar, balm of gilead, aspen, and cottonwood.
The species is two- or three-brooded, and _ hiber-
nates as a partially grown larva in a nest made of
a rolled leaf. This nest is lined with silk, and the
172
THE NYMPHS
leaf is fastened to the twig with silk so that it can
not fall during the winter. Mr. Scudder states
that so far as is known to him all of the species
of the sovereigns hibernate as larve in nests of
this kind. It is worthy of note that only the
autumn brood of caterpillars make these nests.
So that the nest-building instinct appears only in
alternate generations, or even less frequently
when the species is more than two-brooded. JZ.
archippus is found over nearly the whole of the
United States as far west as the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, and has been found sparingly even to
the Pacific coast near our northern boundaries.
As Anosta plexippus has been termed the mon-
arch, this species is aptly called the viceroy.
THE VICE-REINE
Bastlarchia floridensis (Bas-i-lar’chi-a flor-i-den’sis)
PLATE XXVIII, Fic. 4
This species closely resembles the viceroy, &. archippus,
except that it is of a much darker color. It is found in
Georgia and Florida, and is supposed to mimic the queen,
Anosia berenice, hence the popular name suggested above.
THE EMPERORS
The butterflies of this group are found chiefly in the south-
ern part of our country. The three most common species
can be separated as follows :
173
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
A. Apex of fore wings strongly falcate; hind wings tailed.
(A. andria), p. 177. THE GOATWEED EMPEROR.
AA. Wings neither falcate nor tailed.
B. Front wings with a brown eyelike spot in cell Cu,.
(C. celtis), p. 174. THE Gray EMPEROR.
BB. Front wing without a brown eyelike spot. (C. clyton),
p- 175. THE Tawny EMPEROR.
THE Gray EMPEROR
Chlorippe celtis (Chlo-rip’pe cel’tis)
PLATE XXIX, Fic. 1, 3
In this and the following species the apex of the front
wings and the anal angle of the hind wings are considerably
produced in the males, but more rounded in the females.
The club of the antennz is quite broad and distinct. In
this species the wings are russety brown marked with blackish
brown. ‘There is a submarginal row of six eyelike spots on
the hind wings and one in cell Cu, of the fore wings. In the
fore wings there are also two brown spots and a bar in cell
R-+M. The front wings are also crossed by two irregular
rows of white spots. Expanse of wings about two inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-fourth inches. The
green face has four paler green stripes on it; there are
spines at the side and two long forked tubercles on the top of
the head. The body is naked, yellowish green above and
bluish green at the sides.
Lood-plant.—Hackberry.
The gray emperor resembles the tawny em-
peror quite closely, except that it is smaller and
174
An £WwW NH
PLATE XXIX
THE EMPERORS
. The Gray Emperor, Chlorippe celtis, female.
. The Tawny Emperor, Chilorippe clyton, male.
The Gray Emperor, Chlorip pe celtis, male.
. The Tawny Emperor, Chlorippe clyton, female.
. The Goatweed Emperor, Ane@a andria, female.
. The Goatweed Emperor, An@a andria, male.
Plate XXIX.
THE NYMPHS
duller in color and more slender and graceful in
shape. It is a long-lived butterfly and may be
found during the entire season. The caterpillar
is similar in habit to that of the goatweed em-
peror. It lines the upper surface of the leaf
with silk, causing it to roll up, making a more or
less secure nest.
The gray emperor is partially double-brooded.
Some of the caterpillars of the first brood finish
their growth in a great hurry and change to
adults, while others of the same brood dawdle
along and hibernate. The species extends from
southern Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois south-
ward.
Lastly his shinie wings as silver bright,
Painted with thousand colors passing farre
All painters’ skill, he did about him dight :
Not halfe so manie sundrie colours arre
In iris bowe ; ne heaven doth shine so bright,
Distinguished with manie a twinckling starre ;
Nor Junoes bird, in her ey-spotted traine,
So many goodly colours doth containe.
SPENSER.
Tue Tawny EMPEROR
Chlorippe clyton (Chlo-rip’pe cly’ton)
PLaTE XXIX, Fic, 2,
This species agrees with the preceding in the structural
features mentioned above. The wings are more or less
175
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
obscure tawny, marked with blackish brown, and with pale
spots. The arrangement of the spots is similar to that in the
preceding species, except that the outer spot in cell Cu, of
the fore wings is not brown and eyelike. Expanse of wings
two to three inches.
The species is dimorphic ; the dimorphism affects both sexes
and is independent, so far as is known, of season, as there is
only one brood each year. The typical form, Chlorippe clyton
chyton, has a submarginal row of six eyelike spots on the hind
wings. The second form, Chlorippe clyton proserpina, differs
in having the hind wings darker and the submarginal row of
eyelike spots wanting.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-half inches. Head
pale green with spines along the sides and two large branched
tubercles on top. Body naked, with green, yellow and white
stripes extending from head to forked tail.
food-plant.—Hackberry.
The tawny and gray emperors must belong to
a different dynasty than does the goatweed
emperor, for they resemble the latter in no par-
ticular to the unpractised eye. The front wings
of the tawny resemble those of the fritillaries,
and its hind wings remind one of the meadow-
browns. There is one form of the tawny em-
peror that has the upper side of the hind wings
almost solidly brown.
The eggs are laid closely packed on a leaf, and
the caterpillars when they first hatch arrange
176
THE NYMPHS
themselves side by side in a compact row; and
beginning at the tip of a leaf eat backward,
leaving behind them nothing but the hard, tough
ribs. They are quite luxurious young princes
and make silken paths for themselves wherever
they go. After the third molt the eating class
is broken up and each member goes off boldly
and without concealment to try its fortune alonc;
at this stage it is a royal-looking caterpillar, and
has a pair of antlers on its head that are truly
magnificent.
The tawny emperor belongs to the South, al-
though it has been found as far north as Ohio.
It has only one brood per year, and the cater-
pillars when about half grown hibernate on the
ground among the fallen leaves.
THE GOATWEED EMPEROR
Anea andria (A-ne'a an'dri’a)
PLATE XXIX, Fic. 5, 6
This butterfly is sharply distinguished from all other but-
terflies found in our fauna by the striking form of its wings.
The wings of the male are rich dark orange margined with
brown ; those of the female are paler orange margined with
brown, and with a very irregular, transverse, broad, paler
band crossing both wings, and edged on either side with dark
brown.
177
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
CaTERPILLAR.—Length one and one-half inches. Color
grayish green covered with many raised points. The head is
gray green ornamented at the sides with small tubercles which
are a little larger on the crown.
Food-plant.—Goatweed.
Butterflies are like people in many important
particulars. One of these points of similarity is
that some of them attract us and some repel, and
we can not explain why. A case in point is the
goatweed emperor; though it has handsome
orange-red wings banded with yellow and mar-
gined with brown, and has the tips of the front
and hind wings extended in graceful points, yet
the authors of this book in a confidential mo-
ment confessed to each other that they had
never liked this butterfly ; and both agreed that
they would rather have on their premises one
impudent, meddling American copper than all
the goatweed emperors in the world; and yet,
perhaps it is hardly fair to bias public opinion by
expressing such an unreasonable prejudice in
print.
The caterpillar, like those of the sovereigns, at
first eats the tip of the leaf, leaving the midrib on
which it rests. Later it spreads a silken mat on
the upper surface of a leaf, drawing the edges
together above it; hiding in this nest it proceeds
178
THE NYMPHS
to eat away the base of the leaf until it has actu-
ally eaten itself ‘out of house and home”; then
it moves on to another site and goes through a
like performance. When nearly grown it seems
to gain wisdom, and late in the afternoon it often
leaves its home temporarily and feeds on neigh-
boring leaves. The goatweed butterfly is found
in the Western States from Ilinois to Texas. It
is double-brooded, and hibernates as a butterfly.
When chirping crickets fainter cry
And pale stars blossom in the sky,
And twilight’s gloom had dimmed the bloom
And blurred the butterfly.
James Wuitcome RILFyY.
179
FAMILY V
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
Family Agapetidz (Ag-a-pet’i-de)
This family includes chiefly brown butterflies whose mark-
ings consist almost entirely of eyelike spots. Some Western
sd A
ed A
Fic. 36.—Venation of the wings Fic. 37.—Venation of the wings
of Cercyonis alope. of Enodia portlandia.
species, however, are bright-colored. Our forms can be easily
recognized by their having some of the veins of the fore wings
greatly swollen at the base (Fig. 36).
The larve are cylindrical, tapering more or less toward
each end. The caudalsegment is bifurcated, a character that
180
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
distinguishes them from all other American butterfly larvae ex-
cepting those of some of the emperors (Chlorippe).
The chrysalids are rounded ; in some cases the transforma-
tion takes place beneath rubbish on the ground without any
preparation of cell or suspension of the body.
Nearly fifty species have been described from America north
of Mexico. The more common species of the East are de-
scribed below and can be separated by the following table :
A. Eyes very hairy ; veins M, and Cu, of the hind wings aris-
ing together at the apex of cell R + M (Fig. 37).
B. Outer margin of hind wings angled at the end of vein M,
(Fig. 37). (E. portlandia), p. 189. THe Peary Eve.
BB. Outer margin of hind wings evenly rounded. (S. can-
thus), Pp. 191. THe Eyrep Brown.
AA. Eyes naked or nearly so; veins M, and Cu, of the hind
wings arising separately, vein Cu, arising before the apex of
cell R + M (Fig. 36).
B. Upper surface of the fore wings with eye-spots.
C. Upper surface of hind wings usually with two large
eye-spots, one each in cells M, and Cu, and sometimes
asmaller one in cell Cu. Expanse of wings about
one and one-half inches. (C. eurytus), p. 197.
Tue LitTLE Woop-satyr.
CC. Upper surface of hind wings either without spots or
with a small one in cell Cu,. Expanse of wings two
inches or more.
D. Large species, expanding two and one-half inches ;
eye-spots of fore wings on an orange-yellow band.
(C. pegala), p. 188.
THE SOUTHERN WooD-NYMPH.
13 181
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
DD. Smaller species, expanding from two to two and
three-eighths inches. (C. alope).
E. Eye-spots of fore wings enclosed in a common,
perfectly distinct pale yellow band. (C. alope
alope), p. 185. THE BLUE-EYED GRAYLING.
EE. Eye-spots of fore wings enclosed in a very indis-
tinct common pale band or none at all. (C. alope
nephele), p. 185. THE DULL-EYED GRAYLING.
EEE. Eye-spots of fore wings on upper surface en-
closed in yellow rings or each on a yellow spot,
p- 185. Hyprip GRAYLINGS.
EEEE. Eye-spots of the fore wings on a reddish
yellow band. (C. alope maritima), p. 185.
THE SEA-COAST GRAYLING.
BB. Upper surface of fore wings without eye-spots.
C. Lower surface of hind wings mottled but without dis-
tinct spots; an alpine species found in the White
Mountains. (C@. norna), p. 193.
THE WHITE MountTaINn BUTTERFLY.
CC. Lower surface hind wings with distinct spots.
D. Upper surface of hind wings with indistinct black-
ish spots near the outer margin. (/V. gemma),
p. 194. THE GEMMED Brown.
DD. Upper surface of hind wings without spots.
E. Eye-spots on the lower surface of hind wings
elongate. (JV. phocion), p. 196.
THE GEORGIAN SATYR.
EE. Eye-spots on the lower surface of the hind wings
circular. (C. sosybius), p. 199.
THE CAROLINIAN SATYR.
182
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
To the one who delves in butterfly literature it
is apparent that the writers evince an interest
which borders on affection for the meadow-
browns—a _ personal attitude not accorded to
many species far more beautiful in color and in
form. This sentiment is expressed first of all in
a delightful nomenclature, which appeals to the
imagination. Wood-nymphs, . satyrs, graylings,
and meadow-browns are the various names given
to these butterflies whose dull-colored wings are
diversified rather than ornamented with blackish
eye-spots. Perhaps this favoritism is due to the
interesting places where they are found ; for they
haunt the open woods and grassy glades and
meadows that are fringed with forest mantle and
fly aimlessly up and down peaceful bramble-
bordered lanes. Their flight Mr. Scudder aptly
describes as of peaceful, wavering, dancing char-
acter, and not sustained. Their colors are so
inconspicuous that they naturally seek protection
in hiding rather than in strong flight.
The caterpillars feed only by night ; they are
sluggish, and trust to their coloring and form for
protection. Their color resembles that of the
food-plant ; the body tapers smoothly from the
middle toward each end, the forked tail lying close
to the leaf or stem, making the insect seem to be
183
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
a swollen portion of blade or stalk of grass or
sedge rather than a thing apart.
The satyrs are everywhere on the globe where
butterflies may live. They have some interesting
habits similar to those of moths. A few species
are known that pass the chrysalis stage in the
ground in a cell made of earth and silk; and
several species fly mostly in the twilight.
The interest which the wood-nymphs arouse in
the nature lover is something that must be felt
rather than described. It is safe to say that the
degree of pleasure experienced by startling from
its covert alow-flying grayling may be safely re-
earded as a measure of the height attained by the
butterfly connoisseur.
Flusheth the rise with her purple favor,
Gloweth the cleft with her golden ring.
’Twixt the two brown butterflies waver,
Lightly settle, and sleepily swing.
JEAN INGELOW.
THE GRAYLING
Cercyonts alope (Cer-cy'o-nis al’o-pe)
PLaTe XXX, Fic. 1, 2, 3, 4
This species is found from the Atlantic to the Pacific ; it
occurs under several forms, some of which have been described
as distinct species. The most common forms found east of
184
PLATE XXK
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
Fig.
The Blue-eyed Grayling, Cercyonis alope alope, male.
The Blue-eyed Grayling, female.
The Dull-eyed Grayling, Cercyonis alope nephele, female.
. The Dull-eyed Grayling, male.
. The Little Wood-satyr, Cissia eurytus, male.
. The Little Wood-satyr, female.
wnrH
an ff
Plate XXX.
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
the Rocky Mountains are the first two described below and
intergrades between these. Expanse two to two and one-half
inches.
(1) The Blue-eyed Grayling, Cercyonis alope alope.—The
upper surface of the wings is dark brown ; on the outer half
of the fore wings there is a distinct yellow band, wnich ex-
tends from vein R, to the anal vein ; in this band there are
two dark spots with a white or bluish centre. The hind
wing usually bears a small spot in cell Cu,, which is narrowly
rimmed with yellowish and has a minute white pupil. The
lower surface of the hind wings is either with or without eye-
like spots, usually with six of them.
This is a Southern form, which extends into the southern
portions of New England, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Nebraska ; and into the northern portions of Illi-
nois, Indiana, and Ohio.
(2) The Dull-eyed Grayling, Cercyonis alope nephele.—In
this form the yellow band of the fore wings is either absent or
represented by a faint pallid cloud. In other respects it closely
resembles the blue-eyed grayling.
This is a Northern form; the southern limits of its range
overlaps the northern limits of the range of the blue-eyed
grayling as given above.
(3) Hybrid Graylings.—In that narrow belt where the
ranges of the two forms of Cercyonis alope described above
overlap, all variations between the two types occur. In most
of these intergrades the eye-spots of the upper sides of the
fore wings are surrounded by yellowish rings, or each is on a
yellowish patch.
(4) The Sea-coast Graylings (Cercyonis alope maritima).
—In a narrow belt along the Atlantic coast there occurs a
185
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
form which is smaller than those described above, and of a
dark color ; this form is easily recognized by the color of the
band bearing the eye-spots on the fore wings, it being reddish
yellow.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length one and one-third inches. Green
in color with two lighter green or yellowish lengthwise stripes
along each side. The body is covered with down but is other-
wise naked. The slender tail ends in a shallow fork.
Lfood-plant.—Grass.
The Bluc-eyed Grayling.—The blue eyes of
this grayling are rather disappointing, partly be-
cause they are mere dots in the large black eye-
spots, scarcely noticeable from above, and partly
because they are usually lavender instead of blue;
however, on the lower sides of the wings the blue
eyes are well worth looking at. Above and be-
low the blue iris has a pupil of white at its cen-
ter. The first thing that attracts the eye to this
butterfly is never blue eyes, but rather the large
yellow band on the outer half of the front wing
against which the round black spots, each a true
‘bull’s-eye” in its appearance, shows off to great
advantage.
The blue-eyed grayling is most careless as to
the number of its decorations. Usually two eye-
spots on the front wing are reproduced with
large blue centers on the lower side; but one
of our specimens shows these ocelli with white
186
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
centers ; and one shows a small, solidly dark spot
above for the hind ocellus, which does not ap-
pear at all on the under side. ‘Some individuals
show one small light-centered spot on the hind
wing above; others show none at all. Some have
a zigzag row of six blue-centered eye-spots of
varying sizes on the lower side of the hind wing,
and others show only two, and they are obscure.
This satyr is a lover of lonely lanes and bram-
ble-covered walls and fences as well as of the
open woods. Its taste is like Lucy Larcom’s :
I like the flowers that you call weeds,
Sedge, hardhack, mullein, yarrow,
That knit their roots and sift their seeds
Where any grassy wheel-track leads
Through country byways narrow.
Mr. Edwards has observed that the blue-eyed
grayling loves to visit the hardhack flowers in the
East and the tickseed on the plains of the West.
The species is single-brooded. The caterpillar
hibernates as it hatches from the egg, a minute
speck of life to endure the cold of winter. When
a caterpillar rests upon a stem of grass it is quite
invisible to any save the keenest eye.
The Dull-eyed Grayling.—This form has eyes
quite as bright as those of the blue-eyed gray-
ling, only they are usually not so large and they
187
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
lack the yellow background to give them promi-
nence; the eye-spots on the lower side of the
hind wings are inconspicuous, and often only two
of the normal six appear. It is simply a North-
ern variety of the blue-eyed grayling, a variety
grown dull under the clouds of Northern skies.
The hybrid graylings are the progeny of the
yellow-banded beauty of the South and the sad-
colored Puritan of the North. The result is a
most interesting mixture and variation. Ina box
of well-arranged specimens it is impossible to tell
where the Northern variety begins or the South-
ern variety ends. Perhaps in the course of eons
the blue-eyed and dull-eyed graylings may become
estranged and no longer interbreed ; then the en-
tomologist of the future will say “these species
are quite distinct,” and if he is like some ento-
mologists of to-day he will add, ‘‘and they always
were distinct.”
THE SOUTHERN WoOoD-NYMPH
Cercyonis pegala (Cer-cy’o-nis peg’a-la)
This species closely resembles the typical form of Cercyons
alope, the blue-eyed grayling, but is larger, and the yellow
band of the fore wings is orange-yellow.
The larva is said to be gray, with one broad and one nar-
row white band. The food-plant is coarse wild grass.
188
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
The Southern wood-nymph seems to be an-
other illustration of the exuberance of growth
and color under the warmth of the southern sun.
It is the giant of the family, having an expanse of
nearly three inches. The male has only one eye-
spot, set in the yellow band of the front wings,
but the female has two and looks very like an
overgrown blue-eyed grayling of which it is sup-
posed by some to be a Southern variety. It loves
the pine barrens of Florida and the Gulf States.
THE PEARLY EvE
Enodia portlandia (E-no'di-a_ port-lan’di-a)
PLATE XXXI, Fic. 1, 2
The upper surface of the wings is soft clay brown, the outer
third a little paler; on the fore wings there is a nearly straight
row of from three to five black ocelli in cells R, to Cu,, that
in cell R, often obsolete; on the hind wings there is a cury-
ing row of five spots in cells R, to Cu,. On the lower surface
the eye-spots are much more distinct, and there may be an
additional one in cell Cu of each wing ; in the hind wing this
ocellus is double; the ocelli of the front wing are enclosed by
a pale line; on the hind wings the ocelli in cell R, and in cell
Cu are each enclosed by asimilar line, and the remaining four
ocelli are enclosed by a common wavy line. Expanse two
and one-fourth inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-fourth inches. It is
downy, and striped lengthwise with varying shades of green.
189
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
It bears on its head a pair of horns as long as the head is wide,
and a longer pair extends backward from the last segment of
the body; both pairs are tipped with red.
food-plant.—Grass.
The pearly eye, clad in fawn-colored satin orna-
mented with oblong medallions of seal-brown
velvet, is, from the point of view of the modiste,
the most beautiful of our American satyrs. The
oval velvet patches of varying sizes, three on the
front wing above and five on the hind wing, are
surrounded each by a pale circle that enhances
the rich color. These same solid brown spots
when translated into the lower surface of the
wings have white dots at their centers and are
margined with pale and darker outer circles and
are all set in a band of shining, iridescent lilac,
especially beautiful on the hind wings. Not only
are the brown spots more elaborate on the lower
surface, but they are more numerous, there being
usually four or five on the front and six on the
hind wings.
The pearly eye is seen at its best in the South-
ern States east of the Rockies, though it is found
less numerously in the north as far as Manitoba
and Nova Scotia. In the northeastern States it
seems to be limited to certain localities. It is
essentially a forest insect, and each butterfly seems
190
O- CO =
10.
PLATE XXXI
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
. The Pearly Eye, Enodia portlandia, male.
. The Pearly Eye, female, lower side of wings.
. The Eyed Brown, Satyrodes canthus, female.
. The Eyed Brown, male, lower side of wings.
. The White Mountain Butterfly, Ginezs norna.
The Gemmed Brown, Neonympha gemma.
. The Carolinian Satyr, Cissia sosybius, lower side of wings.
. The White Mountain Butterfly, lower side of wings.
. The Gemmed Brown, lower side of wings.
The Georgian Satyr, Neonympha phocion, lower side of wings.
Plate XXX].
10
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
to select some tree for its abiding-place. It alights
on the trunk head downward, or perhaps suns it-
self on the upper leaves. From this ‘home base”
it makes sallies into the air to indulge in a wrest-
ling match with one of its fellows for a little time
and then returns to its chosen spot.
The caterpillar has on either end of the body
red-tipped “horns,” and one wonders if this is per-
chance an advantage, and if so, why. The species
winters in the larval stage. The caterpillar attains
part of its growth in the fall and completes it in
the spring after the grass starts. In the South
the pearly eye is double-brooded.
The butterflies—bright, airy things—
From off the lilac buds
I scared, for having on their wings
The shadows of the woods.
ALICE Cary.
Tue Evep Brown
Satyrodes canthus (Sat-y-ro’des can'thus)
PLATE XXXI, Fic. 3, 4
The upper surface of the wings is soft mouse brown on the
basal half and paler beyond, considerably so in the female ;
front wings with a nearly straight row of four, roundish,
black spots in cells M, to Cu,; hind wings with a curving
row of six eye-spots in cells R, to Cu; the spot in cell Cu is
sometimes very small, and those in cells R, and M, are fre-
IgI
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
quently blurred. On the lower surface the ocellate spots are
more distinct. Expanse two inches or more.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one and one-fourth inches ; body
downy and striped lengthwise with shades of green. The
head and hind segments of the body are adorned with a pair
of red cone-shaped tubercles.
Foodt-plants.—The coarser grasses and sedges.
This delicate-winged fawn-colored butterfly
looks much like a pale little sister of the pearly
eye. Its velvety brown spots are almost the
same in color and arrangement on the wings
except that the upper surface of the front wing
usually shows four spots instead of three, as is
ordinarily the case with the pearly eye. In the
eyed brown the last large spot on the upper sur-
face of the hind wing has a center of white. On
the lower surface the white centers of all the eye-
spots are much larger in proportion than in the
pearly eye, each covering one-third of the diameter
of the brown circle; and the band on which the
eye-spots are set is yellow instead of lilac.
The eyed brown is a northern species belong-
ing especially to the middle West. It is found
in Canada and is not rare in New England. For
many years, and also in many books, the species
is called eusydice ; but Orpheus has evidently
found another Eurydice among the butterflies, a
192
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
daughter of the sunlight instead of the shades,
and this one now disports itself under the name
of canthus. It is single-brooded, and winters as
a partially grown caterpillar. The habits of the
family are disregarded by this caterpillar, since it
feeds by day; when it rests it arranges itself so
* project straight out in front
and behind, and are thus directed to the foe at
the front or at the rear.
that its red ‘horns’
THe WuHitre MountTaAIN BUTTERFLY,
Genets norna (CE-ne'is nor’na)
PLATE XXNI, Fic. 5, 8
The upper surface of the wings is grayish brown, without
spots, except sometimes a minute one in cell M, of the fore
wings ; the fringe of the wings is brownish white interrupted
with blackish brown at the ends of the veins. On the hind
wings the marbling of the lower surface shows through some-
what. On the lower surface the tip of the fore wings and the
greater part of the hind wings are beautifully marbled with
blackish brown and grayish white. Expanse one and three-
fourths inches.
The larva feeds upon Carex vulgaris var.
hyperborea. The species is either single-brooded
or requires two years for the development of a
brood.
It is very remarkable in its distribution. It
193
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
is an Arctic species, but is found also on the
higher parts (above 5,000 feet) of the White
Mountains and among the Rocky Mountains of
Colorado.
These two widely separated colonies of this
butterfly are believed to be the remnants of an
arctic fauna, which was forced southward during
the Ice age. At the close of this period, as the
arctic animals followed the retreating ice north-
ward, the tops of these mountains became colo-
nized by the cold-loving forms. Here they
found a congenial resting-place ; while the main
body of their congeners, which occupied the in-
tervening region, was driven northward by the
increasing heat of the lower land. And _ here
they remain clinging to these islands of cold pro-
jecting above the fatal sea of warmth filling the
valleys below.
THE GEMMED Brown
Neonympha gemma (Ne-o-nym’pha gem’ma)
PLATE XXXI, Fic. 6, 9
The upper surface of the wings is a moderately dark mouse
brown, with two darker shades beyond cell R+M of the hind
wings and with indistinct blackish spots near the outer mar-
gin of the hind wings. The lower surface is gray brown ;
the fore wings are crossed by three fine transverse threads ; on
194
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
the middle of the outer surface of the hind wings there is a
large oval patch composed of white and reddish-brown scales ;
in the outer edge of the patch are four rounded cinnamon-
brown spots, heavily flecked with white scales. Expanse of
wings one and one-fourth to one and three-eighths inches.
CATERPILLAR. —Color of body green or brown marked with
darker lengthwise stripes. The tubercles on the head and
last segment of the abdomen are long.
Food-plant.—Grass.
Some butterflies, like some people, are more
remarkable for what they are not than for what
they are. This is true of the gemmed brown
when seen from above; for it is just a little
plain, mouse-brown butterfly, and that is all.
But on the lower side of the hind wings we find
where this little Quaker keeps the gems that give
it its name; near the margin are four small
sepia-brown spots with shining centers set in
ivory, bordered outside with pearl that shimmers
and gleams with a luster almost metallic. The
thrill of surprise one feels in discovering this
exquisite decoration on such a dull insect is one
of the experiences that renders the work of the
butterfly lover never monotonous.
The gemmed brown is a Southern species
ranging from Mexico to Virginia. It is double-
brooded ; the caterpillars of the spring brood are
green, while those of the fall brood are brown in
195
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
color. That these colors are adapted for protec-
tion during the respective seasons in which they
occur is obvious. But we still wonderingly
question, ‘ How does this caterpillar know when
to be green and when to be brown ?”
THE GEORGIAN SATYR
Neonympha phocion (Ne-o-nym’pha pho’ci-on)
PLATE XXXI, Fic. 10
The upper surface of the wings is mouse brown, without
ocellate spots, and with the submarginal lines faint. The
lower surface is slightly paler, and has four transverse dark
yellow lines, two near the center of the wing and two sub-
marginal; these are more distinct on the hind wings. The
ends of the second and third of these lines on the hind wings
meet, forming a large oval space enclosing four elongated eye-
spots. Expanse of wings one and one-fourth to one and one-
half inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Color, yellow striped with green; head
pea-green with brownish tubercles; the anal tubercles are red-
dish.
Food-plants.—Coarse grasses.
The Georgian satyr is smaller and quite as dull
colored above as is the gemmed brown. Its
wings are wide for their length, and there is a
hint of reddish tinge on the upper side. In this
species the gems are carried on the lower side of
the wings just outside the middle and may be
196
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
easily seen with a lens; they consist of four
elongated spots of cut steel set in pale straw-
colored borders encompassed by bands of rust
yellow.
This is a Southern species. Abbot says he
found it common in Georgia “in oak and pine
woods on the sides and branches of the trees,”
and it extends as far north as New Jersey.
THe LirtTLE Woop-saTyR
Cissia eurytus (Cis’si-a eu'ry-tus)
PLATE XXX, Fic. 5, 6
The upper surface of the wings nearly uniform dark brown,
the outer third sometimes a little paler ; each wing with two
eye-spots situated in cells M, and Cu,; the small pupils
often double. On the hind wings the eye-spot in cell M, is
often obsolete, and there is sometimes an accessory one in
cell Cu; the outer margin and two submarginal lines dark.
The lower surface is rather pale gray brown, with the outer
margin and four transverse lines brown; eye-spots as above,
also with one in cell R, of the hind wings, and rudiments of
one in cells M, and M,. Expanse of wings about one and
one-half inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Body downy and pale greenish brown in
color, with brownish or blackish lengthwise stripes. The
head and its tubercles are whitish. The tubercles on the rear
end of the body are of the same hue.
Food-plant.—Grass.
4 197
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
This lively butterfly is as jolly as a little wood-
satyr ought to be. It has a skipping, dancing,
care-free flight, never rising far over the ground.
Like a true satyr, it loves the shade of thickets
and groves. The two round spots are very no-
ticeable at the front outer angles of the upper side
of the wings, although those on the hind wings are
often obscure. A peculiar thing about any one
of these eye-spots is that when looked at directly
from above it seems solid, but when looked at
from an angle it shows a double pupil of metallic
sheen. On the lower surface of the wings all the
eye-spots have these twin pupils, and between the
spots are patches of shining, reddish gold—a gold
with much alloy, but which nevertheless makes
an exquisite adornment.
The little wood-satyr is single-brooded and ap-
pears early in the season. In the South the but-
terfly appears as early as March, but in the North
we do not see it until late in May or the first of
June. The caterpillar feeds by night, and hides
during the day among the roots and bases of the
grass where its shape and color protect it from
the eyes of prowling foe; it hibernates when
partly grown. Itis always sluggish in its move-
ments and in this respect forms a strong contrast
to the sprightly butterfly.
198
THE MEADOW-BROWNS
THE CAROLINIAN SATYR
Cissia sosybius (Cis’si-a so-syb'i-us)
PLATE XXXI, Fic. 7
Upper surface of wings a rich dark brown, the outer mar-
gin marked with a black thread preceded by a more or less
obscure narrow pallid stripe, more distinct on the hind wings
than on the fore ; both wings without eye-spots. Lower sur-
face paler; the median area of each wing is enclosed between
two transverse brown lines; the outer margin is brown, and
there are two submarginal brown lines, the inner one wavy ;
the outer area of each wing with a row of more or less distinct
eye-spots, five on the fore wing and six on the hind wing ;
these vary in distinctness ; that in cell M, of the fore wing,
and those in cells M,, Cu, and the second anal cell of the hind
wings are the more prominent. Expanse of wings one and
one-fourth to one and one-half inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Body striped lengthwise, yellowish on the
back and bluish green on the sides. The tubercles are
pronged.
Lood-plant.—Grass.
The Carolina satyr sometimes has barely a sug-
gestion of spots on the upper surface of its wings,
which are usually dull mouse brown. The lower
surface of the wings, however, shows a close re-
semblance to the little wood-satyr, although there
is only one tiny eye-spot at the apex of the
front wing; each hind wing has two good-sized
ocelli widely separated and the hind one has a
199
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tiny fellow just at its inner side. These spots
are dark brown with centers of mother-of-pearl,
the beauty of which needs a lens for its revealing.
Between the spots on the hind wing may be seen
just a trace of the red gold that is found in sim-
ilar position on the little wood-satyr.
The species is double-brooded ; it is found
from the southern part of the Middle States
southward and in the Mississippi Valley.
O languorous lilac! still in time’s despite
I see thy plumy branches all alight
With new-born butterflies, which loved to stay
And bask and banquet in the temperate ray
Of spring-time, ere the torrid heats should be.
ELIZABETH AKERS.
200
FAMILY VI
THE HELICONIANS
Family Heliconide (Hel-i-con’i-de)
This family consists chiefly of tropical butterflies ; a single
species, however, extends into the United States. The heli-
conians are of medium or rather large size ; they have narrow
and elongate fore wings, which are usuaily more than twice
as long as broad. The fore legs are very feebly developed in
both sexes. The following is our only species.
THE ZEBRA
Apostraphia charithonia (Ap-o-stra’phi-a char-i-tho’ni-a)
PLATE XXXII, Fic. 1
Wings black, banded with lemon yellow, as follows: On
the front wings a curved band arises at the base, follows the
cubitus, and extends about three-fourths the length of cell Cu, ;
a second band arises near the costal margin, crosses the apex
of cell R + M, and extends to near the end of cell M,; there
is a third transverse band near the apex of the wing. On the
hind wings there isa broad band parallel with the front wings
when they are spread, a submarginal row of about fifteen
spots, and a row of dots on the outer margin near the inner
angle. Expanse of wings two and one-half to four inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Greenish white in the earlier stages and
porcelain white in the last stage, with transverse markings of
201
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
brown or black spots and six longitudinal rows of long, black,
bristly spines.
Food-plant.—Passion-vine.
The zebra with its long,
wings banded with lemon yellow is indeed a trop-
narrow, black, velvety
ical-looking creature. On the wings beneath,
the markings above are repeated in lemon and
cream-white with the addition of a peach-blossom
colored blotch at the tip of the hind wing and
some vermilion spots on both wings near the
bases. Its pallid, spiny caterpillars are found on
the passion-flower from Florida to South Caro-
lina; in their later stages they hide during the
day and feed by night. The butterflies come out
of the protecting forest in the morning to enjoy
the hot sunshine in the open field, but when dis-
turbed they take to the woods again with all ex-
pedition ; at night they rest in flocks on the
Spanish moss or on the dead twigs, where they
hang head up with wings closed over the back.
The chrysalis is a peculiar-looking object and
very pretty. It is angular in outline, and has two
leaf-shaped projections on its head and numerous
points and spines tipped with gilt. The maiden
zebra is much wooed, for her lovers cling in num-
bers to her chrysalis before she emerges, anxiously
waiting her début into the winged world. The
202
THE HELICONIANS
zebra possesses some of the zazscatzug qualities
of the monarch, and is never eaten by birds, liz-
ards or monkeys.
Do you know the pile-built village where the sago-dealers
trade?
Do you know the reek of fish and wet bamboo ?
Do you know the steaming stillness of the orchid-scented
glade
When the blazoned, bird-winged butterflies flap through?
KIPLING.
203
FAMILY VII
THE MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES
Family Lymnadidz (lLym-nad‘i-de)
These are butterflies of large size, with rounded and some-
what elongated wings, the apical portion of the fore wings
being much produced. The apparent absence of scales on
the antennee is the most available character for distinguishing
these insects. Only three species occur in our fauna; and
one of these does not extend north of Florida.
THE Monarcu
Anosia plexippus (A-no’si-a_plex-ip’pus)
PLATE XXXII, Fic. 3, wales PLATE NXVIII, Fic. 1, females PLaTeE I,
transformations
The upper surface of the wings is hight tawny brown, with
the borders and veins black, and with two rows of white spots
on the costal and outer borders. In the male the veins of the
wings are more narrowly margined with black, and there is a
black pouch next to vein Cu, of the hind wings, containing
scent-scales or androconia.
CATERPILLAR.—Length nearly two inches; head yellow
striped with black ; body white with narrow black and yellow
cross stripes on each segment. On the second thoracic seg-
ment there is a pair of black whiplash-like filaments. On the
eighth abdominal segment is a similar pair, but shorter.
Food-plant.—Milkweed.
204
PLATE XXXII
THE ZEBRA AND THE MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES
Fig.
1. The Zebra, A postraphia charithonia.
2. The Queen, Anosia berenice strigosa, male.
3. The Monarch, Anosia plexippus, male.
Plate XXXII.
THE MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES
The male monarch is the dandy among butter-
flies par excellence. He is not only trig in figure
and gorgeous in color, but on each hind wing he
carries a black sachet bag for the allurement of
his lady-love. And she is as brilliant as he, but
lacks the perfume pockets. “I am monarch of
all I survey” is exemplified in the confident,
serene flight of this butterfly; the species is
nauseous to birds in both the caterpillar and
adult stages, and by their bold actions they show
the result of this immunity. But the monarchs
have other problems of their own just because
the bird problem is eliminated; for undisturbed
they spread and flourished in their native tropic
America until it became a question of sufficient
food-plants to nourish their numerous progeny.
Because of this they began pushing farther north
and south during the seasons of plant growth.
As they could not endure the northern winter
they came north for the summer and went back
in the autumn. This northern migration is ac-
complished thus: the mother butterfly follows
the spring northward as it advances as far as she
finds milkweed sprouting ; there she deposits her
eggs, from which hatch individuals that carry
on the journey, and in their turn lay their eggs
as far north as possible. Thus generation after
205
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
generation pushes on until late in the season we
hear of them as far north as Hudson Bay. As
the cool weather approaches these emigrant butter-
flies gather in great flocks and move back to the
South. It is quite impossible for us to under-
stand how the flocks of butterflies are guided in
their migrations. There are among their num-
bers none that are travel-wise, like the leaders of
the bird flocks, but still they follow their direction
as steadily as the wind will allow. Nor is the
monarch satisfied with these journeys to the north
and south; it is the strongest flyer of all the
butterflies and does not hesitate to try its fortune
over the seas, and has been found flying five
hundred miles from shore. Either by flight or as
stowaways in vessels it has pressed eastward to
Europe and westward to the isles of the Pacific.
Well is it named the monarch, for it is the most
daring and indomitable butterfly that we know,
pushing back its geographical boundaries to the
edge of the arctic zone, exploring leisurely on
confident wing the seas of the Occident and
Orient.
The caterpillars when disturbed jerk the whip-
lash-like filaments back and forth, this evidently
being a method of keeping off the ichneumons.
They are smug-looking caterpillars and flaunt
206
THE MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES
their gay stripes without any attempt to hide, for
they seem to know that the birds will not touch
them. In the North there is but one brood dur-
ing the summer, while in the South there are
many more. No hibernating specimen has ever
been found.
Birds have their nests ; they rear their eager young
And flit on errands all the livelong day ;
Each fieldmouse keeps the homestead where it sprung ;
But thou art nature’s freeman—free to stray
Unfettered through the wood,
Seeking thine airy food,
The sweetness spiced on every blossomed spray.
HIGGINSON.
THE QUEEN
Anosia berenice (A-no’si-a ber-e-ni’ce)
PLATE XXXII, Fic. 2, male; PLATE XXVIII, Fic. 3, female
The upper surface of the wings is reddish chocolate-brown,
with the costal margin of the front wings and the outer mar-
gins of both pairs bordered with black. There are two par-
tial rows of white dots near the costal and outer margins of
the front wings; and there is a larger white spot in each of
the cells R, to Cu. The under surface is similar to the upper,
except that the outer border contains two full rows of white
spots, and the veins of the hind wings are heavily marked
with black edged with gray. The male possesses a black
pouch containing androconia next to vein Cu, of the hind
207
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
wings, asin the preceding species. Expanse of wings two
and three-quarters to three and one-half inches.
There is a well-marked variety, Avosia berenice strigosa
(Plate XX XH, Fig. 2), in which on the upper surface of the
hind wings the veins are narrowly edged with grayish white.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length, about two inches. The Smith
and Abbot colored picture of this species shows it to be
whitish tinged with purplish brown with a brown divided cross
stripe which encloses a yellowish cross bar on each segment.
Low down along each side is a greenish-yellow stripe. The
second thoracic and second and eighth abdominal segments
each bears a pair of long, brown whiplash filaments.
Lood-plant.—Milkweed.
‘How beautiful is the occafional uniformity as
well as the infinite variety of Nature! This
butterfly, nearly related to the la{t (the monarch),
feeds in its caterpillar ftate on the plants of the
fame genus, though a different fpecies; and the
two caterpillars havea great affinity to each other,
though one has but fix horns, the other but four.
The pupze are extremely fimilar except in fize,
and are suspended in the fame manner to a leaf.”
Thus says Smith and Abbot in the magnificent
volume published more than a century ago where-
in derenzce in all her royalty is delineated by
hand painting. While the queen affects umber
rather than the brilliant orange of the monarch,
yet it is a showy insect ; the black borders on the
208
THE MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES
wings are dotted with white and the front wings
bear a pretty pattern of white spots. The queen
is immune from the attacks of birds both as a
caterpillar and a butterfly. Imitation is the sin-
cerest flattery, and the obsequious vice-reine finds
the brown wings of the queen quite as admirable
in Florida as does the viceroy the bright orange
of the monarch farther north.
A glimmering plain in drowsy trance
The dim horizon bounds,
Where all the air is resonant
With sleepy summer sounds—
The life that sings among the flowers,
The lisping of the breeze,
The hot cicada’s sultry cry,
The murmurous dream of bees.
The butterfly—a flying flower—
Wheels swift in flashing rings,
And flutters round his quiet kin,
With brave flame-mottled wings.
Joun Hay.
209
FAMILY VIII
THE LONG-BEAKS
Family Libytheidz (Lib-y-the’i-de)
The long-beaks can be easily recognized by their exces-
sively long, beak-like palpi, which are from one-fourth to
one-half as long as the body and project straight forward (Fig.
38). The outer margin of the fore wings is deeply notched ;
the males have only four well-developed legs, while the females
have six.
Only two species have been found in America north of
Mexico, and of these but one occurs in the eastern United
States ; the other is found in Texas.
THE SNouT BUTTERFLY
ffypatus bachmani (Hyp'a-tus bach-man’ni)
Fic. 38
The wings are blackish brown above, marked with orange
patches and white spots. On the front wings there is an
orange patch in cell R+ M,
and another occupying the
middle half of cell Cu and a
part of cell Cu,; between
these and the apex of the
wing are three white spots;
Fic. 38.—The snout butterfly. | on the hind wings there is an
210
THE LONG-BEAKS
orange patch just beyond cell R + M. Expanse of wings one
and three-fourths inches.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length about one inch; the head is small ;
the last two thoracic segments are enlarged and rise in a
hump above the head; the last segment of the body slopes
down abruptly at the end. The color is dark velvety green
with a yellow stripe down the middle of the back and along
each side. The enlarged middle segment of the thorax bears
two dull black tubercles ringed about with yellow at the
base.
Food-plants. — Hackberry, and in the West, where hack-
berry does not occur, it feeds upon wolfberry.
The snout butterfly has front wings that look
as if their tips had been snipped off with curved
scissors; it is not likely to be mistaken for any
other butterfly even though it is copper-colored
with white spots, for its palpi project at least a
quarter of an inch straight out in front of the
head; this peculiarity has given the species the
unpoetical cognomen, “the snout butterfly.” The
under sides of the hind wings show a beautiful
vague pattern of sheeny, olive brown, and ashes
of roses. One of the specially interesting things
about the species is that the females are hexa-
pods while the males are quadrupeds. Just why
the females need six feet when the males need
only four is to us a mystery.
The snout butterfly is most erratic in its occur-
ea
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
rence. There are records of its having appeared
in swarms; but usually it is sufficiently rare in
any locality to be considered a prize by the butter-
fly hunter. Its range is through the eastern
United States with the exception of northern
New England and southern Florida. It haunts
river-banks and marshy places in forests and does
not disdain shrubby roadsides; it is also very
fond of visiting raspberry blossoms. The cater-
pillar has the habit of rearing the front end of its
body and remaining motionless while at rest, like
a sphinx caterpillar. It is a most adaptable crea-
ture. Mr. Edwards found that if its food-plant
dried up it changed to a chrysalid after its third
molt, when it was little more than half grown,
From such pigmy chrysalids came genuine butter-
flies, though somewhat small and pale. It is sup-
posed the species winters as a butterfly.
Yet I remember, when the butterfly
Went flickering about me like a flame
That quenched itself in roses suddenly.
James WHITCOMB RILEY.
FAMILY IX
THE METAL-MARKS
Family Riodinidz (Ri-o-din’i-de)
The metal-marks are small butterflies, which bear some
resemblance to the gossamer-winged butterflies and were
formerly classed with them. They
are distinguished from the gossamer-
winged butterflies by the presence
of a humeral vein in the hind wings,
and from them and all other butter-
flies by the presence of what appears
to be a well-preserved costa of the
hind wings. In some genera this
costal vein is free at the tip and
projects (Fig. 39).
Only twelve species are found in
America, and nearly all of these are
from the far West or Southwest. The
two following species occur in the
East.
sd A
2d A
Fic. 39.—Venation of the
wings of a Emests zela.
THE SMALL METAL-MARK
Calephelis centus (Cal-e-phe’lis cz’ni-us)
PLaTE XXXIV, Fic. 1, 2
The upper surface of the wings is rust-colored, and is
crossed by four or five more or less sinuous blackish lines on
15 213
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
the basal two-thirds, and on the outer third by two lines of
shining scales, that look like cut steel, and an intermediate
row of black spots. The under surface is of a brighter rust
color and marked as above. Expanse of wings four-fifths of an
inch or less.
The early stages are unknown ; the species oc-
curs in the Southern States. It is believed to be
several-brooded. We captured specimens in cen-
tral Florida in April; and it has been found in
Georgia as late as the end of October.
THE LarGe METAL-MARK
Calephelis borealis (Cal-e-phe'lis bo-re-a’lis)
The upper surface of the wings is dull brownish yellow,
crossed by obscure, transverse stripes ; on the outer half of the
wings are two lead-colored lines, with a row of black dots be-
tween them. The under surface is of a rather dark and pale
orange; paler and duller next the base, marked with trans-
verse black lines and dots, and transverse series of steel-colored
spots. Expanse of wings one to one and one-fourth inches.
The early stages are unknown. The butterfly
is very rare in our territory ; it has been taken in
New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Michi-
gan, and Illinois.
FAMILY X
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
Family Lycenide (Ly-czn’i-de)
This family includes butterflies which are of small size and
delicate structure. In size they resemble the smaller skippers ;
but they can be distinguished at a glance from the skippers,
as they present an entirely different appearance. The body
is slender, the wings delicate and
often brightly colored, and the
club of the antenna straight. The
antenne are nearly always ringed
with white, and a conspicuous rim
of white scales encircles the eyes.
In the venation of the wings
they agree with the metal-marks,
and differ from all other butter-
flies described in this book in the
following combination of charac-
ters: radius of the fore wings is
only three- or four-branched, and
vein M, arises at or near the apex
of cell R+M (Fig. 40). In the
Fic. 40.— Venation of the
wings of Chrysophanus.
other butterflies occurring in our fauna in which radius is only
three- or four-branched, vein M, coalesces with radius for a
considerable distance beyond the apex of the discal cell. In
215
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
a single species of this family the wanderer (/en?seca) vein
M, coalesces with radius for a considerable distance beyond
the apex of cell R+ M.
The gossamer-winged butterflies can be distinguished from
the metal-marks by the absence of the costal and humeral
veins of the hind wings.
In the female the front legs are like the other legs, in the
male they are shorter, without tarsal claws, and with the
tarsi more or less aborted.
The caterpillars of the Lycznidz present a very un-
usual form, being more or less slug-like. |The body is short
and broad ; the legs and prolegs are short and small, allowing
the body to be closely pressed to the object upon which the
insect is moving—in fact some of the species glide rather than
creep ; and the head is small, and can be retracted more or less
within the prothorax. The body is armed with no conspicu-
ous appendages; but some of the species are remarkable for
having honey-tubes which can be pushed out from the seventh
and eighth abdominal segments, and through which honey-
dew is excreted for the use of ants. Certain other species are
remarkable in being carnivorous ; one American species feeds
exclusively upon plant-lice.
The chrysalids are short, broad, ovate, and without angu-
lations. They are attached by the caudal extremity, and by
a loop passing over the body near itsmiddle. The ventral
aspect of the body is straight and often closely pressed to the
object to which the chrysalis is attached.
The family includes three well-marked groups of genera,
which have been distinguished as the hair-streaks, the coppers,
and the blues. These groups can be separated by the follow-
ing table :
216
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
A. Radius of the front wings four-branched.
B. Body comparatively stout ; colors of the upper surface of
the wings orange red with a coppery luster, or brown with
a coppery tinge, in each case spotted with black, p. 236.
THE COpPERS.
BB. Body slenderer ; colors of the upper surface of wings
blue or bluish black, p. 244. THE BLUES.
AA. Radius of the fore wings only three-branched, p. 217.
THe HalIRr-STREAKS.
THE HAIR-STREAKS
The hair-streaks are distinguished from the other gossamer-
winged butterflies by the fact that radius of the fore wings
is only three-branched. They are usually dark brown, with
delicate striped markings on the lower surface of the wings,
which suggested to some person of vivid imagination the
common name given above ; but some species are brilliantly
marked with metallic blue or green. The hind wings are
also commonly furnished with delicate taillike prolongations.
The fore wings of the male often bear a small dull oval spot
near the middle of the costal part of the wing, the discal
stigma, which is filled with the peculiar scent-scales known as
androconia. The males are also distinguished by having a
tuft of hairlike scales, the beard, on the front; this is want-
ing or very thin in the females. About fifty species occur in
America north of Mexico; our most common species, which
are described below, can be separated by the following table:
A. Hind wings with a long, slender, taillike prolongation at
the end of vein Cu,, and sometimes with a similar one at the
end of vein Cu,.
217
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
B. Upper surface of wings conspicuously marked with blue
scales.
C. The blue of the upper surface confined chiefly to the
hind wings; lower surface of wings with a conspicu-
ous red band on the outer half of wings. (C. cecrops),
p. 231. THe Least PurPLE HaIR-STREAK.
CC. Upper surface of both pairs of wings largely blue ; no
red band on the outer half of lower surface of wings.
D. Under side of abdomen orange. (4. halesus),
p. 220. THE GREAT PuRPLE HAIR-STREAK.
DD. Underside of abdomen not orange. (Z£.m-album),
p. 221. THE Wuite-M Hair-STREAK.
BB. Upper surface of wings with but few if any blue scales.
C. Lower surface of hind wings bright green marked with
brown and white. (AL damon), p. 229.
THE OLIVE HaiR-STREAK.
CC. Lower surface of hind wings not green.
D. Lower surface of wings pearl gray.
E. Lower surface of wings with a narrow white-edged
bar at the end of cell R+ M. (7. acadica), p. 224.
THE ACADIAN HAIR-STREAK.
EE. Without bar at end of cell R+M. (U. melinus),
p. 223. THE Gray Hair-STREAK.
DD. Lower surface of wings slate-brown or blackish.
E. Lower surface of wings crossed just beyond the
middle by a bright red band. (C. cecrops), p. 231.
Tue Least PurpPLeE HaIR-STREAK.
EE. Lower surface of wings not crossed by bright
red band.
218
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
F. Lower surface of wings crossed just outside of
the middle by a row of small, dark, blue-edged
spots, which form an almost continuous line.
(Z. calanus), p. 226.
THE BANDED HAIR-STREAk.
FF. The spots of the extra mesial row of the lower
surface of the wings wide and discontinuous.
(TZ. liparops), p. 228.
THE STRIPED HAIR-STREAK.
AA. Hind wings with only a short projection if any at the
end of vein Cu,.
B. Under side of hind wings without a row of orange spots.
(Lncisalia.)
C. With a distinct white or whitish edging near the base
of the under side of the hind wings, limiting a darker
band that occupies the outer two-thirds of the basal
half of the wing. (7. mzphon), p. 234.
THE BANDED ELFIN.
CC. The darker band on the basal half of the lower sur-
face of the hind wings very indistinctly or not at all
limited toward the base.
D. The outer half of the lower surface of the hind
wings a pretty uniform rust red,-darkest near the mar-
gin. (JL. augustus), p. 231. THE Brown ELFIN.
DD. The outer half of the lower surface of the hind
wings sprinkled, especially near the margin, with
pale lilac scales, giving it a hoary bloom. (J. zrus),
Pp. 233. Tue Hoary ELFIn.
BB. Under side of hind wings with a row of orange spots.
(S. ttus), p. 234. THE CoraL HaIR-STREAK.
219
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE GREAT PURPLE HAIR-STREAK
Attides halesus (At'li-des ha-le’sus)
PLaTE XXXIII, Fic. 3, 4
This is the largest of our Eastern hair-streaks, having an
expanse of wings of one and three-fifths to two inches. In
the male the greater part of the upper surface of the wings is
bright blue; the discal stigma, the outer fourth of the fore
wings, the apex and inner margin of the hind wings, and the
tails are black. The under side is blackish brown, with a
red spot at the base of the fore wings and two or more at the
base of the hind wings. The fore wings have a dash of blue
along the cubitus, and the hind wings have a group of blue
and green spots near the anal angle. The under side of the
abdomen is orange. In the female the outer half of the
wings is black, and the fore wings lack the dash of blue
beneath.
CATERPILLAR.—Green, slightly downy; on the sides nine
oblique, darker green bands; on the back a slight stripe;
along the base of the feet a stripe of yellowish green.
food-plant.—Oak.
“Great” is a relative term in the butterfly
world as well as elsewhere. The name great pur-
ple hair-streak would seem to imply a vast insect,
whereas it is a small butterfly spreading less than
two inches, and when it is fully expanded might
well be described by that graphic though inele-
gant word “chunked.” The wings are blue-
green, changeable in color, and the hind wings
220
PLATE XXNXIII
METAL-MARKS AND HAIR-STREAKS
Fig.
1,2. The Small Metal-mark, Calephelis cenius; 1, male; 2, female.
3, 4. The Great Purple Hair-streak, Atlides halesus; 3, male; 4, female.
5, 6. The White-M Hair-streak, Eupsyche m-album, 5, male; 6, female.
, 8,9. The Gray Hair-streak, Uranotes melinus; 7, male; 8, female;
9, lower side of wings.
10, 11. The Acadian Hair-streak, Thecla acadica; 10, male; 11, lower
side of wings.
~
Plate XXXII.
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
have an inconsequential little tail just above
the eye-spot at the hind angle, and another of
still less consequence just beyond it. Under-
neath the wings are black except for some orange
spots near their base; the lower side of the body
is bright orange also, making it rather a strik-
ing butterfly when the wings are lifted. Abbot
associates it with peach blossoms in Florida. It
has been found as far north as Nevada and _ Ili-
nois; it is also found in Arizona and California.
Some finished butterfly,
Some breathing diamond-flake with leaf-gold fans,
That takes the air, no trace of worm it was.
BROWNING.
THe WuitE-M Hair-STREAK
Lupsyche m-album (Eu-psy’che m-al’bum)
PLATE XXXIII, Fic. 5, 6
The upper surface of the disk of the wings is a rich, glossy,
dark blue, with green reflections; a broad outer border and
costal margin are black. ‘The hind wings have each two
tails, and a bright dark orange spot preceded by white at the
anal angle. The under surface is brownish gray. Both
wings are crossed by a common, narrow white stripe,
which forms a large W or reversed M on the hind wings,
whence the specific name of the insect. On the hind wings
midway between the M-streak and the outer border there
is another series of white bars,and an orange spot in cell
221
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
Cu,. Expanse of wings one and one-third to one and one-
half inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length not quite three-fourths of an inch;
head black ; body downy, light yellowish green in color with
a dull green stripe down the back and seven oblique stripes
of the same color along the side.
food-plants.—Oak and milk-vetch.
This is very much like the preceding species in
the blue-green metallic colors of its wings above
except that it has more of blue and less of green
in the sheen; but as if to mark the species dis-
tinct beyond cavil, a white line runs across the
lower side of the front and hind wings, making a
distinct white M on the latter near the anal
angle, and this plainly written initial is punctuated
with a crimson period. While the white-m hair-
streak occasionally is found as far north as New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, it is essentially
a species of the South and frequents the live-oak
hummocks of that region. It is supposed to be
triple-brooded.
T hold you at last in my hand,
Exquisite child of the air ;
Can I ever understand
How you grew to be so fair?
ALICE FREEMAN PALMER.
222
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
THE Gray Hair-STREAK
Uranotes melinus (U-ra-no’tes mel’i-nus)
PLATE XXXIII, Fic. 7, 8, 9
The vertex of the head and the tip of the antennz are
orange. The upper surface of the wings is blackish with a
slight blue-gray tint; on the middle of the fore wings there
is a large, faint, quadrate, cloudy spot of slightly darker
scales, extending from near the costal border to cell Cu.
Near the outer margin of the hind wings there is an indistinct
line of bluish spots. In cell Cu, there is a large orange spot
surmounting a smaller black one. The under surface is gray,
with two blackish-brown lines crossing each wing, the inner
line edged externally with white, and internally, at least on
the hind wings, with orange scales. The large orange spot
and smaller black one in cell Cu, of the upper surface are
repeated. Expanse of wings one and one-fourth inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Less than half an inch long and slug-
shaped, with very small head. The body is naked, and is
reddish brown without markings.
Food-plants.—The fruit and seeds of hop, hawthorn,
hound’s-tongue, and St.-John’s-wort.
This little creature just saves itself from
Quaker costume by an orange spot or two and
by a frivolous white-tipped tail that looks like a
curlicue. The female is particularly gay, having
two white-tipped tails to her wings which are
above yellowish brown in color, and below deli-
cate yellowish gray. The gray hair-streak is a
223
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
frisky little creature living up to its orange
spots in action rather than to its decorous
body color; it dances about shrubbery, and is
much given to taking long swigs of nectar from
the flowers of the bush-clover. It is a long-lived
butterfly and flies from June to September here
in the North, where it is double-brooded, and
probably winters as a chrysalid. It occurs
throughout the United States. The caterpillar
lives in the pods or seeds of its food-plant, and
is therefore quite destructive; it is quite as ex-
tensible as if it were made of india-rubber.
THE ACADIAN HAIR-STREAK
Thecla acadica (Thec'la a-cad’i-ca)
PLATE XXXIII, Fic. 10, 11
The upper surface of the wings is of a uniform blackish
slate brown; costal edge of fore wings, especially near the
base, tawny. In cell Cu, of the hind wings, a submarginal,
orange, lunate spot, which is indistinctly continued to the
inner border of the wing. The under surface is pearl gray;
on each wing there is a dark bar edged with white at the end
of cell R+M; beyond this a bent row of roundish black
spots encircled with white; and beyond this a submarginal
row of black lunules edged within with white, and followed
without by orange spots. The orange spots of the front
wings are inconspicuous; but on the hind wings they increase
in size toward the anal angle, except that the one in cell Cu
224
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
is largely covered by a blue patch. The most available char-
acters for distinguishing this species are the pale pearl-gray
color of the lower side, and the small size of the spots of the
extra mesial row; these of both pairs of wings are round,
very black, and completely encircled with white ; usually each
spot occupies but little more than half the width of a cell.
Expanse of wings one and one-fifth inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Length about one-half inch; slug-shaped ;
the brown head is very small; the body is almost oval in out-
line and grass green incolor. Two yellowish stripes along the
side include a row of oblique short stripes of the same color.
food-plant.—Willow.
This bronze-brown midget loves to flit about
willow-fringed streams. Though it is dull-col-
ored at first glance, a second look at the lower
surface of the wings reveals to us a shining,
bronze gray specked with black and with a patch
of heavenly blue set in the row of orange spots
that decorate the hind border of the hind wing,
making a most harmonious color scheme. This
butterfly must have been expelled from Acadia
with Evangeline, as there is no record of its hav-
ing been found as far north as Acadia since it was
discovered and named. It is quite peculiar in its
distribution, inhabiting a narrow belt that extends
from New England west to Montana. On the
Pacific coast it is found from Los Angeles to
Vancouver. Its little, soft, supple caterpillar
22
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
lives upon several species of willow; it trims
down the leaf, methodically beginning at the outer
edge and eating toward the center. The winter
is passed in the egg state.
But she—God love her !—feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.
WORDSWORTH.
THe BanpED HAIR-STREAK
Thecla calanus (Thec'la cal’a-nus)
PLATE XXXIV, Fic. 1, 2, 3
The upper surface of the wings is dark brown or blackish
brown. ‘There is sometimes an orange spot in cell Cu, of the
hind wings, and a more or less distinct bluish white line ex-
tending from vein Cu, to the anal angle of the same wings.
The under surface is blackish slate brown, nearly as dark as
the upper surface; there is a dark bar edged with bluish white
at the end of cell R+M of both wings, and just outside of the
middle a row of small, dark, blue-edged spots, which form
an almost continuous line; and a submarginal series of black
crescents, edged within with white. Expanse of wings one
and one-fifth inches.
The larva feeds on oak and hickory. Excepting the
southern portions of the Gulf States, the species is found
throughout our territory east of the Rocky Mountains and in
the southern part of Canada. It is our most common species
of Thecla.
CATERPILLAR.—Slug-shaped ; length one-half inch; bright
grass green in color marked with lighter and darker lines
226
PLATE XXXIV
HAIR-STREAKS
Fig.
1, 2,3. The Banded Hair-streak, Thecla calanus; 1, male; 2, female;
3, lower side of wings.
4,5, 6. The Striped Hair-streak, Thecla liparops; 4, male; 5, female;
6, lower side of wings.
7,8,9. The Olive Hair-streak, Mitouwra damon; 7, male; 8, female;
g, lower side of wings.
10, t1, 12, The Least Purple Hair-streak, Calycopis cecrops; 10, male;
11, female; 12, lower side of wings.
Lit
12
Plate XXXIV.
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
running lengthwise of the body. Sometimes it is purple brown
instead of grass green in color.
Lfood-plants.—Oak, hickory, and butternut.
This is our commonest Thecla, and may be
found almost anywhere in the United States east
of the Rocky Mountains except in southern
Florida. It is frisky and erratic in its flight; it
abjures civilization, and frequents various forest
openings, being especially fond of scrub-oak clear-
ings. From the West comes the report that in
the spring it shows a liking for the odoriferous
skunk-cabbage, a plant which seems to have more
friends among insects than among folks. Though
dull in color, the banded hair-streak has long,
graceful white-tipped tails on the hind wings, and
has a most elegant pattern of brown and white
fringe just at the inner base of the longest tail.
On the grayish lower surface of the wings are
black spots margined with white; a blue patch
flanked with orange on the inner angle of the
hind wing makes us realize that the Theclas
are artistic even though modest in their garb.
The male of this Thecla shows especially well
the oval patch of pale brown scales on the
upper surface of each front wing which is com-
posed of scent scales, and which form his greatest
o27
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
attraction for his perfume-loving lady Thecla.
The slug-like caterpillars eat holes in the leaves.
The species is single-brooded, and winters as a
newly hatched caterpillar.
Beneath the summer sky
From flower to flower let him fly ;
Tis all that he wishes to do.
WorDSWORTH.
THE SrripeD Hair-STREAK
Thecla liparops (Thec'la lip'a-rops)
PLATE XXXIV, FIG. 4, 5, 6
The upper surface of the wings is uniform blackish brown;
there is sometimes an obscure orange spot in cell Cu, of the
hind wings. The lower surface is dark brown, with a delicate
rufo-purplish tinge; the outer margin is edged with a narrow
white line; and the surface of each wing is crossed by from
three to five irregular white stripes, the number varying in the
different parts of the wing. ‘The spot at the end of the discal
cells and the extra mesial band are very wide, and only
slightly darker than the remainder of the wing; and the spots
of the extra mesial band are discontinuous. Expanse of wings
one and one-fifth inches.
CATERPILLAR.—Slug-shaped; length one-half inch; body
grass green with faint oblique stripes of yellow along the
sides.
food-plants.—Shadbush ; blueberry ; oak, and willow.
This dark, brown Thecla is never common,
although it occurs almost everywhere in the
228
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
United States east of the Rockies and north of
the Gulf States. The tails of the hind wings are
not very long, and sometimes the outer one is
just indicated by a point. The many white hair-
streaks that cross the lower side of the wings give
the butterfly its name. It is always found near
thickets, and it has a lively, nervous flight. The
caterpillar may attack the pulp of the fruit as
well as the leaves of its food-plant. The first
butterflies appear in July and disappear after a
short time. It is single-brooded, and winters as
an egg.
THE OLIVE HAIR-STREAK
Mitoura damon (Mi-tou’ra da’mon)
PLATE XXXIV, Fic. 7, 8, 9
The upper surface of the wings is dark brown, with the disk
more or less deeply suffused with brassy yellow in the male or
tawny in the female; the tails of the hind wings black tipped
with white. The lower surface is deep green, with the portion
of the fore wings covered by the hind pair pale slate brown;
the fore wings are traversed by a nearly straight submarginal
white stripe bordered interiorly with brown; there is a similar
but tortuous stripe on the outer half of the hind wings; near
the base of the hind wings there are two white spots bordered
without with brown, and near the outer margin of these wings
there is a series of black spots, margined without and more or
less covered with white. Expanse of wings one inch.
16 229
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
CATERPILLAR.—Slug-shaped; a little more than half an
inch long; its body is dark green, and along the sides are two
stripes made up of more or less oblique white dashes.
food-plants.—Red cedar and smilax.
The olive hair-streak has wings which are rich
brown-black above. The under sides of the hind
wings are bright olive green, and the front edges
of the front wings are the same color, which
shades off gradually into tan at the middle of the
wing. The white streak across the lower side of
the wing is thick and very striking, and it is
bordered with rust red inside. The tail on the
hind wings is just a little slender spike. This
Thecla belongs to the South, where it flits about
the tops of the forests of red cedar. The cater-
pillar is a robust-looking little fellow, but it is so
exactly cedar-leaf color that it is well protected,
though it feeds on the very tips of the twigs. The
caterpillar of this species also feed upon smilax,
and in some of the books this species is called
Thecla smtlacts. It winters as a chrysalis.
The butterfly’s assumption grown,
In chrysoprase apartments hung,
This afternoon put on.
EmiLty DICKINSON.
230
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
THe Leasr Purpte HAaAtir-STREAK
Calycopis cecrops (Cal-y-co’pis ce’crops)
Pirate XXXIV, Pray. 10, 12, 12
The upper surface of the wings is a rich blackish brown, in
some specimens entirely so, in others it is tinged with blue on
the fore wings, and heavily marked with blue on the hind
wings. The lower surface is pale slate brown, with a con-
spicuous red band on the outer half of the wings. This band
is edged without by a narrow black line, which in turn is
edged by a broader white one. Expanse of wings about one
inch.
CATERPILLAR.— Unknown.
This species varies greatly in color, the blue
that suggested the common name being absent
in many specimens. The special beauty of this
minute species lies in the bright red band that
marks the under side of the hind wings.
THE Brown ELFIN
Lncisaha augustus (In-ci-sa'li-a au-gus’tus)
PLATE XXXV, Fic. I, 2, 3
Three of our Eastern hair-streaks represent the genus Jnci-
salia. These are dark brownish butterflies, in which the fringe
of the outer margin of the hind wings is slightly prolonged at
the end of each vein, giving the wings a scalloped outline ;
but there are no prominent taillike prolongations of the wings
as in all the hair-streaks described above. In the outer third
of the inner margin of the hind wings there is a deep rounded
excision, producing a conspicuous lobe at the anal angle.
231
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
The discal stigma of the fore wings is present in the males,
but is unusually inconspicuous. The under surface is nearly
as dark as the upper, especially on the basal half, which is
separated from the outer half by a wavy line; there are no
orange-colored spots on this surface. These are among the
earliest of our butterflies, appearing in the Northern States in
April and May; they usually fly but little more than a month.
The three species can be separated by the characters given in
the table above. They are similar in size, expanding about
one inch.
CATERPILLAR.—About one-half an inch long, and slug-
shaped ; head very small; color of the body carmine red.
food-plant,— Unknown.
It is strange that the food-plant of a carmine
red caterpillar should escape the attention of our
keen-eyed entomological observers of the East.
The one caterpillar described seems to have been
a specimen from Nevada, and it is quite possible
that the larva of this species in the East may
have a different color. The brown elfin likes
a rocky hillside covered with blueberry, and is
likely to alight upon the rock or dead twigs
where its wings, brown above and below, pro-
tect it from observation. It occurs in New
England and southward to Virginia. It is sin-
gle-brooded, and hibernates as a chrysalis. This
species, like the other elfins, has no taillike proc-
esses on the hind wings, but has a graceful in-
232
PLATE. SV
HAIR-STREAKS
Fig.
1, 2,3. The Brown Elfin, [ncisalia augustus; 1, male; 2, female; 3,
lower side of wings.
4,5, 6. The Hoary Elfin, Incisalia irus; 4, male; 5, female; 6, lower
side of wings.
7,8,9. The Banded Elfin, Incisalia niphon; 7, male; 8, female; 9,
lower side of wings.
10, 11, 12. The Coral Hair-Streak, Sérymon titus; 10, male; 11, female;
12, lower side of wings.
Plate XXXV.
12
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
ward turning scallop at the tip of the anal angle
of the hind wing.
THE Hoary ELFIN
Lncisalia irus (In-ci-sa’li-a i’rus)
PLATE XXXV, Fic. 4, 5, 6
See the preceding description.
CATERPILLAR.—Slug-shaped ; one-half an inch long ; head
very small; body downy, greenish above and reddish brown
on the sides.
Lood-plant.—Wild plum.
The gray which gives this elfin its name is only
seen on the outer half of the lower side of the
hind wings, and often it is more lilac than gray ;
except for this it is as brown as the other elfins.
It is the laziest of all the hair-streaks and loves to
loaf around shrubs in open places, and even
haunts the roadsides. The caterpillar is a little
rascal that burrows in and devours the fruit of the
wild plum.
The species is distributed from the southern
part of New England to Georgia and westward
to Missouri.
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE BaNnpDED ELFIN
Lncisalia niphon (In-ci-sa‘li-a ni/phon)
PLATE XXXV, Fic. 7, 8, 9
See description under the brown elfin above.
CATERPILLAR. — Slug-shaped; length a little more than
half an inch. It has a little brown head; the downy body
is green, with two lengthwise whitish stripes along each side.
food-plant.—Pine.
The banded elfin is dull dark brown above, but
beneath, especially on the hind wings, it looks like
an elfin checker-board made in varying shades of
brown with white dividing lines here and there.
This butterfly is an active little creature and loves
the open spaces in the pine woods. Its home is
in the northeastern United States, and it has not
been taken west of New York. It is single-
brooded, and the caterpillars require almost the
entire season to mature.
THE CorRAL HaIR-STREAK
Strymon titus (Stry’mon ti’tus)
PLATE XXXV, FIG, I0, 11, 12
The upper surface of the wings is dark brown, with or with-
out an outer marginal row of orange spots or an indistinct
orange band. ‘The discal stigma is present in the males, and
the outline of the hind wings differs in the two sexes. The
under surface is asoft slaty brown, sometimes tinged with vio-
234
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
laceous ; the outer half of the wings is crossed by a series of
black spots encircled or bordered without with white; be-
tween these spots and the outer margin there is a series of small
black lunules, which are bordered within with white and fol-
lowed without by a corresponding series of reddish or orange
spots. Both the black lunules and the orange or red spots
may be very indistinct or wanting on the fore wings; but they
are prominent on the hind wings. Expanse of wings one and
one-fourth inches.
CATERPILLAR.-—Three-fourths of an inch long, and slug-
shaped ; its head is little and black; its body is downy and
dull yellowish green; there is a ‘‘ rosy patch’’ on the back at
either end.
Lood-plants.—Wild cherry and plum.
In the coral hair-streak the threadlike tails are
wanting, and instead the anal angle of the hind
wing is prolonged and acute. The species gets
its pretty name from the row of coral beadlike
spots that margin the hind wing on the lower side.
The gentle Abbot describes this species as a “‘lit-
tle brown butterfly,” which, though not distinctive,
is deeply satisfactory when one knows the spe-
cies. It loves to visit the flowers of goldenrod
and thistle, and others that blossom in the open
fields, where it may bask in the hot sunshine while
it is refreshing itself with nectar. It is widely
distributed in the United States. It occurs in
great numbers during the last of July and the
235
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
first of August. It winters in the egg state and
is single-brooded.
THE COPPERS
The coppers are easily distinguished from other gossamer-
winged butterflies by their orange-red and brown colors, each
with a coppery tinge, and conspicuous black markings. They
are the stoutest of the Lycznide. About twenty species are
known to occur in this country, but only four are found in
the East. These can be separated by the following table :
A. Vein M, of the fore wings arising from vein R, at a con-
siderable distance beyond the apex of cell R+M. (/ dar
quinius), Pp. 237. THE WANDERER.
AA. Vein M, of the fore wings arising at the apex of cell
R+M.
B. Hind wings with a broad orange-red band on the
outer margin extending from the anal angle nearly to the
apex.
C. Of small size, expanding about one inch. (C. Ay-
pophleas), p. 241. THE AMERICAN COPPER,
CC. Of medium size, expanding about one and one-half
inches. (C. thoe), p. 239. THE BRONZE Copper,
BB. Hind wings with a sinuous submarginal orange line
beginning at the anal angle and fading out near the mid-
dle of the outer margin. (L£. efixanthe), p. 240.
THe PuRPLE DISK.
236
PLATE XXXVI
THE COPPERS
Fig.
1,2. The Wanderer, Feniseca farquinius, 1, upper side; 2, lower side.
3, 4. The Bronze Copper, Chrysophanus thoe; 3, male; 4, female.
5,6. The Purple Disk, Epidemia epixanthe; 5, male; 6, female.
7,8. The American Copper, Heodes hypophleas; 7, male; 8, female.
Plate XXXVI.
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
THE WANDERER
Feniseca targuinius (Fe-nis'e-ca tar-quin’i-us)
PLATE XXXVI, Fic. 1, 2
This butterfly can be readily distinguished from all other
Lyczenids in our fauna by the fact that vein M, of the fore
wings coalesces with radius for a considerable distance beyond
the apex of cell R+M. The upper surface of the wings is
dark brown, with a large, irregular orange-yellow patch on
the disk of the fore wing, and one of the same color next the
anal angle of the hind wing.
CATERPILLAR.—Length about half an inch; body rather
pointed at the ends and wide in the middle. Color brown
marked with brownish stripes.
food.—Woolly plant-lice, especially those on the alder.
If there is a place in this world more replete
with contentment than a path by an alder-fringed
brook we have failed to find it; and when we
wander along such a path we always look out for
our fellow wanderer, the little copper butterfly’
with dark blotches on its wings. We usually find
it either dashing about in quick, nervous flight
above the alders, or resting on a leaf with wings
expanded taking a sun bath, a special butterfly
luxury. The wanderer is a good and helpful friend
of the alders, and it plays about one selfsame spot
all its little life. There are a great many kinds
of blight in this world; there are blighted hopes
and blighted hearts, but an alder blight consists
237
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
of plant-lice that are covered with a white woolly
secretion. These little creatures thrust their
beaks into an alder stem and suck the juice at
their leisure; they live in compact colonies so
that the alder stem looks as if it were wound with
wool. The little butterfly mother selects a stem
so infested and lays her eggs upon it; from these
eggs hatch wee caterpillars that start at once
on their career of slaughter. When among the
aphids the caterpillar weaves about itself a silken
covering to protect it from being trod upon by
the aphids and to provide a secure place for molt-
ing; to this silk the wool of the destroyed aphids
clings and completely hides from view the little
butcher. When not among the aphids and passing
from one colony to another it spins no such tube to
cover itself. If the alder stem is jarred the cater-
pillar will detach itself from the mass of aphids and
drop to the ground; or let itself down for a lit-
tle distance by a thread of silk, a habit not com-
mon among butterfly caterpillars. Perhaps it
does this to save itself from its inveterate foes, the
ants, which attack fiercely any depredator they
find working havoc with their flock of milch
cows, the aphids. It seems to be to escape the ants
that this caterpillar hurries through its life stages,
molting only three times. The chrysalis looks
238
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
like the head of a minute monkey. There are
three broods of the wanderer in the North, and it
winters as a chrysalis. It is found from Maine
to northern Florida and westward to Kansas.
‘« Whose butterfly,’’ I said, ‘‘ are you,
And what sweet thing do you pursue ?’’
STODDARD.
THE BRoNzE CopPER
Chrysophanus thoe (Chrys-o-pha’nus tho’e)
PLATE XXXVI, Fic. 3, 4
Yn the male the wings are coppery brown above, spotted
with black, and with a broad orange-red band on the outer
margin of the hind wings; below, the front wings are very
pale orange, and the hind wings gray, both spotted with
black, the hind wings with an orange band on outer mar-
ing. The female differs in having the front wings orange-red
above with prominent black spots, and in being of a brighter
orange below than in the male. Expanse of wings one and
one-half inches or more.
CaTERPILLAR.—Slug-shaped, nearly an inch long. Color
of body bright yellowish green, with a dark green stripe down
the back.
Food-plants.—Curled dock, some species of knotweed,
prickly ash, etc.
The female of this species looks like a giant
American copper; the male has reddish-brown
wings except for a marginal border of orange on
239
%
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
the hind pair. The bronze copper is a rare in-
sect although it occurs from the Connecticut Val-
ley westward to Nebraska. Perhaps because it
is a giant of its kind it is more unwieldy in flight
than are its smaller relatives. It is fond of gold-
enrod, and finds the flowers of the Canada thistle
an attractive lounging-place. It frequents damp
places in meadows and may be found here and
there in salt marshes along the coast. It is dou-
ble-brooded, and winters as an egg.
The butterflies yellow,
As caught in an eddy
Of air’s silent ocean,
Sink, wander and steady
O’er the goat’s-beard and asters,
Like souls of dead flowers,
With aimless emotion
Still lingering unready
To leave their old bowers.
LOWELL.
THE Purple Disk
Epidemia epixanthe (Ep-i-de’mi-a ep-i-xan’the)
PLATE XXXVI, Fic. 5, 6
The wings above are brown in the male, with a strong re-
flection, in the female they are grayish brown. Both wings
are more or less spotted with black, and on the hind wings
there is a sinuous submarginal orange line, beginning at the
anal angle and fading out near the middle of the outer margin.
240
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
In the female there is a line of black spots on the outer half
of the fore wings that are wanting in the male. Below, the
wings are gray spotted with black. Expanse of wings one
inch or less.
CATERPILLAR.—Not described and food-plant unknown.
It is very little we know of this Lilliputian but-
terfly except that it requires a keen eye helped
by a robust imagination to see any purple what-
ever on its wings. The female’s wings are yellow
bronze ; but if the wings of the male are held in
the right light there is a sheen upon them that
suggests the red purple of the clover blossom.
On the under side the wings of the female are
lemon yellow, and those of the male gray with
yellowish pearly sheen. Surely size has nothing
to do with spirit, for this merest mite of a butter-
fly is a born fighter, and Mr. Saunders says soon
wears out its wings in tilts and combats at but-
terfly tournaments. It frequents cranberry bogs
and swampy meadows and is very local in its
habits. It is found in Canada and New Eng-
land and westward to Kansas.
THE AMERICAN COPPER
Heodes hypophleaas (He-o’des hyp-o-phle’as)
PLATE XXXVI, Fic. 7, 8
We have in the East two very common coppers, this species
and the female of the bronze copper, that closely resemble
241
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
each other in general appearance ; the two species present,
however, a marked difference in size. The front wings are
orange-red above spotted with black, and with a blackish
brown outer border ; the hind wings are coppery brown, witha
broad orange-red band on the outer margin; this band is indent-
ed on the outer edge with four black spots and there is a black
bar on the medial cross-veins. The lower surface of the front
wings is orange-red spotted with black, and with the outer
margin gray; the black spots are margined with white rings.
The lower surface of the hind wings is gray, marked with
smaller black spots than those of the front wings, and with a
wavy submarginal line of bright orange. Expanse of wings
one to one and one-fifth inches.
CATERPILLAR. —Slug-shaped, length nearly a half an inch.
The body is downy, and dull rosy red in color with yellow-
ish tints on the sides; or it may be green with a reddish
stripe down the back.
Lood-plant.—Sorrel.
We have always been sorry for those unfortu-
nate people who have never had a pair of these
beautiful midgets as tenants of their lawn. For
years we have had at least one pair on ours to fly
at us when we came out and by making desperate
dashes at our heads try to drive us off of what
they consider their preserves. They evidently
base their claims on the presence of sorrel, which
once we would have deemed a disgrace to any
lawn. But lawns, like children, were evidently
meant to educate their possessors ; and while we
242
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
began with strenuous effort to have only clover
and grass on ours, indefatigable Nature planted
all things there as soon as our backs were turned.
After a time we grew in grace and came to love
the dandelions and dock, orchard grass, and white
daisies ; and more than all do we appreciate the
rosy bloom which sorrel lends to our posses-
sions, especially, because of it, a pair of American
coppers live with us. In early summer they
are always there, these little fractions of red
sunshine, dancing about or wrestling in the air
with each other and chasing off intruders. Once
we saw them attack a tiger swallow-tail and drive
him off the premises; and once we saw them
chase a huge bulldog with the same confidence
and aplomb. It is always a joy to us to watch
one alight on a flower, it has such an alert air
while it orients itself by turning around and
around like a dog before he hes down. It is
especially fond of the blossoms of white clover,
and unless engaged in a fight it usually flies rather
low. When a pair begins housekeeping they se-
lect some site and never stray far from it during
the entire season. The caterpillar is shaped like a
spindle cut in halves lengthwise ; it is sorrel color,
and so is protected. The chrysalis is hidden be-
neath sticks and stones. The species occurs in
243
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
Canada, the Northern States, and in the Alleghany
Mountains southward to Georgia. It is double-
brooded in the North and triple-brooded in the
South, and winters as a chrysalis.
From cocoon forth a butterfly
As lady from her door
Emerged—a summer afternoon—
Repairing everywhere,
Without design, that I could trace,
Except to stray abroad
On miscellaneous enterprise
The clovers understood.
EMILY DICKINSON.
THE BLUES
The Blues may be distinguished from the other gossa-
mer-winged butterflies by the slender form of the body and
the blue color of the upper surface of the wings. This isa
rather difficult group to study owing to the fact that in several
cases a single species exists under two or more distinct forms,
and also that the two sexes of the same species may differ
greatly. It often happens that two individuals of the same
sex but of different species resemble each other more closely in
the coloring of the upper surface than do the two sexes of
either of the species. In each of our Eastern species the upper
surface of the wings of the female is much darker than that of
the male.
Fifty North American species have been described ; but
most of these occur only in the far West. Four species occur
in the East; these can be separated as follows:
244
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
A. Hind wings without tails.
B. Eyes hairy.
C. Lower surface of the wings slate brown. (JV. Jygda-
mus), P. 245. THE SILVERY BLuE.
CC. Lower surface of the wings pale ash-gray. (C.
ladon), p. 249. THE SPRING AZURE,
BB. Eyes naked. (2. scudderi), p. 246.
SCUDDER’S BLUE.
AA. Hind wings with a slender taillike prolongation. (Z.
comyntas), Pp. 254. Tue TaILeD BLUE.
THE SILVERY BLUE
Nomiades lygdamus (No-mi'a-des lyg’da-mus)
PLATE XXXVII, Fic. 1, 2,3
Wings above pale, glistening, frosty blue, narrowly bor-
dered in the male and widely in the female with blackish
brown. Wings beneath uniform, slate brown, with or with-
out a black spot in cell R + M of each wing, with a black
line or bar bordered with white on the medial cross-veins, and
with a row of conspicuous black spots edged with white cross-
ing the middle of the outer half of the wing. On the hind
wings there is an additional spot near the extremity of the
basal third of cell R,. Expanse of wings one to one anda half
inches.
The adults occur in the spring in Ohio, Michigan, and
Wisconsin, and in the Atlantic States from the upper waters
of the Susquehanna to Georgia.
CATERPILLAR.—Early stages unknown.
17 245
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
There are several things in this world that it
were better to know nothing about, such as a
perfect passage of music or a bit of exquisite
color. Both were meant to appeal to the soul
through the senses, and knowledge about them
is superfluous and a distracting factor. There-
fore we feel a certain satisfaction in not being
able to give any facts about the life history of
the silvery blue. All that we know is that it
bears on its wings a blue found nowhere else in
the world except in the pearly spectrum of the
sea-shell, and that it gladdens the springtime in
Ohio and Michigan and Wisconsin, and the At-
lantic States as far south as Georgia. But whence
it comes, or whither it goes, or what sort of an
herb is privileged to assist in bringing such a
divine bit of color in the world we know not.
SCUDDER’S BLUE
Rusticus scudderi (Rus'ti-cus scud’der-i)
PLATE XXXVII, Fic. 4, 5, 6
The eyes are naked. In both sexes the costal edge of the
fore wings is white. In the males the wings are of a uniform
purplish violet above, narrowly margined with blackish
brown; in the female the violet is confined to a small portion
of the disk of the wing, the larger part of the wing being
dark brown. In this sex there is a submarginal series of
roundish dark brown spots in the cells of the hind wings;
246
PLATE XXXVII
THE BLUES
Fig.
I, 2,3. The Silvery Blue, Nomiades lygdamus,; 1, male; 2, female; 3,
lower side of wings.
4, 5, 6. Scudder’s Blue, Rusticus scudderi; 4, lower side of wings; 5,
male; 6, female.
4, 8,9. The Tailed Blue, Everes comyntas; 7, male; 8, female; 9, a
small, dark female.
9
Plate XXXVII,
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
these spots are more or less surmounted and embraced by
orange lunules. Beneath in both sexes the wings are pale
hoary slate gray. On the fore wings the medial cross-veins
bear a black spot encircled with white ; beyond this there is a
series of six similar spots. Between this series and the outer
margin there is a series of pale orange or whitish spots bor-
dered within and without with black. The hind wings are
marked in a similar manner; there are eight spots in the
series next beyond the medial cross-veins, and on the base of
the wing there is a transverse series of four or more less dis-
tinct black spots. The orange spots are more distinctly
marked than on the fore wings, and the outer black border
of these spots is more or less covered with pale metallic green-
ish scales. Expanse of wings one inch.
This is a Canadian butterfly ; but it occurs in certain parts
of New York and probably in New England. The species
is two-brooded.
CaTERPILLAR.—Length, about one-half inch. Color pea-
green with a yellowish tinge on the sides of the abdomen.
Body is sparsely covered with short hairs and the body walls
are rather transparent.
Food-plant.—Wild lupine.
Surely it must be one of Mr. Scudder's com.
pensations for a lifetime of infinitely patient and
loving research in the habits of butterflies that
this beautiful little creature bears his name. Far
better to have a name preserved on glinting
wings than on tablets of stone, for stone crum-
bles in the course of time; but every summer
247
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
when the wild roses bloom through all the future
centuries this butterfly will come and tell to a
glad world that the life of a great and noble man
was lived in closest touch with Nature.
There is a purple tinge to the sapphire irides-
cent wings of Scudder’s blue; and the female has
a row of orange spots with black centers border-
ing her hind wings and just a hint of a similar
border on the front wings. The species is Cana-
dian, though it occurs in New England and New
York. It flies close to the ground, and loves to
collect in large numbers about damp places look-
ing from a distance like a still pool mirroring the
sky.
The caterpillar is a flexible, extensible little
creature and loves to poke its tiny head between
the upper and lower surface of a leaf and suck
the soft juices. No need of vivisection in order
to study the internal anatomy of this caterpillar,
for all its inner workings may be seen through
the transparent body walls. It: secretes honey-
dew and is in high favor with the ants.
“« See a little blue butterfly fluttering about on the dry brown
leaves in a warm place by the swamp side, making a pleasant
contrast.’’ THOREAU.
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
THE SPRING AZURE
Cyaniris ladon (Cy-a-ni'ris la’don)
PLATE XXXVIII, Fic. 1-13
In this species the hind wings are without tails, the eyes
are hairy, and the lower surface of the wings is pale ash-gray.
This combination of characters will distinguish it from all
other blues occurring in the eastern United States. But the
species is not confined to this region, as it occurs in nearly all
parts of the United States and in a large part of Canada.
This butterfly exhibits a very complicated polymorphism,
both seasonal and sexual; nine forms are now recognized and
named ; of these five occur in the East. The five eastern
forms can be separated by the following table based on the
publications of Mr. Edwards.
A. The spots on the outer margin of the lower surface of the
wings blurred so as to form a continuous band (Plate
XXXVIII, Fig. 2, 5).
B. The spots in the middle of the lower surface of the
hind wings also blurred. (C. /adon lucia.)
THE NoRTHERN SPRING Form.
BB. The spots in the middle of the hind wing distinct. (C.
ladon marginata.) THE MARGINED SPRING FORM.
AA. The spots on the lower surface of wings not blurred
(Plate XXXVIII, Fig. 8, 13).
B. Markings on lower side of wings comparatively heavy.
Early spring butterflies. (C. dadon violacea.)
Tue TypicaL SPRING Form.
BB. Markings on lower side of wings lighter.
249
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
C. Larger butterflies, expanding one and three-eighths
inches. (C. ladon ladon.)
THe Late SPRING Form.
CC. Smaller butterflies, expanding one and _ three-six-
teenths inches. (C. /adon neglecta.)
THE SUMMER Form.
(1) The northern spring form, Cyaniris ladon lucia.—This
is more heavily marked on the lower surface than either of
the other forms ; the spots on the outer margin of the lower
surface of the wings are blurred so as to form a continuous
band, and usually the markings in the middle of the hind
wings are also blurred and run together to a considerable
extent. It occurs in Canada and in the northern portions of
the eastern United States. Where it occurs it is the first
butterfly of the season, excepting those species (the angle-
wings) that hibernate in the adult state.
(2) The margined spring form, Cyaniris ladon marginata.
—There is a heavily marked form occurring in the spring in
which the markings in the middle of the under surface of the
hind wings are quite distinct, but those of the margin of the
wing are blurred, making a continuous band. This form
does not extend as far north as Zzcra, the northern limit of its
range being about lat. 45° on the Atlantic coast.
(3) The typical spring form, Cyaniris ladon violacea.—In
this form the markings of the lower side of the wings are quite
heavy, but they are not blurred as in the other two spring
forms. In the southern part of its range, say south of lat.
38°, violacea is dimorphic, the males appearing under two
forms, one blue above, the normal wo/acea, and the other
dark brown, C. ladon violacea-nigra.
250
PLATE XXXVIII
THE SPRING AZURE
(Cyaniris ladon)
Fig.
1, 2. The Northern Spring Form, Cyaniris ladon lucia; 1, male; 2, lower
side of wings.
3, 4,5. The Margined Spring Form, Cyaniris ladon marginata; 3, male;
4, female; 5, lower side of wings.
6, 7,8. The Typical Spring Form, Cyaniris ladon violacea; 6, male; 7,
female; 8, lower side of wings.
g, 10. The Late Spring Form, Cyaniris ladon ladon; 9, male; 10, female.
11, 12,13. The Summer Form, Cyaniris ladon neglecta; 11, male; 12,
female; 13, lower side of wings.
Plate XXXVI.
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
(4) The late spring form, Cyaniris ladon ladon.—In the
southern part of the range of the species, 7. e. south of lat.
40° on the Atlantic coast but as far north as Montana in the
West, there appears, from over-wintering chrysalids, but con-
siderably later than the forms described above, a fourth spring
form. This is the largest form of the species, expanding one
and four-tenths inches ; and the spots on the under side are
much smaller than in either of the preceding forms. This
form has been known as pseudargiolus ; but ladon is the older
name.
(5) The summer form, Cyaniris ladon negtecta—In the
more northern portions of the range of the species, 7. e. north
of Montreal, this butterfly is single-brooded ; but south of that
region asecond generation of butterflies is produced from eggs
laid by the spring forms. This generation appears in June,
and a third generation may appear in the fall. Both of these
generations are of the type known as neglecta. This form
resembles the late spring form in markings, but is smaller, not
expanding more than one and one-tenth inches.
Mr. Scudder does not regard weg/ecta as distinct from C.
ladon ladon, or pseudargiolus as it has been more commonly
termed ; according to this view zeglecfa is one of the spring
forms as well as ##e summer form. And we have had diffi-
culty in separating the two by the characteristic of size as
given in the table above.
The following table, based on the publications of Mr. W.
H. Edwards, indicates the distribution of the forms described
above:
bo
51
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE EAST OF
THE FORMS OF THE SPRING AZURE
BoreaL America (Labrador to Alaska).
Only one brood, dimorphic.
C. ladon lucta.
C. ladon violacea.
Lat. 45°-41° N. (Montreal to Long Island).
5 8
Two broods.
I. Winter Forms or first generation.
C. ladon lucia.
C. ladon marginata.
C. ladon violacea.
II. Summer Form or second generation.
C. ladon neglecta.
Lat. 41°-38° or 39° N. (Long Island to West Virginia).
I, Winter Forms or first generation.
C. ladon violacea.
C. ladon ladon.
Il. Summer Form or second generation.
C. ladon neglecta.
SOUTH OF 38° OR 39° N. (West Virginia to Gulf of Mexico).
I. Winter Forms or first generation.
C. ladon violacea (male and female).
C. ladon violacea-nigra (male).
C. ladon ladon.
II. Summer Form or second generation.
C. ladon neglecta.
Remarkable organs exist in the seventh and eighth ab-
dominal segments of the larve of certain Lyczenids. These
252
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
have been studied more carefully in this than in other species.
There is a slit on the middle line of the dorsal part of the
seventh abdominal segment. From this opening the cater-
pillar can protrude a membranous vesicle, from the summit
of which exudes a small drop of clear, sweet fluid, a kind of
honey-dew. Ants feed upon this ; and there doubtless exists
between the Lyceenid larve possessing this organ and various
species of ants relations similar to those existing between
aphids and ants; as Mr. Edwards observed an ant successfully
defend a larva of the spring azure from an attack of an ichneu-
mon-fly. Upon the eighth abdominal segment there is a pair
of openings from each of which can be protruded a membra-
nous tube, furnished at the tip with numerous, long, slender
tentacles. These in turn are armed with fine filamentous
spurs disposed in whorls. The function of these organs has
not been determined; they may be scent-organs for the
attraction of ants.
CATERPILLAR.—Length, two-fifths of an inch ; slug-shaped,
dark brown head. Body white with a dusky line down the
back and a greenish tinge along the sides.
Food-plants.—Dogwood, Actinomeris, black snakeroot, su-
mac, Spireea, and others.
In the early spring when we are weary of
winter this butterfly appears in our path like a
fleck of the welcome blue sky above. It flits
about on uncertain wing or loafs about damp
places or hovers about the forest mantle. It is
one of the butterflies that we have repeatedly
seen winging lazily in and out the topmost
253
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
branches of a chestnut oak in front of our win-
dows. What though the spring azure appears in
Protean forms! The more incarnations of a
butterfly so beautiful the better.
The spring azure’s caterpillar loves to bore into
the very heart of the flower, and is of undoubted
assistance to Nature in her great work of blossom
pruning.
Or is thy luster drawn from heavenly hues,
A sumptuous drifting fragment of the sky?
T. W. Hiccrinson.
THE TalLeD BLUE
Lveres comyntas (E-ve'res co-myn’tas)
PLATE XXXVII, Fic. 7, 8, 9
The possession of taillike prolongations of the hind wings
distinguishes this butterfly from the other blues occurring in
our Eastern fauna. ‘The males are dark purplish violet above
bordered with brown, the females dark brown, sometimes
flecked with bluish scales. In both sexes there are several
black spots and one or two orange crescents on the outer
margin of the hind wings. Beneath, the wings are whitish
gray, and marked somewhat like the lighter forms of the pre-
ceding species, except in the presence of orange crescents near
the anal angle of the hind wings. Expanse of wings about
one inch.
CATERPILLAR.—Length one-third of an inch; slug-shaped.
Head very small and black. Body downy, dark green in
254
THE GOSSAMER-WINGED BUTTERFLIES
color with a dusky stripe down the back, and faint oblique
markings along the sides of similar color.
Loot-plants.—F lowers of clover and other legumes.
This species has much purple in its changeable
wings, but it is hidden under brown in the wings
of the female. The tail, which gives the name to
the species, is the merest black thread, but its
tip is white and it is much more impressive when
viewed through a lens. The tailed blue is in
possession of the greater part of America from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Isthmus to
the British dominions. It loves overgrown roads
and paths, the more neglected the better. It has
a rapid, nervous flight and alights frequently. So
rapid are its maneuvers in the air that the eye
can not follow it. The caterpillar likes best the
flowers of its food-plant, and especially enjoys
boring into the calyx, although it has been ob-
served feeding upon the terminal leaves of clover.
The species is triple-brooded.
Bubble, bubble flows the stream,
Like a song heard in a dream.
A white-faced hornet hurtles by,
Lags a turquoise butterfly—
One intent on prey and treasure,
One afloat on tides of pleasure !
MauricE THOMPSON.
255
PART III
THE SKIPPERS
Superfamily Hesperioidea (Hes-per-i-oi’de-a)
Tue skippers are commonly classed with the butterflies ;
for this reason they are discussed here, although the writer
believes that they consti-
tute a superfamily distinct
from the butterflies.
The skippers are so called
on account of their peculiar
mode of flight. They fly
in the daytime and dart
suddenly from place to
place. When at rest most
species hold the wings erect
in a vertical position like
butterflies; in some the
fore wings are thus held
while the hind wings are
extended horizontally; and
a few extend both pairs of
wings horizontally. The
antenne are threadlike,
and enlarged toward the
tip; but in most cases the
Fic. 41.—Venation of the wings of ie? .
Epargyreus lityrus. extreme tip is pointed and
THE SKIPPERS
recurved, forming a hook. The abdomen is usually stout, re-
sembling that of a moth rather than that of a butterfly. The
skippers are most easily distinguished by the peculiar venation
of the fore wings, radius being five-branched, and all the
branches arising from cell R+M (Fig. 41). In some but-
terflies all the branches of radius appear to arise from the
cell R+M; but this is because two of the branches coalesce
to the margin of the wing. In such butterflies radius appears
to be only four-branched.
This superfamily includes two families—the Giant Skippers,
Megathymide, and the Common Skippers, Hesperiidae. These
can be distinguished as follows :
A. Head of moderate size; club of antenna large, neither
drawn out at the tip nor recurved. Large skippers, with
wing expanse of two inches or more, p. 258.
THE GIANT SKIPPERS.
AA. Head very large ; club of antenna usually drawn out at
the tip, and with a distinct recurved apical crook. In a
few forms the crook of the antennz is wanting ; such forms
can be distinguished from the Megathymide by their
smaller size, the wing expanse being less than one and
one-fourth inches, p. 260. THE COMMON SKIPPERS.
257
FAMILY I
THE GIANT SKIPPERS
Family Megathymidz (Meg-a-thym’i-dz)
Tuis family includes a small number of large skippers, which
are found in the South and far West. In the adult insect the
head is of moderate size, the width, including the eyes, being
much less than that of the metathorax. The club of the
antenne is large, and although the tip is turned slightly to
one side, it is neither drawn out to a point nor recurved. The
body is very robust, even more so than in the common skip- .
pers. These insects fly in the daytime and witha rapid, dart-
ing flight. When at rest they fold their wings in a vertical
position.
This family is represented in the United States by a single
genus including five species. The two following are the best-
known species.
THE COFAQUI SKIPPER
Megathymus cofagui (Meg-a-thy’mus cof-a-qui’)
The female of this species is represented by Fig. 42. The
male differs in the smaller size of the spots on the fore wing,
in lacking the band of spots on the hind wing, and in hav-
ing the upper surface of the hind wing nearly covered with
long fine black hairs, which stand nearly erect. This species
has been found in Florida and Colorado.
258
THE GIANT SKIPPERS
THE YUCCA-BORER
Megathymus yucce (Meg-a-thy’mus yuc’ce)
The female of this species differs from that of the preceding
in having much darker wings, all of the spots being smaller,
and in having only one or two white spots on the lower sur-
face of the hind wings. The male lacks the erect hairs on
Fic. 42.—The cofaqui skipper, Megathymus cofaqut.
the hind wings. The larva bores in the stem and root of the
Yucca or Spanish Bayonet. It differs greatly in appearance
from the larvee of the Hesperiidz, having asmall head. This
species is widely distributed through the southern part of our
country.
FAMILY II
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
Family Hesperiidz (Hes-pe-ri'i-dz)
Tue family Hesperiidze includes all skippers found in the
United States except those already described as the giant
skippers. Fig. 41 represents the venation of a member of
this family.
The larvze of the common skippers presents a very character-
istic appearance, having large heads and strongly constricted
necks (Fig. 43). They
usually live concealed
in a folded leaf or in
a nest made of sev-
eral leaves fastened
together. The pupz
Fic. 43.—Larva of the silver-spotted
skipper. are rounded, not an-
gular, resembling
those of moths more than those of butterflies. The pupa state
is passed in a slight cocoon, which is generally composed of
leaves fastened together with silk and thinly lined with the
same substance.
The family Hesperiidz includes three subfamilies; one
of these is represented in this country by a single species
found in Arizona and Mexico. The other two subfamilies
can be separated by the following table :
260
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
A. Vein M, of the fore wings arising much nearer to vein M,
than to vein M,, the base of the vein usually curving notice-
ably toward vein M (Fig.
44); antenne usually end-
ing with a finely pointed
terminal crook, occasionally
without crook and ending
bluntly ; males usually with
a brand on the fore wings,
never with a costal fold.
(famphiline), p. 261.
SKIPPERS WITH A BRAND
AND THEIR ALLIES
AA. Vein M, of the fore wings
retaining its primitive posi-
3d A
tion midway between veins ; :
Fic. 44.—Venation of the wings
M, and M,, or nearer to vein Gr Epraaiesniaens:
M, than to M, at base (Fig.
41); antennz usually with a long club which is bent at a
considerable distance from the tip ; males almost invariably
with a costal fold, never with a brand. (Hesperiing), p. 288.
SKIPPERS WITH A CosTAL FOLD AND THEIR ALLIES.
SKIPPERS WITH A BRAND AND THEIR ALLIES
Subfamily Pamphilinz (Pam-phi-li’ne)
This subfamily includes the greater number of our smaller
skippers; some of the species, however, surpass in size
many of the Hesperiine. To the Pamphiline belong all of
our common tawny skippers, as well as some black or dark-
18 261
HOW TO KNOW THE. BUTTERFLIES
brown species. The antenne usually have a stout club, with
a short recurved tip; sometimes this tip is wanting. Vein
M, of the fore wings arises much nearer to vein M, than to
vein M,, the base of the vein usually curving noticeably to-
ward vein M, (Fig. 44). In the majority of our species the
males can be recognized ata glance by a conspicuous patch
crossing the disk of the fore wings, which usually appears to the
naked eye like a scorched, oblique
streak, and which, on this account, is
termed the brand (Fig. 45). The
brand is a complicated organ, com-
posed of tubular scales, the azdroconia,
that are the outlets of scent-glands,
Tic. 45.—A male skip-
: and of other scales of various shapes ;
per with a brand. pore
in some species the brand is wanting.
This subfamily is an exceedingly difficult one to study, as
the differences between allied species in many cases is very
slight. Another confusing feature is the fact that in very
many cases either sex resembles the same sex of other species
much more closely than it does the opposite sex of the same
species ; and, too, in several species there are two distinct forms
of females which differ in appearance from each other more
than either does from the females of certain other species. In
the latter case the species is represented by three distinct
forms, one male and two female.
More than one hundred species have been described from
America north of Mexico; the more common species that
occur in the East are described below and can be separated
by the following table :
A. Fringe of wings conspicuously marked with alternating
colors. (Amblyscirtes.)
262
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
B. The pale markings on the under surface of the hind
wings obscure, the whole wing flecked with lilac scales
on a purplish ground. (A. walis), p. 270.
THE ROADSIDE SKIPPER.
BB. Markings on under surface of hind wings distinct, the
whole wing flecked with pale yellowish-green scales on
a dark brown ground. (A. samoset), p. 271.
THE PEPPER-AND-SALT SKIPPER.
AA. Fringe of wings not marked with alternating colors.
B. Club of antennze without a recurved apical hook, re-
sembling the antennee of butterflies.
C. Under surface of hind wings with silvery white spots.
(P. palemon), p. 272. THE ARCTIC SKIPPER.
CC. Under surface of hind wings without silvery white
spots.
D. Upper surface of hind wings yellow, with the cos-
tal and outer margins blackish brown. (4. nusmt-
Zor), p. 272. THe Least SKIPPER.
DD. Upper surface of hind wings of a uniform brown.
(O. poweshetk), p. 273. THE POWESHEIK SKIPPER.
BB. Club of antennz with a recurved apical hook.
C. Exceptionally large species, the wings expanding
about two inches. With a well-marked vestigial vein
in cell R + M of the fore wing. (C. ethtius), p. 285.
THE BRAZILIAN SKIPPER.
CC. Species of moderate size, the expanse of the wings
rarely exceeding one and one-half inches. No vestig-
ial vein in cell R + Mof the forewing. (Zhe Erynnis
Group.)
263
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
D. The upper surface of the wings black or dark black-
ish brown, this color extending quite uniformly over
the entire wings excepting for some well-defined
whitish or tawny spots of small or moderate size ; in
some species the wings are without spots.
E. Wings without whitish or tawny spots both above
and below.
F. Fore wings with a brand. (Z. vestris), p. 283.
THE Dun SKIPPER (male).
FF. Fore wings without a brand. (£. fusca),
p. 284. THE SWARTHY SKIPPER.
KE. Wings with whitish or tawny spots, either above
or below or both.
F. Lower surface of hind wings yellow with dark
brown spots, the yellow extending to the outer
margin of the wing. (Z- drettus), p. 279.
THE WHIRLABoUT (female).
FF. Lower surface of hind wings with a large,
bright spot covering the central portion of the
wing but not extending to the outer margin. (P.
massasoit), p. 273. THE MuLBERRY WING.
FFF. Lower surface of hind wings mottled with
reddish brown, the outer third sprinkled with
bluish scales. (A. zabulon), p. 274.
THE ZABULON SKIPPER (female).
FFFF. Lower surface of hind wings dark black-
ish brown.
G. Lower surface of hind wings without spots.
(&. vestris), p. 283. THE Dun SKIPPER.
264
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
GG. Lower surface of the hind wings with a
conspicuous V-shaped band, the apex of the
V pointing toward the outer margin of the
wing. (&. metea), p. 277.
THE CoBWEB SKIPPER (female).
GGG. Lower surface of hind wings with a
curved row of small, indistinct spots on the
outer half.
H. Fore wings with a brand (males).
I. The brand consisting of two separate
black patches. (Z. otho egeremet),
p. 280.
THE OTHO SKIPPER (Black Form).
II. The brand continuous. (£. verna),
p- 283. Tue LItTLe GLass-winc.
HH. Fore wings without a brand (females).
I. Terminal crook of the antenne longer
than the width of the club. (£&. vestris
metacomet), p. 283.
THE Dun SKIPPER.
II. Crook of the antenne shorter than the
width of the club.
J. The transverse row of spots beyond
the middle of the fore wing abbrevi-
ated, lacking the spots in cells R, and
Cu. (ZL. otho egeremet), p. 279.
THE OTHO SKIPPER.
JJ. The transverse row of spots not ab-
breviated.
265
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
K. Lower surface of hind wings tinged
with a yellowish snuff-color; the
white spot in cell Cu, of the fore
wings smaller than in the following
species. (See Plate XLII, Fig. 8.)
(Z. manataagua), p. 286.
THE CROSS-LINE SKIPPER.
KK. Lower surface of hind wings
tinged with ruddy purplish ; spot
in cell Cu, of the fore wings larger.
(Plate XLI, Fig. 14). (£. verna),
Pp. 283.
THE LITTLE GLASS-WING.
DD. The upper surface of the wings largely tawny ex-
cepting a more or less distinct outer-marginal band
and sometimes a blackish basal area.
E. Ground color of lower side of hind wings green-
ish yellow spotted with distinct dark brown spots.
(TZ. brettus), p.279. THE WHIRLABOUT (male).
EE. Lower side of hind wings not marked with dis-
tinct spots that are of a darker color than the
ground color.
F. Lower surface of hind wings with a row of
spots beyond the middle of the wing, the spots
lighter than the ground color.
G. The spot between veins M, and M, of the
lower side of the hind wing (vein M, is want-
ing) extending to the base of the wing through
cellR+M. (Plate XLII, Fig. 12.) (7 via-
zor), p. 287. THE BROAD-WINGED SKIPPER.
266
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
GG. The spot between veins M, and M,, not
extending into cell R + M.
H. The spots on the outer half of the lower
side of the hind wings forming a continu-
ous V-shaped band not interrupted by
darker scales on the veins. (£. metea),
p.277. THE COBWEB SKIPPER (male).
HH. The spots on the outer half of the lower
side of the hind wings more or less dis-
tinctly separated by darker scales on the
veins.
I. Lower side of fore wings with a large
distinct light-colored patch just beyond
the middle in cell Cu.
J. The spots on the outer half of the
lower side of the hind wings very dis-
tinct, being either silvery white or a
bright yellow.
K. Ground color of lower side of the
hind wings green. (ZL. comma), p.
276. THE CANADIAN SKIPPER.
KK. Ground color of lower side of
hind wings brown. (4. deonardus),
p. 277. LEONARD’S SKIPPER.
JJ. The spots on the outer half of the
lower side of the hind wings tawny,
sometimes inconspicuous.
K. Upper surface of hind wings with
a row of distinct spots beyond the
middle.
267
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
L. Spots in cells M, and Cu, of fore
wings translucent. (/Z. campes-
tris), p. 278.
THE SACHEM (female).
LL. Spots in cells M, and Cu,
tawny. (Z: mystic), p. 281.
THE Lone Dasu.
KK. Upper surface of hind wings
with a discal patch of yellow. (2.
Sassacus), Pp. 276.
THE INDIAN SKIPPER.
II. Lower side of fore wings without a
light-colored patch in cell Cu or with a
diffused indistinct one.
J. Fore wings with a brand.
K. Fore wings with a broad yellow
band separating the brand from the
dark outer border of the wing and
extending back to the anal vein.
(LZ. pontiac), p. 285.
Tue Brack DasH (male).
KK. The dark outer border of the
wing extending to the brand except
where it is interrupted by some
small yellow spots.
L. The brand consisting of two vel-
vety black patches separated by
a patch of large scales of a lighter
color. (TZ: othe), p. 279.
THE OTHO SKIPPER (male).
268
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
LL. The brand not divided by a
patch of large scales. (Z. man-
ataagua), p. 286.
THE CROSS-LINE SKIPPER (male).
JJ. Fore wings without a brand.
K. With a distinct band of yellow
spots on the upper surface of hind
wings. (ZL. pontiac), p. 285.
THe Brack Das (female).
KK. The spots on the upper surface
of hind wings absent or only faintly
indicated. (Z° ofthe), p. 279.
THe OTHO SKIPPER (female).
FF. Lower surface of the hind wings either with-
out spots or with a large central patch lighter
than the ground color.
G. Lower surface of hind wings with a well-
marked central yellow patch.
H. Upper surface of fore wings chiefly yellow
except the outer marginal band.
I. Fore wings with a brand. (H. campes-
tris), p. 278. THE SACHEM (male).
II. Fore wings without a brand.
J. The central yellow patch of the lower
side of the hind wings covering the
larger part of the wing. (A. zadulon),
p- 274.
THE ZABULON SKIPPER (male).
269
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
JJ. The central yellow patch of the
lower side of the hind wings cover-
ing less than half of the wing. (4.
hobomok), p. 275. THE Mormon.
HH. Upper surface of fore wings chiefly
brown. (2. feckius), p. 282.
THE YELLOW Spot.
GG. Lower surface of hind wings without a
central yellow patch or at most with a paler
central area.
H. Lower surface of hind wings blackish
brown.
I. Lower surface of hind wings with a paler
central area. (4. hobomok pocahontas), p.
275. THe Mormon (black female).
II. Lower surface of hind wings uniformly
dark. (TZ. cernes), p. 281.
THE TAWNY-EDGED SKIPPER.
HH. Lower surface of hind wings yellow.
I. Fore wings with a brand. (A. camfpes-
tris), p. 278. THE SACHEM (male).
II. Fore wings without a brand. (P. witel-
fius), p. 288. THE VITELLIUS SKIPPER.
THE ROADSIDE SKIPPER
Amblyscirtes vialis (Am-bly-scir’tes vi-a’lis)
PLATE XXXIX, Fic. 1, 2
The upper surface of the wings is dark blackish brown ; the
fore wings have three small white spots in cells R,, R,, and
270
PLATE XXXIX
SKIPPERS WITH A BRAND AND THEIR ALLIES
Fig.
1,2. The Roadside Skipper, A mb/yscirtes vialis; 1, upper side; 2, lower
side of wings.
3, 4. The Pepper-and-Salt Skipper, Amb/yscirtes samoset; 3, lower side
of wings; 4, upper side.
5,6. The Arctic Skipper, Pamphila palamon; 5, upper side; 6, lower
side of wings. :
7. The Powesheik Skipper, Oarisma powescheik.
8. The Least Skipper, Ancyloxipha numitor.
9, 10. The Mulberry-wing, Poanes massasoit, male; 9, lower side of
wings; ro, upper side.
11, 12,13. The Zabulon Skipper, Aérytone zabulon; 11, male; 12, fe-
male; 13, lower side of wings of female.
14. The Mormon, Aérytone hobomok.
15,16. The Mormon, the Dark Female Form, Aérytone hobomok poca-
hontas; 15, upper side; 16, lower side of wings.
17, 18, 19. The Canadian Skipper, Erynnis comma; 17, male; 18, fe-
male; 19, lower side of wings.
18
19
LZ
Plate XXXIX,
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
R,, and are with or without an inconspicuous pale spot in cell
Cu,; sometimes there are also fainter spots in cells M, and
M
without markings. On the lower surface the markings of the
,» the fore wings of the male lack the brand; hind wings
upper surface are repeated, and the wings are sprinkled with
lilac scales. Fringes of the wings gray spotted with dark
brown at the ends of the veins. Expanse of wings one inch.
Distributed from Maine to Florida and west-
ward to Montana. Larva feeds on grasses.
THE PEPPER-AND-SALT SKIPPER
Amblyscirtes samoset (Am-bly-scir’tes sam/o-set)
PLATE XXXIX, FIG. 3, 4
The upper surface of the wings is a rich dark brown; the
fore wings have three small white spots in cells R,, R,, and
R,, as in the preceding species, and also distinct spots in cells
Cu,, M,, and M, ; the fore wings of the male lack the brand ;
on the hind wings there is sometimes an indistinct band on
the outer half of the wing. On the lower surface the wings
are lighter, being overlaid with greenish scales, the markings of
the upper surface are repeated and are more distinct; the
band on the outer half of the hind wings is distinct, and also
several spots on the basal half of the wing. The fringes of the
wings are white marked with dark brown at the ends of the
veins. Expanse of wings one and one-tenth inches.
Occurs in the Northern and Middle States and
west to Iowa.
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE ARCTIC SKIPPER
Lamphila palemon (Pam'phi-la pa-le’mon)
PLATE XXXIX, Fic. 5, 6
This well-marked species differs in appearance from all
other skippers in our fauna; it can be easily recognized by the
figure. The club of the antenne lacks a recurved apical
hook ; the upper side of the wings is dark brown conspicu-
ously marked with yellow spots, as shown in the figure; the
fore wings of the male lack the brand ; the spots on the lower
side of the hind wings are silvery white. Expanse of wings
one and one-eighth inches.
This is a Canadian species which is distributed
from Hudson Bay south to the mountains of
New England. The larva feeds on grasses.
THE Least SKIPPER
Ancyloxipha numitor (An-cy-lox’i-pha nu'mi-tor)
PLATE XXXIX, Fic. 8
This is the smallest of our common species. As in the pre-
ceding species and the one immediately following, the club of
the antennze lacks a recurved apical hook. The wings are
tawny, broadly margined with dark brown; in some specimens
the fore wings are almost entirely brown ; the fore wings of
the male lack the brand. The larger individuals expand about
one inch.
Occurs throughout the eastern United States.
The larva feeds on grasses in damp places.
272
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
THE POWESHEIK SKIPPER
Oarisma powesheik (O-a-ris'ma_ pow’e-sheik)
PLATE XXXIX, Fic. 7
In this species, as in the two preceding, the club of the
antennze lacks the terminal hook. The upper surface of both
fore and hind wings is dark brown ; the costal margin of the
fore wings to near the apex is dull yellow ; the fore wings of
the male lack the brand. Expanse of wings one and one-fifth
inches.
This is a Western species, occurring in Illinois,
Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota, and Montana.
Powesheik was the name of a friendly chief of
Territorial times in the West.
THE MuLserry-WING
Poanes massasoit (Po'a-nes mas-3a-so’it)
PLATE XXXIX, FIG. 9, 10
The upper surface of the wings is blackish brown; the
fringe of the wings is slightly paler, and yellowish at the anal
angle. In the female there are three small, yellow spots near
the apex of the fore wing, and two larger ones in cells M, and
Cu,; on the hind wing there is a row of spots just beyond
the middle of the wing. In the male the upper surface of
the wings may be without spots, the brand is lacking. On
the lower surface of the hind wings there is a large central
bright straw-yellow spot.
The Suffused Form, Poanes massasoit suffusa.—In this form
the yellow markings of the lower side of the hind wings are
273
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERPLIES
almost obliterated by a suffusion of dark brown, while the
lower side of the fore wings is of a uniform dark brown, the
light-colored margin found in the normal form being entirely
wanting. The yellow spots on the upper surface of the wings
of the female are also wanting.
Occurs in the Eastern and Middle States,
Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas.
THE ZABULON SKIPPER
Atrytone sabulon (At-ry-to’ne zab’u-lon)
PruATE MRXIX, Fic. 2a, 13, 33
The two sexes of this skipper differ greatly in appearance,
the male being chiefly yellow, the female black. In the made
the upper surface of the wings is pale dull yellow, dusky at
base, and with the margins, except the costal margin of the
fore wings, bordered with blackish brown. There is a black
bar at the end of cell R+M of the fore wings, but no brand.
The lower surface of the wings is also largely yellow; the
yellow central patch of the hind wings covers the greater part
of the wing.
In the female the wings are dark blackish brown; the
fore wings are crossed by a row of light spots, as shown in
Fig. 12 of Plate XX XIX. On the lower surface the spots on
the fore wings are larger than above; the hind wings are mot-
tled with reddish brown, and have the outer third sprinkled
with bluish scales.
Occurs throughout the eastern United States,
except in the extreme South. Larva feeds on
grass.
274
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
THe Mormon
Atrytone hobomok (At-ry-to’ne ho-bo’mok)
PLATE XXXIX, Fic. 14, 15, 16
The common name of this species refers to the fact that the
female is dimorphic; there being a yellow form, which clearly
resembles the male, and a dark brown form, which differs so
markedly in appearance that it was first described as a distinct
species.
The male and the yellow female closely resemble the male
of the preceding species, of which until recently they have
been considered a variety. As in that species, the upper sur-
face of the wings is pale yellow, dusky at base, and with the
margins, except the costal margin of the fore wings, bordered
with blackish brown; there is a black bar at the end of cell
R-+M of the fore wings, but no brand in the male. The
dark markings of the wings are more pronounced than in the
zabulon skipper, and on the lower surface of the hind wings
the central yellow patch is smaller, covering less than half of
the wing. Expanse of wings about one and one-fifth inches.
The Dark Female Form, Aérytone hobomok pocahontas.—
Both surfaces of wings chiefly dark brown; the fore wings have
a row of light spots beyond the middle, and the hind wings
have a more or less distinct central patch of lighter color.
Occurs from Canada to Mississippi Valley.
Larva feeds on grasses.
275
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE CANADIAN SKIPPER
Lsrynnis comma (E-ryn'nis com’ma)
PLATE XXXIX, Fic. 17, 18, 19
In the made the upper surface of the wings are dull yellow
with the outer margins brownish; there is a distinct brand.
In the female the yellow color is more obscured by brownish
scales, but there is a transverse row of spots beyond the
middle of both fore and hind wings. On the lower surface
of the fore wings the markings of the upper surface are re-
peated, and the hind wings are greenish with white spots;
the green is more pronounced than in any other species
occurring in the East. Expanse of wings one inch to one
and one-fourth inches.
Occurs in Canada from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and in the mountains of the western
United States.
THE INDIAN SKIPPER
Evynnis sassacus (E-ryn’nis sas’sa-cus)
PLATE XL, Fic. I, 2, 3
The upper surface of the wings is largely yellow in both
sexes, with the margins, except the costal margin of the fore
wings, brown, and with a brand inthe male. The lowersurface
of the wings is pale, dull, greenish buff with the lighter mark-
ings of the upper surface more or less distinctly repeated.
The upper surface of this skipper resembles quite closely
the male and the yellow female of the mormon, but the
central, light-colored patch of the lower side of the hind
276
PLATE XL
SKIPPERS WITH A BRAND AND THEIR ALLIES
Fig.
1, 2,3. The Indian Skipper, Erynnis sassacus; 1, male; 2, female; 3,
lower side of wings.
4, 5,6. The Cobweb Skipper, Erynnis metea; 4, male; 5, female; 6,
lower side of wings.
7, 8,9. Leonard’s Skipper, Anthomaster Iconardus; 7, male; 8, female;
9, lower side of wings.
10, 11, 12. The Sachem, Hylephila campestris; 10, male; 11, female; 12,
lower side of wings.
13, 14, 15. The Whirlabout, Thymelicus brettus; 13, male; 14, female;
15, lower side of wings.
16,17, 18. The Long Dash, Thymelicus mystic; 16, male; 17, female;
18, lower side of wings.
12
11
15
14
17
18
Plate XL.
10
13
16
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
wings is much less distinct in this species than in the yellow
forms of the mormon.
Occurs in the Atlantic States and westward to
Colorado. Larva feeds on grasses. Sassacus was
the name of an Indian warrior.
THE COBWEB SKIPPER
LErynnis metea (E-ryn’nis me’te-a)
PLATE XL, Fic. 4, 5, 6
The upper surface of the wings is dark brown with whitish
spots beyond the middle and tinged with yellow in the male ;
the male has a brand. This species is most easily recognized
by the white markings of the lower side of the hind wings,
the row of spots beyond the middle of the wing forming a
continuous V-shaped band not interrupted by darker scales on
the veins. Expanse of wings one and one-fifth to one and
one-third inches.
The common name probably refers to the white
markings of the lower side of the hind wings.
The skipper has been taken in New England,
New York, and Wisconsin. The larva feeds on
grasses.
LEONARD’S SKIPPER
Anthomaster leonardus (An-tho-mas’ter le-o-nar'dus)
PLaTE XL, Fic. 7, 8,9
The upper surface of the wings is largely dark brown
spotted and shaded with tawny, the yellow color covering a
r9 277
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
larger portion of the wings in the male than in the female ;
the male has a brand. ‘The lower surface of the wings is red-
dish brown with very distinct silvery white or bright yellow
markings. On the fore wings there is a blackish cloud sur-
rounding the white spots in cells Cu, and Cu and extending
to the base of the wing. Expanse of wings one and three-
tenths to one and four-tenths inches.
This insect was named after Rev. L. W. Leon-
ard, who gave a specimen to Harris, from which
the species was first described. It occurs on the
Atlantic coast from New England to Florida
and westward to Kansas. The larva feeds on
grasses.
THE SACHEM
LTylephila campestris (Hy-leph’i-la cam-pes’tris)
PLATE XL, F1G. 10, II, 12
In the ma/e the upper surface of the fore wings is dark
yellow with a tawny tinge, dusky at base, the outer border
dark brown and with a discal brand; the central portion of
the hind wings is yellow, but traversed by brownish veins and
surrounded by a dark brown margin. The light markings of
the upper surface are repeated on the lower surface.
In the female the upper surface of both pairs of wings is
dark brown with a row of lighter spots beyond the middle ;
the spots in cells M, and Cu, of the fore wings are translu-
cent.
Expanse of wings one and one-fifth to one and one-half
inches.
278
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
This insect was long known under the specific
named uron, which probably suggested the
common name sachem. The species is distrib-
uted over the eastern two thirds of the United
States. In the South the larva feeds on Bermuda
grass, and makes a retreat by fastening together
leaves.
THe WHIRLABOUT
Thymelicus brettus (Thy-mel'i-cus bret’tus)
PLATE XL, FIG. 13, 14, 15
The two sexes of this species differ greatly in appearance
when seen from above. In the male the upper surface of the
wings is largely yellow, with a brand, and with a dark
brown outer border; in the female the wings are almost en-
tirely dark brown, with a transverse row of spots beyond the
middle of the fore wings. The most distinctive feature of
this species is the color of the lower surface of the hind wings,
which is similar in the two sexes, and is a greenish yellow
spotted with distinct dark brown spots. Expanse of wings
one and one-tenth to one and one-half inches.
This skipper has been found along the sea-
board from Connecticut to Mexico.
THE OTHO SKIPPER
Thymelicus otho (Thy-mel'i-cus o’tho)
PLATE, XLI, Fic. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
(1) The Typical Form, Zhymelicus otho otho.—The upper
surface of the wings is dark brown more or less shaded with
279
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tawny and with tawny spots. In the made the upper surface
of the fore wings bears a brand which consists of two velvety
black patches separated by a patch of large scales of a lighter
color; the dark outer border of the wing extends to the brand
except that there is a yellow spot in cell M, and Cu, ; be-
tween the brand and the costal margin of the wing there is a
more or less distinct band of yellow which extends from the
base of the wing nearly to the subapical row of spots ; the
central portion of the hind wings is tinged with yellow but
without well-defined spots. In the femave the yellow border
along the costal margin of the wings is much less distinct.
The lower surface of the wings in both sexes is yellowish
brown ; on the fore wings there is a dark shade parallel with
the inner margin and covering nearly half of the wing ; and
the yellow markings of the upper surface are faintly indicated.
Expanse of wings one and one-fifth to one and one-fourth
inches.
(2) The Dark Form, Zhymelicus otho egeremet (e-ger'e-
met).—This form is represented by both sexes. The upper
surface of the wings is a blackish brown with almost no
tawny shading, there are, however, long greenish-yellow hairs
near the base of the inner margin of the fore wings, and over
a large portion of the hind wings ; the transverse row of spots
beyond the middle of the fore wings is present but is abbrevi-
ated, lacking the spot at each end of the row.
The species is found throughout the eastern
United States ; the larva feeds on grasses. Otho
is a Roman surname.
PLATE XLI
SKIPPERS WITH A BRAND AND THEIR ALLIES
Fig.
1, 2, 3. The Otho Skipper, the Typical Form, Thymelicus otho otho, 1,
male; 2, female; 3, lower side of wings.
4, 5,6. The Otho Skipper, the Dark Form, Thymelicus otho egeremet,
4, male; 5, female; 6, lower side of wings.
7,8,9. The Tawny-edged Skipper, Thymelicus cernes; 7, male; 8, fe-
male; 9, lower side of wings.
10, 11, 12. The Yellow Spot, Polites peckius; 10, male; 11, female; 12,
lower side of wings.
13, 14, 15. The Little Glass-wing, Euphyes verna; 13, male; 14, female;
15, lower side of wings.
16,17, 18. The Black Dash, Limochores pontiac; 16, male; 17, female,
18, lower side of wings.
12
14
15
17
18
10
13
16
Plate XLI.
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
THe Lone DasxH
Thymelicus mystic (Yhy-mel’i-cus mys’tic)
PLATE XL, Fic. 16, 17, 18
The upper surface of the fore wings are largely tawny with
a broad brown outer margin ; there is also a brown patch
at the base back of cell R+M and one beyond the end of
this cell; in the male there is a long narrow brand which is
continued by the brown patch beyond the end of cell R+M.
On the hind wings the brown outer margin is narrower than
that of the fore wings. The female resembles the female of
the sachem, but differs in that all of the spots in the transverse
row beyond the middle of the fore wings are tawny, not
translucent. :
On the lower side the ground color of the wings is orange
buff in the male and cinnamon brown in the female.
Expanse of wings one and one-third inches.
The popular name was suggested by the long
narrow brand of the male. The skipper has been
found in New England and the northern part of
the Middle States. The larva feeds on grasses.
THE TawNny-EDGED SKIPPER
Thymelicus cernes (Thy-mel'i-cus cer’nes)
PLATE XLI, Fic. 7, 8,9
Hind wings dark brown both above and below and with-
out markings ; the fore wings dark brown with a large costal
tawny patch in the male and an obscure costal tawny streak
in the female; male witha velvety black brand ; female witha
281
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
transverse row of spots beyond the middle of the fore wings.
A rather small species expanding less than one and one-
fifth inches.
The species is distributed throughout the
United States east of the Rocky Mountains. The
larva feed on grasses. The common name was
probably suggested by the tawny patch along the
costal margin of the fore wings.
THE YELLOW Spor
Polites peckius (Po-li'tes peck’1-us)
PLATE XLI, FIG. 10, 11, 12
The upper surface of both fore and hind wings is dark
brown with a row of yellow spots beyond the middle of each,
and the costal border is more or less yellow. The male has
a velvety black brand which is sinuous and interrupted be-
fore the middle. Lower surface of the wings cinnamon brown,
with the markings of the upper surface repeated in yellow ;
on the hind wings there is a large central yellow patch cover-
ing more than half of the wing. This is a small species
expanding from seven-eighths inch to one inch.
The species was named in honor of Professor
Peck, one time of Cambridge, Mass. The com-
mon name was suggested by the yellow spots on
the wings. The skipper is found in Canada and
in the Northern States, west to Kansas.
282
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
Tue LitrLe GLass-wInc
Luphyes verna (Eu'phy-es ver'na)
PLATE XLI, Fig. 13, 14, 15
The upper surface of both fore and hind wings is a dark
rich brown ; the fore wings with a transverse row of white or
translucent spots beyond the middle and a small one near the
outer end of cell R+M,; the hind wings without spots or
with merely traces of them; the brand of the male is slender,
inconspicuous, and blackish. On the lower surface the spots
of the fore wings are repeated, and there may be a faint row
of spots beyond the middle of the hind wings.
See table, page 266, for distinctions between this species and
the female of the cross-line skipper, which it closely resembles.
Expanse of wings one and one-eighth to one and one-fourth
inches.
The species is distributed from New York
westward to Kansas and southward along the
Alleghany Mountains. The popular name was
probably suggested by the resemblance in appear-
ance to some of the larger skippers with trans-
lucent spots on the wings.
THE DuN SKIPPER
Euphyes vestris (Eu'phy-es ves’tris)
PraTE XLII, Fic. 3, 4, 5, 6
This is a dark glossy brown species either without light
markings or with a few small spots, and in which the terminal
crook of the antennz is longer than the width of the club.
In the male of the typical form there are no whitish or
283
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
tawny spots on the wings either above or below; the brand is
velvety black and consists of two patches slightly separated by
vein Cu. Inthe female there are two whitish or yellow spots
on the fore wings: one in cell M, and asmaller one in cell M,,.
The Metacomet Form, Luphyes vestris metacomet.—This
differs from the typical form by a slightly greater amount of
light markings, and was long considered a distinct species.
On the fore wings of the female there are, in addition to the
two spots in cells M, and M,, two smaller ones in cells R,
and R,; and on the lower side of the hind wings there is a
transverse row of light spots faintly indicated beyond the
middle of the wing.
Metacomet was the Indian name of the cele-
brated King Philip, and was given to this form
by Harris, who considered it a distinct species.
It is widely distributed in the Mississippi Valley
and in the Northern States.
THE SWARTHY SKIPPER
Luphyes fusca (Eu'phy-es fus’ca)
PLATE XLII, Fic. 1
This is a small dark brown species without distinct whitish
or tawny spots either above or below ; even the brand is lack-
ing in the male. Sometimes there are a few yellow scales in
some of the places occupied by the transverse row of spots of
the fore wings in other species. Expanse of wings about one
inch,
This is a Southern species, found in the Gulf
States and as far north as Pennsylvania.
284
PLATE XLII
SKIPPERS WITH A BRAND AND THEIR ALLIES
Fig.
. The Swarthy Skipper, Euphyes fusca.
The Brazilian Skipper, Calpodes ethlius.
. The Dun Skipper, the Typical Form, Euphyes vestris vestris.
4, 5,6. The Dun Skipper, the Metacomet Form, Euphyes vestris met-
acomet; 4, male; 5, female; 6, lower side of wings.
7, 8,9, 10. The Cross-line Skipper, Limochores manataaqua,; 7, male;
8, female; 9, lower side of wings of female; 10, lower side
of wings of male.
11,12. The Broad-winged Skipper, Phycanassa viator; 11, upper side;
12, lower side of wings.
13, 14,15. The Vitellius Skipper, Phycanassa vitellius; 13, male; 14,
female; 15, lower side of wings.
H
bo
w
Plate XLII.
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
THE BRAZILIAN SKIPPER
Calpodes ethlius (Cal-po'des eth’li-us)
PLatE XLII, Fig. 2
An unusually large species, the wings expanding two inches
or more. The upper surface is dark blackish brown, with
some yellow hairs over the basal portions of the wings; there
are seven whitish, translucent spots on the fore wings, and
three, the first of which is often double, upon the hind wings ;
the arrangement of these spots is shown in the figure ; there
is no trace of a brand in the male.
On the lower side the wings are ochraceous brown except a
blackish area on the fore wings extending from cell R+M to
the inner margin ; the spots of the upper side are repeated.
This magnificent skipper is the largest of the
subfamily Pamphiline found in the East. It
occurs only in the southern part of our territory,
but it extends southward to the Argentine Re-
public. The larva feeds on the leaves of Canna.
THe Brack DasH
Limochores pontiac (Li-moch’o-res pon’ti-ac)
PLATE XLI, Fic. 16, 17, 18
In the ma/e the upper surface of the wings is dark blackish
brown with the discal portion of both wings and the base of
the fore wings yellow, except that most of the veins are cov-
ered with brown; the brand is black and nearly or quite
divided into two patches; the dark outer margin of the fore
wings does not extend to the brand.
285
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
In the fema/e the upper surface is dark brown with a trans-
verse row of yellow spots on both wings.
The lower surface in both sexes is cinnamon brown with a
transverse row of yellow spots on both wings. On the fore
wings there is a blackish shade extending from cell R+M to
the inner margin, and this is not interrupted by a light colored
patch in cell Cu,, or at the most there is a diffused indistinct
patch. Expanse of wings one and one-fourth inches or more.
The species occurs in a narrow belt from Mas-
sachusetts to Nebraska and south to New Jersey.
The common name refers to the shape and color
of the brand of the male.
THE CROSS-LINE SKIPPER
Limochores manataagua (Li-moch’o-res man-a-ta’a-qua)
PLaTeE XLII, Fic. 7, 8, 9, 10 ;
In the ma/e the wings are dark brown marked and tinged
with yellow; the brand is very slender and nearly straight ;
outside of it there is a patch of brown scales, which makes it
appear wider than it is; between the brand and the costal
margin the wing is heavily covered with yellow scales, and
the transverse row of spots beyond the middle of the wing is
more or less distinct ; the hind wings are tinged with yellow,
sometimes the transverse row of spots is faintly indicated.
In the female the wings are dark brown above with a trans-
verse row of whitish spots beyond the middle of the fore
wing ; hind wings without spots. See table, page 266, for
distinctions between the female of this species and that of
the little glass-wing, which it very closely resembles.
Expanse of wings one inch to one and one-third inches.
286
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
The common name was probably suggested by
the linear form of the brand of the male. The
species occurs from New England to Nebraska
in a rather narrow belt of country.’ The larva
feeds on grasses.
THe Broap-WINGED SKIPPER
Phycanassa viator (Phyc-a-nas'sa vi-a’tor)
PLATE XLII, Fic. 11, 12
The wings are blackish brown marked with dull tawny ;
on the fore wings there is a double yellow spot in the outer
end of cell R+M, a transverse row of spots beyond the mid-
dle, and a long yellow bar in cell Cu; the disk of the hind
wings is yellow broken into long spots by the brown veins.
There is no trace of a brand in the male.
Excepting the Brazilian skipper, this is the
largest member of this subfamily found in the
East, expanding one and one-fourth to one and
one-half inches or more. The wings are rela-
tively narrow and long, the common name re-
ferring to the breadth of expanse rather than to
the breadth of the wings measured from the cos-
tal to the inner margin. The species occurs in
the Atlantic States from New England to the
Gulf of Mexico.
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE VITELLIUS SKIPPER
Phycanassa vitellius (Phyc-a-nas’sa vi-tel’li-us)
PLATE XLII, Fires. 13, 24, 25
The upper surface of the wings is largely bright tawny
with the veins and outer margin brown; in the male the
brown border on the outer margin is unusually narrow, cov-
ering only about one-eighth of the length of the wing ; in the
female it is about twice as wide; the base of the wings is
more or less dusky, especially in the female, where the basal
two-fifths of the wing is brownish ; there is a more or less dis-
tinct brown bar at the end of cell R+M, but no trace of a
brand in the male. The lower surface of the hind wings is
yellow without markings.
Expanse of wings one and one-eighth to one and one-
fourth inches.
The species vete//eus was first described from
the West Indies, and it may be that our form is
distinct; if so, it should be known under the
name /ogan, given to it by Mr. Edwards. It is
found as far north as New England and Mon-
tana.
SKIPPERS WITH A COSTAL FOLD AND THEIR
ALLIES
Subfamily Hesperiinz (Hes-pe-ri-i’‘ne)
This subfamily includes the larger of the common skippers,
as well assome that are of moderate size. Most of the species
are dark brown, marked with white or translucent, angular
spots. The antennee usually have a long club, which is bent
288
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
at a considerable distance from the tip (Fig. 46), and vein
M, of the fore wings retains its primitive position midway be-
tween veins M, and M, or is nearer
to vein M, than to M, at base (Fig.
47). But the most distinctive fea-
ture of the subfamily is exhibited by
the males alone, and is lacking in
some species. It consists of a fold
in the fore wing near the costal mar-
Fic. 46.—Martial’s dusky-
wing.
gin, which forms a long, slit-like
Fic. 47.—Venation of the wings of
Epargyreus tityrus.
289
pocket, containing a sort
of silky down. This, like
the brand of the males of
the preceding subfamily,
is a scent-organ, tubular
scales, the azdroconia, that
are the outlets of scent
glands, opening into it.
When the pockets are
tightly closed it is difficult
to see them; Plate XLV,
Fig. 6, represents a spec-
imen in which they are
open.
Nearly eighty species be-
longing to this subfamily
have been found in Amer-
ica north of Mexico. Those
that occur in the East, ex-
cept a few rare ones and a
few Southern forms, are
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
described below, and can be separated by the following
table :
A. The hind wings furnished with long tails. (2. proteus),
p- 292. THE LONG-TAILED SKIPPER.
AA. The hind wings not furnished with long tails.
B. Fore wings with a broad, bright yellow band near the
middle.
C. With a large silvery-white spot in the center of the
lower side of the hind wings. (2. #/yrus), p. 293.
THE SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER.
CC. Without a silvery-white spot in the center of the
lower side of the hind wings.
D. The greater part of the outer half of the lower side
of the hind wings white. (4. Zycidas), p. 295.
THE HoOaRy-EDGE.
DD. Lower side of hind wings dark brown through-
out. (2. cellus), p. 294.
THE GOLDEN-BANDED SKIPPER.
BB. Fore wings not crossed with a broad, bright yellow
band.
C. Upper surface of wings black or brown, with a few
white spots on the fore wings or with none, hind wings
not checkered with white.
D. Club of antennz hooked; anal angle of hind wings
slightly prolonged.
E. The white spots on the middle of the fore wings
forming an almost continuous band. (Z. bathyl-
lus), Pp. 295. THE SOUTHERN CLOUDY-WING.
290
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
EE. The white spots on the fore wings small, not
forming an almost continuous band. (Z° pylades),
p- 296. THE NoRTHERN CLOUDY-WING.
DD. Club of antennz sickle-shaped ; anal angle of
hind wings rounded.
E. Small species, expanding about one inch. (P.
catullus), p. 297. THE SOOTY-WING.
EE. Larger species.
F. Fore wings without white spots.
G. Fore wings with a hoary patch just beyond
the middle of the wing and extending from
the costal margin nearly half-way to the in-
ner margin. (Z° zelus), p. 298.
THE Dreamy Dusky-wInc.
GG. Fore wings without hoary patch. (7°
brizo), p. 297. THE SLEEPY Dusky-wING.
FF. Fore wings with small white spots near the
apex of the wing.
G. The dark spots of the upper surface of the
wings neither well-defined nor in striking
contrast to the ground color.
H. The transverse paler band crossing the
fore wings just beyond cell R + M fairly
well-defined by a darker band on each side
of it. (2. ducilius), p. 298.
Lucitius’s Dusky-wInc.
HH. The transverse pale band on fore wings
not well-defined. (7: fersius), p. 299.
Persius’s DusKY-WING.
291
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
GG. The dark spots on the upper surface of the
wings, well-defined, giving the wings a check-
ered appearance.
H. Species expanding about one and one-
fourth inches, the checkered appearance
of the wings well-marked. (Z: martials,
p- 299. MartTIaL’s Dusky-wInc.
HH. Species expanding about one and one-
half inches; the checkered appearance of
the wings less obvious. (Z. juvenalis),
p. 300. JUVENAL’S Dusky-wINc.
CC. Both fore and hind wings checkered with many
white spots.
D. The white spots in the band just beyond the mid-
dle of the fore wings much broader than high. (ZH.
tessellata), p. 300. THE TESSELLATE SKIPPER.
DD. The white spots in the band just beyond the
middle of the fore wings but little if any broader
than high. (A. centauree), p. 301.
THE GRIZZLED SKIPPER.
THE LONG-TAILED SKIPPER
Ludamus proteus (Ewda-mus pro’te-us)
PLATE XLIV, Fic. 1
This skipper by the shape of its wings reminds one of a
swallow-tail butterfly, the hind wings being furnished with
long tails. It expands about one and three-fourths inches,
and the greatest length of the hind wings: is about one and
one-fourth inches. The wings are very dark chocolate-
292
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
brown ; the front wings contain several silvery-white spots ;
and the body and base of the wings bear metallic-green hairs.
The larvee feed upon both Leguminosz and
Cruciferz. In the South it is sometimes a pest
in gardens, cutting and rolling the leaves of
beans, turnips, and cabbage, and feeding within
the rolls thus formed. It is found on the At-
lantic border from New York southward into
Mexico.
THE SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER
Lpargvreus tityrus (Ep-ar-gy’re-us tit/y-rus)
PuaTE XLIV, Fic. 3, 5; PLatre XLIII
This skipper resembles the two following species in being
dark chocolate-brown, with a row of yellowish spots extend-
ing across the fore wings; but it is distinguished by a large
silvery-white spot in the center of the lower side of the hind
wings. The anal angle of the hind wings is prolonged into a
short tail. Expanse of wings nearly or quite two inches.
The silver-spotted skipper is found in nearly
the whole United States, from Massachusetts to
California, except in the extreme Northeast and
Northwest. The
larva (Fig. 48)
feeds upon vari-
ous papilionace-
ous plants. We
Fic. 48.—Larva of the silver-spotted
have found it skipper.
20 293
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
common on locust. It makes a nest, within
which it remains concealed, by fastening togeth-
er, with silk, the leaflets of a compound leaf
(Fig. 49).
Fic. 49.—Nest of the larva of the silver-spotted skipper.
THE GOLDEN-BANDED SKIPPER
Rhabdoides cellus (Rhab-doi'des cel’lus)
PuaTE XLIV, Fic. 2
This resembles the preceding and the following species in
being dark chocolate-brown, with a yellow band across the
middle of the fore wings; but in this species the band is
larger than in either of the other species, and is more nearly
continuous, being broken to a less extent by brown scales
upon the wings. It differs also from the other two species in
having the lower side of the hind wings dark brown through-
out. It expands about two inches.
This species is found from West Virginia to
the Gulf of Mexico.
294
PLATE XLIII
THE SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER
Fig.
1. Pup removed from their cocoons.
2. Larve.
(From photographs by Professor M. V. Slingerland, colored by Mrs. Slingerland.)
Plate XLII.
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
Tue Hoary-EDGE
Achalarus lycidas (A-chal’a-rus_ lyc’i-das)
PLATE XLIV, Fic. 4, 7
The upper surface of the wings is chocolate-brown, with a
transverse row of yellow spots across the middle of the fore
wings, resembling in this respect the silver-spotted skipper.
But in this species the anal angle of the hind wings is round-
ed, and the greater part of the outer half of the lower side
of the hind wings is white. Expanse of wings about two
inches.
The common name refers to the large hoary
patch on the outer margin of the lower side of
the hind wings. This insect is found from Mas-
sachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico and in the Mis-
sissippi Valley. The larva feeds on tick-trefoil,
Desmodium.
THE SOUTHERN CLOUDY-WING
Thorybes bathyllus (Thor'y-bes ba-thyl’lus)
PLATE XLIV, Fic. 8
There are two common skippers representing the genus
Thorybes and popularly known as the Southern cloudy-wing
and the Northern cloudy-wing respectively that resemble each
other closely. They differ from the preceding species of
Hesperiine in lacking the long tails of the first and the yellow
bands of the other three, and from the following species in
having the club of the antenne hooked. The wings are
dark brown; the fore wings are flecked with small or very
small irregular white spots, and the hind wings are crossed
295
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
beneath by two rather narrow, parallel, inconspicuous darker
bands.
In the Southern cloudy-wing the white spots are larger than
in the following species, almost forming a continuous band.
Expanse of wings nearly or quite one and one-half inches.
This species has been found from West Vir-
ginia to Florida, and westward to Kansas and
New Mexico. The larva feeds on wild bean and
other herbaceous Leguminose.
This and the following species, which it closely
resembles, were named after two rivals. Bathyl-
lus was a very celebrated pantomime of Alexan-
dria, and a favorite of Mzecenas.
THE NORTHERN CLOUDY-WING
Thorybes pylades (Thor'y-bes pyl’a-des)
PLATE XLIV, Fic. 9
In the Northern cloudy-wing the white spots on the fore
wings are usually mere points, although their number and
size vary. For other characteristics see description of the pre-
ceding species.
This species is found in nearly all parts of the
United States. The larva commonly feeds on
clover.
Pylades was a celebrated pantomimist from
Cilicia, under Augustus. See preceding species.
2096
PLATE XLIV
SKIPPERS WITH A COSTAL FOLD AND THEIR ALLIES
2)
wm
. The Long-tailed Skipper, Eudamus proteus.
. The Golden-banded Skipper, Rhabdoides cellus.
. The Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreus tityrus.
. The Hoary-edge, Achlarus lycidas.
. The Silver-spotted Skipper, lower side of wings.
. The Sooty-wing, Pholisora catullus.
The Hoary-edge, lower side of wings.
. The Southern Cloudy-wing, Thorybes bathyllus.
. The Northern Cloudy-wing, Thorybes pylades.
C0 MOM AN PWN H
Plate XLIV.
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
THE SOOTY-WING
Pholisora catullus (Phol-i-so'ra ca-tul’lus)
PLATE XLIV, Fic. 6
The wings are nearly black, with a transverse row of
minute white spots parallel with the outer border of the fore
wings. This species can be distinguished from all other
dark-colored Hesperiinze described in this book by its small
size, the wings expanding only about one inch.
This species is found throughout the United
States except along the extreme northern border.
The larva feeds on pigweed, Chenopodcum.
THE SLEEPY DUSKY-WING
Thanaos briso (Than’‘a-os bri’zo)
PLATE XLV, Fic. 2
The wings are dark brown without white spots. The fore
wings are crossed from the costal margin to the anal vein by
two transverse bands, one before the middle, the other be-
yond the middle. The edges of these bands are dark blackish
brown, the center gray. Nearly all of the upper surface of
the fore wings is flecked with white hairs; but these are not
appreciably more abundant between the transverse bands than
elsewhere. Expanse of wings one and one-third to one and
one-half inches.
This species is distributed over the larger part
of the United States except the far Northwest.
207
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
THE Dreamy Dusky-wING
Thanaos icelus (Than’a-os i-ce’lus)
PLATE XLV, Fic. 1
The upper surface is blackish brown, the fore wings sprin-
kled with pale bluish scales; these are most abundant on the
outer half of the wing; and just beyond the middle of the
wing, they form a distinct hoary patch, which extends from
the costal margin nearly half-way to the inner margin. There
are no distinct white spots on the fore wings as in the follow-
ing species. The hind wings have two irregular rows of dull
yellow spots parallel with the outer margin. Expanse of wings
from one and one-tenth to one and one-fourth inches.
This skipper is found in nearly all parts of the
United States. The larva will feed on aspen.
Lucitius’s Dusky-wING
Thanaos lucilius (Than'a-os lu-cil’i-us)
PLATE XLV, Fic. 4
The wings are dark brown above with a row of small white
spots just before the apex of the fore wings and asingle one in
cell M,. The fore wings are crossed just beyond the middle
by a transverse paler band, which is fairly well defined ; this
is the most important characteristic distinguishing this species
from the following. Expanse of wings from one and one-
tenth to one and one-fourth inches.
This species is found in the Atlantic States.
The larva feeds on the wild columbine and on
pigweed.
298
PLATE XLV
SKIPPERS WITH A COSTAL FOLD AND THEIR ALLIES
Fig.
1. The Dreamy Dusky-wing, Thanaos icelus.
2. The Sleepy Dusky-wing, Thanaos brizo.
3. Persius’s Dusky-wing, Thanaos persius, male, with the costal folds
open.
4. Lucilius’s Dusky-wing, Thanaos lucilius.
5. Martial’s Dusky-wing, Thanaos martialis.
6. Juvenal’s Dusky-wing, Thanaos juvenalis. Male, with the costal
folds open.
. The Tessellate Skipper, Hesperia tessellata.
. The Grizzled Skipper, Hesperia centauree.
om
Plate XLV.
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
Persius’s Dusky-wING
Thanaos persius (Vhan'a-os per’si-us)
PLATE XLV, Fic. 3
The wings are dark brown above with a row of small white
spots just before the apex of the fore wings and a single one in
cell M,, asin the preceding species. On the fore wings there
is a transverse pale band just beyond the middle of the wings,
but this band is not as well defined as in the preceding species.
Expanse of wings from one and two-tenths to one and four-
tenths inches.
This skipper is found over a large part of the
United States. The larva feeds on willow and
poplar.
MartTIAL’s Dusky-WING
Thanaos martialis (Yhan'a-os mar-ti-a’lis)
PLATE XLV, FIG. 5
The wings are brown above, conspicuously marked with
spots of a darker shade; the spots are well defined and give
the wings a checkered appearance. There is a row of small
white spots just before the apex of the fore wing, one in cell
M., and one more or less distinct in cell R-+M.
3?
This species differs from the following, which it most
closely resembles of all our Eastern species, by its smaller size
and the more strongly contrasting colors. Expanse of wings
about one and one-fourth inches.
This species is distributed throughout the
Atlantic States and westward to Colorado.
299
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
JuVENAL’s Dusky-wING
Thanaos juvenalis (Than’a-os ju-ve-na’lis)
PLaTeE XLV, Fic, 6
The wings are dark brown marked with brown spots of a
darker shade, and with small white spots on the fore wings.
This insect can be distinguished from the preceding species,
which it most closely resembles of all our Eastern species, by
its larger size, and the fact that the checkered appearance of
the wings is less obvious. Expanse of wings about one and
one-half inches.
It has been found throughout the eastern
United States except perhaps the Northwest.
The larva feeds on oak.
THE TESSELLATE SKIPPER
flesperia tesscllata (Hes-pe’ri-a tes-sel-la’ta)
PLATE XLV, Fic. 7
Wings blackish brown largely checkered with white ; more
than one-half of the outer two-thirds of both and hind wings
being white. In this species the white spots in the band just
beyond the middle of the fore wings are much broader than
high. Expanse of wings about one and two-tenths inches.
This insect is found throughout nearly the
whole United States. The larva feeds on holly-
hocks and Indian mallow.
THE COMMON SKIPPERS
THE GRIZZLED SKIPPER
flesperia centauree (Hes-pe'ri-a cen-tau’re-z)
PLATE XLV, Fic. 8
Wings blackish brown conspicuously checkered with white,
and with the fringe of the wings white interrupted at the ends
of the veins with the ground color of the wings. This species
differs from the preceding in the smaller amount of white
markings ; the white spots in the band just beyond the middle
of the wing are but little if any broader than high. Expanse
of wings one and one-fourth inches.
This pretty species has been taken in widely
separated localities: New York, West Virginia,
Colorado, Labrador, Norway, and Lapland.
Nothing is known regarding its early stages.
I, who take root and firmly cling,
Thought fixedness the only thing ;
Why Nature made the butterflies
(Those dreams of wings that float and hover
At noon the slumberous poppies over),
Was something hidden from mine eyes,
Till once, upon a rock’s brown bosom,
Bright as a thorny cactus-blossom,
I saw a butterfly at rest ;
Then first of both I felt the beauty ;
The airy whim, the grim-set duty
Each from the other took its best.
LowELL.
301
INDEX
Abbot, 88, 197, 235.
Abdomen, 16.
Acadian Hair-streak, The, 224.
acadica, Thecla, 224.
Achalarus lycidas, 295.
Agapetida, 180.
Agraulis vanilla, 107.
ajax ajax, [phiclides, 49.
ajax, Iphiclides, 49.
ajax marcellus, [phiclides, 49.
ajax telamonides, [phiclides, 49.
Akers, Elizabeth, 137, 200.
alba, Eurema euterpe, 99.
alope, Cercyonis, 184.
Amblyscirtes samoset, 271.
vialis, 270.
American Copper, The, 241.
Anal angle, 7.
Anal veins, 9.
Analytical tables, Method of using,
37.
Ancyloxipha numitor, 272.
andria, Anwa, 177.
Androconia, 19, 262, 289:
Angles of wings, 7.
Angle-wings, The, 131.
Anea andria, 177.
Anosia berenice, 173, 207.
berenice strigosa, 208.
plexippus, 204.
Antenna, 4.
Anthomaster leonardus, 277.
antiopa, Euvanessa, 148.
Apex, 6.
aphrodite, Argynnis, 117.
Apostraphia charithonia, 201.
aragithe, Phabis, 90.
archippus, Basilarchia, 170.
Arctic Skipper, The, 272.
Argynnis aphrodite, 117,
atlantis, 118.
cybele, 114.
Arnold, 143.
arthemis, Basilarchia, 167.
asterias, Papilio, 63.
astyanax, Basilarchia, 166.
atalanta, Vanessa, 154.
atlantis, Argynnis, 118.
Atlides halesus, 220,
Atrytone hobomok, 275.
zabulon, 274.
augustus, Incisalia, 231.
bachmant, Hypatus, 210.
Baltimore, The, 125.
Banded Elfin, The, 234.
Banded Hair-streak, The, 226.
Banded Purple, The, 167.
Basilarchia archippus, 170.
arthemis, 167.
astyanax, 166.
floridensis, 173.
proserpina, 170.
bathyllus, Thorybes, 295.
bellona, Brenthis, 119.
berenice, Anosia, 207.
393
HOW TO KNOW
Black Dash, The, 285.
Black Swallow-tail, The, 62.
Blown larva, 34.
Blue Swallow-tail, The, 66.
Blue-eyed Grayling, The, 186.
Blues, The, 244.
borealis, Calephelis, 214.
Brazilian Skipper, The, 285.
Breeding-cage, 27.
Brenthis bellona, 119.
myrina, 122.
brettus, Thymelicus, 279.
brevicauda, Papilio, 61.
briso, Thanaos, 297.
Broad-winged Skipper, The, 287.
Bronze Copper, The, 239.
Brown Elfin, The, 231.
Browning, 55, 221.
Buckeye, The, 160.
Cabbage Butterfly, The, 78.
Cabinet, 33.
canius, Calephelis, 213.
cesonia, Zerene, gO.
calanus, Thecla, 226.
Calephelis borealis, 214.
cenius, 213.
Callidryas eubule, 88.
philea, 87.
Calpodes ethlius, 285.
Calycopis cecrops, 231.
Camberwell Beauty, The, 150.
campestris, fylephila, 278.
Canadian Skipper, The, 276.
canthus, Satyrodes, 191.
Caraway-worms, 63.
cardut, Vanessa, 158.
Carolinian Satyr, The, 199.
Cary, Alice, 191.
Caterpillars, 21.
THE BUTTERFLIES
catullus, Pholisora, 297.
cecrops, Calycopis, 231.
Cells of the wing, 14.
cellus, Rhabdoides, 294.
celtis, Chlorippe, 174.
centauree, LLTesperia, 301.
Cercyonts alope, 184.
alope alope, 185.
alope nephele, 185.
pegala, 188.
cernes, Thymelicus, 281.
Charidryas nycteis, 127.
charithonia, Apostraphia, 201.
Checkered White, The, 73.
Chlorippe celtis, 074.
clyton, 175.
Chrysalis, 20.
Chrysophanus thoe, 239.
Cinclidia harrisii, 126.
Cissia eurylus, 197.
sosybius, 199.
Classification of butterflies, 35.
claudia, Euptoiela, 109,
Claws, 5.
Clothing of Butterflies, 16.
Clouded Sulphur, The, 92.
Cloudless Sulphur, The, 88.
clyton, Chlorippe, 175.
Cobweb Skipper, The, 277.
Cocoon, 23.
cenia, Junonia, 160.
Cofaqui Skipper, The, 258.
cofagui, Megathymus, 258.
Coleridge, 167.
Collecting-box, 30.
comma, Erynnis, 276.
comma, Polygonia, 140.
Common Skippers, The, 260.
Compound Eyes, 4.
Compton Tortoise, The, 146.
304
INDEX
comynias, Everes, 254.
Coppers, The, 236.
Coral Hair-streak, The, 234.
Cosmopolite, The, 158.
Costa, 6, 9.
Costal margin, 6.
Coxa, 5.
Crescent-spots, The, 123.
cresphontes Papilio, 57.
Cross-line Skipper, The, 286.
Cross-veins, 9.
cructferarum, Pieris nap, 76.
Cubitus, 9.
Cyanide of potassium, 29.
Cyaniris ladon, 249.
ladon ladon, 251.
ladon lucia, 250.
ladon marginata, 250.
ladon neglecta, 251.
ladon violacea, 250.
ladon violacea-nigra, 250.
cybele, Argynnis, 114.
Dainty Sulphur, The, 86.
damon, Alitoura, 229.
Diana Fritillary, The, 110.
diana, Semnopsyche, 110.
Dickinson, Emily, 230, 244.
Discal cell, 15.
Dog’s-head, The, go.
Dreamy Dusty-wing, The, 298.
Dull-eyed Grayling, The, 18s.
Dun Skipper, The, 283.
Edwards, 49, 98, 187, 212, 251,
253-
egeremet, Thymelicus otho, 280.
Eggs, 20.
Emperors, The, 173.
Enodia portlandia, 189.
Epargyreus tityrus, 293.
Lpidemia epixanthe, 240.
epixanthe, Lpidemia, 240.
Erynnis comma, 276.
metea, 277.
sassacius, 276.
ethlius, Calpodes, 285.
ewbule, Callidryas, 88.
Ludamus proteus, 292.
Luphydryas phaeton, 125.
Lugonia j-album, 146.
Luphyes fusca, 284.
verna, 283.
vestris, 283.
LEupsyche m-album, 22%.
Luptoieta claudia, 109.
Lurema euterpe, 98.
nicippe, 97.
eurydice, Satyrodes, 192.
Lurymus eurytheme, 95.
philodice, 92.
eurytheme, Lurymus, 95.
eurytus, Cissia, 197.
euterpe, Eurema, 98.
Luvanessa antiopa, 148.
Lveres comyntas, 254.
Exuvie, 23.
Eyed Brown, The, 191.
Eyes, 3.
Sabricit, Polygonia, 135.
Falcate Orange-tip, The, 82
faunus, Polygonia, 138.
Femur, 5.
Feniseca tarquinius, 237.
Jioritensis, Basilarchia, 173.
Folded papers for butterflies.
20,
Fritillaries, The, 104.
fusca, Euphyes, 284.
a0
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
gemma, Neonympha, 194.
Gemmed Brown, The, 194.
genutia, Synchloe, 82.
Georgian Satyr, The, 196.
Giant Skippers, The, 258.
Giant Swallow-tail, The, 56.
glaucus glaucus, Papilio, 52.
glaucus, Papilio, 51.
glaucus turnus, Papilio, 51.
Goatweed Emperor, The, 177.
Golden- banded Skipper, The,
294.
Gossamer-winged Butterflies, The,
215.
Gray Comma, The, 143.
Gray Emperor, The, 174.
Gray Hair-streak, The, 223.
Grayling, The, 184.
Grayling, The Sea-coast, 185.
Graylings, Hybrid, 185.
Gray-veined White, The, 75.
Great Purple Hair-streak, The,
220.
Great Southern White, The, 72.
Great Spangled Fritillary, The,
114.
Green-clouded Swallow-tail, The,
59:
Green Comma, The, 138.
Grizzled Skipper, The, 301.
Gulf Fritillary, The, 107.
Hair-streaks, The, 217
halesus, Atlides, 220.
harristi, Cinclidia, 126.
harrisit, Polygonia comma, 140.
Harris's Butterfly, 126.
Hay, John, 209.
Head, 3.
Heliconians, The, 201,
Fleliconid@, 201.
Fleodes hy pophlias, 241.
flesperta centaurea, 301,
flesperia tessellata, 300.
Lesperiid, 200,
flesperiina, 201, 288.
flesperioidea, 256.
fTexapoda, 2.
Higginson, T. W., 65, 98, 160
207, 254.
Hinsdale, Laura F., tor.
Hoary-edge, The, 295.
Hoary Elfin, The, 233.
hobomok, Atrytone, 275.
Hop-merchant, The, 140.
Humeral angle, 6.
Humeral cross-vein, 10.
Humeral vein, 14.
Hunt, Helen, 94.
huntera, Vanessa, 156.
huron, [Tylephila, 279.
Hybrid Purple, The, 170.
fTylephila campestris, 278.
Hypatus bachmani, 210.
hypophleas, [eodes, 241.
icelus, Thanaos, 208.
idalia, Speyeria, 112.
immaculata, Pieris rapa, 78.
Lncisalia augustus, 231.
1rus, 233.
niphon, 234.
Indian Skipper, The, 276.
Inflating larvee, 34.
Ingelow, Jean, 162, 184.
Inner margin, 6.
Insect net, 29.
Insect-pins, 31.
interrogationis, Polygonia, 134.
tole, Nathalis, 86.
306
,
INDEX
[phiclides ajax, 49.
ajax marcellus, 49.
qax telamonides, 49.
gax walshit, 49.
trus, Incisalia, 233.
Lthomiida, 38.
j-album, Eugonia, 146.
Junonia cania, 160.
suvenalis, Thanaos, 300.
Juvenal’s Dusky-wing, 300.
Keats, IIo.
Kellogg, 17, 20.
Killing-bottle, 29
Kipling, 203.
ladon, Cyaniris, 249.
Laertias philenor, 66.
Larcom, Lucy, 187.
Large Metal-Mark, The, 214.
Large Orange-sulphur, The, go.
l-argentum, P. progne, 143.
Larva, 21.
Least Purple Hair-streak, The, 231.
Least Skipper, The, 272.
Legs, 5.
Leonard’s Skipper, 277.
leonardus, Anthomaster, 277
Lepidoptera, 3.
Libytheide, 210.
Limochores manataaqua, 286.
pontiac, 285.
liparops, Thecla, 228.
Little Glass-wing, The, 283.
Little Sulphur, The, 98.
Little Wood-satyr, The, 197.
logan, Phicanassa, 288,
Long Dash, The, 28r.
Long-beaks, The, 210.
Longitudinal veins, 9.
Long-tailed Skipper, The, 292.
Lowell, 87, 240, 301.
lucia, Cyaniris ladon, 250.
lucilius, Thanaos, 298.
Lucilius’s Dusky-wing, 298.
Lycwenide, 215.
lycidas, Achalarus, 295.
lygdamus, Nomiades, 245.
Lymnadide, 204.
m-album, Eupsyche, 221.
manataagua, Limochores, 286.
marcellus, Ajax, 49.
marcia, Phyciodes, 130,
marginata, Cyaniris ladon, 250.
Margins of wings, 6.
maritima, Cercyonis alope, 185.
Martial’s Dusky-wing, 299.
martialis, Thanaos, 299.
massasoit, Poanes, 273.
Maxille, 4.
Meadow-browns, The, 180.
Meadow Fritillary, The, 119.
Media, 9.
Medial cross-vein, 10.
Medio-cubital cross-vein, 10.
Megathymide, 258.
Megathymus cofagui, 258.
yucca, 259.
melinus, Uranotes, 223.
Mellichamp, Dr., 72.
metacomet, Euphyes vestris, 284.
Metal-marks, The, 213.
Metamorphoses of Butterflies, 20
metea, Erynnis, 277.
Milkweed Butterflies, The, 204.
Miller, Joaquin, 129.
Millers, 36.
Mitoura damon, 229.
Molting, 23.
307
HOW TO
Monarch, The, 204.
monuste, Pontia, 72.
Mormon, The, 275.
morpheus, Tharos, 130.
Moths, 36.
Mountain Silver-spot, The, 118.
Mourning Cloak, The, 148.
Mouth-parts, 4.
Mulberry-Wing, The, 273.
Murtfeldt, Miss, go.
myrina, Brenthis, 122.
mystic, Thymelicus, 281.
napi cruciferarum, Pieris, 76.
napi, Pieris, 75.
napl, Pieris oleracea, 76.
napi virginiensis, Pieris, 76.
Nathalis tole, 86.
neglecta, Cyaniris ladon, 251.
Neonympha gemma, 194.
phocion, 106.
nephele, Cercyonis alope, 185.
Net, 29.
nicippe, Eurema, 97.
niphon, Incisalia, 234.
Nomiades lygdamus, 245.
norna, (Enets, 193.
Northern Cloudy-wing, The, 296.
novanglic, Pieris rape, 78.
numitor, Ancyloxipha, 272.
nycteis, Charidryas, 127.
Nymphalide, 102.
Nymphs, 102.
Oarisma poweshetk, 2'73.
Ocelli, 4.
neis norna, 193.
oleracea, Pierts napi, 76.
Olive Hair-streak, The, 229.
Olympia Orange-tip, The, 83.
KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES
olympia, Synchloe, 83.
Ommatidia, 3.
Orange Sulphur, The, 95.
Orange-tips, The, 81.
Osmateria, 43, 46.
Otho Skipper, The, 279.
otho, Thymelicus, 2'79.
Outer margin, 6.
Painted Beauty, The, 156.
palemon, Pamphila, 272.
palamedes, Papilio, 55.
Palamedes Swallow-tail, The, 55.
Palmer, Alice Freeman, 222.
Palpi, 4.
Pamphila palemon, 272.
Pamphiline, 20%.
Papilio asterias, 63.
brevicauda, 61.
cresphontes, 57.
glaucus, 51.
palamedes, 55.
polyxenes, 02.
thoas, 56.
trotlus, 59.
Papilionida, 45.
Papilionoidea, 35.
Parnassians, 42.
Parnassiide, 42.
Parnassius smintheus, 43.
Patagia, 16.
Pearl Crescent, The, 129.
Pearly Eye, The, 189.
pechius, Polites, 282.
pegala, Cercyonis, 188.
Pepper and Salt Skipper, The, 271.
persius, Thanaos, 299.
Persius’s Dusky-wing, 299.
phaeton, Euphydryas, 125.
philea, Callidryas, 87.
308
INDEX
philenor, Laertias, 66.
philodice, Eurymus, 92.
phocion, Neonympha, 196.
Phebis agarithe, 90.
Pholisora catullus, 297.
Phycanassa viator, 287.
vitellius, 288.
Phyciodes tharos, 129.
Pieridae, 69.
Pierids, 69.
Pieris napt, 75.
rape, 78.
plexippus, Anosia, 204.
Poanes massasott, 273.
pocahontas, Atrytone hobomok, 275.
Polites peckius, 282.
Poly gonia, 133.
Polygonia comma, 140.
comma adryasy 140.
comma harrisit, 140.
faunus, 138.
interrogationis, 134.
interrogationis umbrosa, 135.
progne, 143.
progne Largentum, 143.
polyxenes, Papilio, 62.
Pontia monuste, 72.
protodice, 73.
pontiac, Limochores, 285.
portlandia, Enodia, 189.
poweshetk, Oarisma, 273.
Powesheik Skipper, The, 273.
Primaries, 6.
progne, Polygonia, 143.
Prolegs, 22.
proserpina, Basilarchia, 170.
proserpina, Chlorippe clyton, 176.
proteus, Eudamus, 292.
protodice, Pontia, 73:
protodice vernalis, Pontia, 73.
pseudargiolus, Cyaniris, 251.
Purple Disk, The, 240.
pylades, Thorybes, 296.
Queen, The, 207.
Radial sector, 13.
Radio-medial cross-vein, 10.
Radius, 9.
rape immaculata, Pieris, 78.
rape novanglic, Pieris, 78.
rape Pieris, 78.
Red Admiral, The, 154.
Ked-barred Sulphur, The, 87.
RKed-spotted Purple, The, 166.
Regal Fritillary, The, 112.
Rhabdoides cells, 294.
Riley, James Whitcomb, 179, 212.
Riodiniae, 213.
Roadside Butterfly, The, 92.
Roadside Skipper, The, 270.
rosa, Synchloe olympia, 84.
Rusticus scuddert, 246,
Sachem, The, 278.
samoset, Amblyscirtes, 271.
sassacus, Erynnis, 27
Satvrodes canthus, 191.
Saunders, 241.
Scales of butterflies, 17.
Scent-glands, 18.
Scent-organs, 43.
Scudder, 82, T14; 110, 121;
157, 164, 169, 183, 247.
scudderi, Rusticus, 246.
Scudder’s Blue, 246.
Sea-coast Graylings, The, 185.
Secondaries, 6.
Sector, Radial, 13.
Semnopsyche diana, 110.
112,
21 309
HOW TO: KNOW THE. BUTTERFLIES
Short-tailed Papilio, The, 61.
Silver-bordered
122,
Silver Crescent, The, 127.
Silver-spot Fritillary, The, 117.
Silver-spotted Skipper, The, 293.
Silvery Blue, The, 245.
Skippers, 36, 256.
Skippers with a Brand and their
Allies, 261.
Skippers with a Costal Fold and
their Allies, 288.
Sleepy Dusty-wing, The, 297.
Sleepy Yellow, The, 97.
Small Metal-mark, The, 213.
smintheus, Parnassius, 43.
Smith and Abbot, 88.
Snout Butterfly, The, 210.
Sooty-wing, The, 297.
sosybius, Cissia, 199.
Southern Cloudy-wing, The, 295.
Southern Wood-nymph, The, 188.
Fritillary, The,
Sovereigns, The, 162.
Spenser, 68, 169, 175.
Speveria idalia, 112.
Spreading-board, 32.
Spring Azure, The, 249.
Sthenopis, 10.
Stoddard, 239.
strigosa, Anosta berenice, 208.
Striped Hair-streak, The, 228.
Strymon tits, 234.
Subcosta, 9.
Swallow-tails, 45.
Swarthy Skipper, The, 284.
Synchloe genutia, 82.
olympia, 83.
olympia rosa, 84.
Synopsis of the groups of butter-
flies, 35.
Table for determining the families
of butterflies, 39.
Tailed Blue, The, 254.
tarquinius, Feniseca, 237.
Tarsus, 5.
Tawny-Edged Skipper, The, 281.
Tawny Emperor, The, 175.
telamonides, [phiclides ajax, 49.
tessellata, Hesperia, 300.
Tessellate Skipper, The, 300.
Thanaos brizo, 297.
icelus, 298.
jJuvenalis, 300.
lucilius, 298.
martialis, 299.
persius, 299.
tharos, Phyciodes, 129.
Thecla acadica, 224.
calanus, 226.
liparops, 228.
Thistle Butterflies, The, 153.
thoas, Papilio, 56.
thoe, Chrysophanus, 239.
Thompson, Maurice, 255.
Thorax, 5.
Thoreau, 151, 248.
Thorne, Rk. H., 81.
Thorybes bathyllus, 295.
pylades, 206.
Thymelicus brettus, 279.
cernes, 281.
mystic, 281.
otho, 279.
Tibia, 5.
Tiger Swallow-tail, The, 51.
titus, Strymon, 234.
tityrus, Epargyreus, 293.
Trochanter, 5.
troilus, Papilio, 59.
turnus, Papilio glaucus, 51.
310
INDEX
umbrosa, Polygamia, 135.
Cranotes melinus, 223.
Vanessa atalanta, 154.
cardi, 158.
huntera, 156.
vanille, Agraulis, 107.
Variegated Fritillary, The, rog.
Veins of the wing, 7.
Venation of the wings, 7.
verna, Luphyes, 283.
vernalis, Pontia protodice, 73.
vestris, Luphyes, 283.
vialis, Amblyscirtes, 270,
viator, Phycanassa, 287.
Vice-reine, The, 173.
Viceroy, The, 170.
violacea, Cyaniris ladon, 250.
violacea-nigra, C. ladon, 250.
Violet-tip, The, 134.
virginiensis, Pieris napt, 76.
vitellius, Phycanassa, 288.
Vitellius Skipper, The, 288.
walshii, Iphiclides ajax, 49.
Wanderer, The, 237.
Whiriabout, The, 279.
White -m Hair - streak,
221,
The,
White Mountain Butterfly, The,
193.
Whites, The, 71.
Wings, 5.
Wittfield, Dr., 56.
Wordsworth, 116, 226, 228.
Yellow Spot, The, 282.
Yellows, The, 84.
Yucca-borer, The, 259.
yucca, Megathymus, 259.
sabulon, Atrytone, 274.
Zabulon Skipper, The, 274.
Zebra, The, 201.
Zebra Swallow-tail, The, 49.
Zerene cesonia, go.
THE END
311
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