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THE
BUTTERFLIES OF NORTH AMERICA:
WILLIAM H. EDWARDS.
PHILADELPHIA:
THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
1868 — 1872.
TEXT REPRINTED
BOSTON: HOUGHTON, OSGOOD AND COMPANY. 1879.
There be Infects with little homes proaking out before their eyes, but weake and tender they be, and good for nothing; as the Butterflies. — Pliny ; Phil. Holland's T?-ans.
Many Infects there be that breed after another fort ; and principally of dew, which fetleth upon the Radifh leafe. From it arifeth a little grub, and lo in process and tract of time it groweth bigger and gathereth an hard hufke about her. This is called Chryfalis ; and after fome time, when the hufke is broken, he proveth a faire flying Butterflie. — Ibid.
PREFACE.
On completing the present Volume, I have little to add, by way of Preface, to the Advertisement that accompanied the first Part. I have endeavored to make the work in some degree worthy the beautiful forms it represents, and to this end have been fortunate in the co-operation of an accurate artist and careful colorists. To Mr. E. T. Cresson, the late Corresponding Secretary of the American Entomo- logical Society, I am under obligation for his constant supervision in all depart- ments, and in the printing and publishing especially. From many lepidopterists whose names will be found mentioned, I have received kindly aid and generous use of specimens.
It has been a delight to make known the charming loiterers of our mountains and forests and fields, the study of whose ways has long been to me a recreation and a constant pleasure such as naturalists only can appreciate and perhaps com- prehend. Works of this class, if faithfully executed, cannot be remunerative in a pecuniary sense, and the preparation of them must be strictly a labor of love. For this reason, it has been the more gratifying to have received from my subscribers frequent assurances of satisfaction as the several Parts have appeared, and expres- sions of approval and encouragement from entomologists and naturalists whose es- timation I highly value. This has chiefly determined me to continue publication, which I am the more willing to do, as many long known species of our but- terflies still remain unfigured and the number of new ones increases with surprising rapidity. Nearly one hundred have been brought to notice during the past twelve months, a large part of which are the results of one season’s intelligent col- lecting in Colorado, by Mr. Mead, and the total number catalogued in the Synopsis now exceeds five hundred. It is useless for illustration to attempt to keep pace with discovery in these circumstances, and in such a world as this continent af- fords, but some effort should be made lest the very wealth of species prove a hindrance to the study of this branch of natural history, for nothing is more per- plexing and discouraging to the beginner than dry, unillustrated descriptions. I hope therefore to commence Volume II in course of the next few months.
W. H. EDWARDS.
Coalburgh, on the Kanawha River, West Virginia, June 1, 1872.
o
fit
L. Bowen, Col.
Drawn ty Mary Peart.
A JAX, VAR.WAL S HII, 1, 2 . 6 , 3 9 . 4. larvae 5 chrysalis. 6.var.Abbotii, ef. 1’oocL Plant, As invinxz triblba.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Since the publication of Boisduval and LeConte’s Lepidopteres de l’Amerique Septentrionale, 1833, in which the greater number of Butterflies of the United States were described and figured, mostly from the plates of Abbot, there have been added to our fauna, and to our knowledge, partly from the enlargement of the States and partly from the observations of later naturalists, almost or quite as many as were then known. California and the Pacific slope and the Bocky Mountains have proved exceedingly rich in species. The same is true of Texas and of the northern parts of the continent. And, wherever a lepidopterist has carefully collected in the old States, and in localities supposed to have been thoroughly worked, new species, many of them conspicuous for size and beauty, have been discovered.
Many Californian species were described by Dr. Boisduval, in the Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, none of which have been figured, except two or three in Double- day’s Genera. Kirby described and figured a few of the Northern species in his Fauna Boreali Amer. in 1837, and many descriptions, with occasionally a plate, are scattered through scientific journals and Proceedings of Societies.
Nearly all the early descriptions are defective in certainty, being too brief, or too carelessly written, to enable us to identify the species, often applying to two or more as well as one, and often being utterly irrecognisable. Having, from my first study of this beautiful family, felt the want of illustrations, I long ago proposed to myself to publish a complete work on the Butterflies of North America, when I should have amassed sufficient material and could command the leisure necessary to such an end. I have the material, but I have not the wished for leisure, and I am compelled at present to forego the more ambitious attempt. But to carry out, even to a moderate degree, my cherished desire, as well as to enable our lepidopte- rists to keep up somewhat with the advance of the study, I propose now to publish a sufficient number of new, or hitherto unfigured or disputed, species, to make at least a moderate volume, leaving it for the future to decide whether I will continue beyond that limit. One number, therefore, containing at least five plates, will be
I
ii
issued every three months. Figures of both surfaces will be given, and of both sexes wherever possible. The pages will not be numbered, but, with the plates, will be so arranged that finally the species of each genus can be brought together. This plan admits any enlargement of the volume which, whenever concluded, will be complete in itself.
By North America is to be understood all that j>art of the Continent north of Mexico, according to the division adopted by the Smithsonian Institution.
The letter press will, in most cases, necessarily be confined to technical descrip- tions, but whenever it is possible, such a history of the species will be given as I have been able to gather from my own observations or from others.
It is a matter of regret that, in so few instances, I shall be able to say any- thing of the larvae. Even among our old and common species, the larvae are but little more known than in the days of Abbot, seventy years ago. His observations seem to have been more thorough or more fortunate than those of any of his successors.
With the second or third number a Synopsis of Species will be commenced, and will be concluded within the volume.
Philadelphia, March, 1868.
W. H. EDWARDS.
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PAPILIO 1.
PAPILIO AJAX.
Papilio Ajax , Linnaeus, Sjst. Nat. II, p. 750. Fab. Syst. Ent. p. 455.
Var. Walshii.
Ajax. Bois. & Lee. text, (not plate) p. 4; ibid, Spec. Gen. I, p. 258.
Marcellus, Cramer, pi. 98.
Sub-var. Abhotii.
Ajax , Abbot, Ins. Ga. pi. 4.,
Ajax, Felder, Spec. Lepid. p. 15.
Var. Telamonides, Felder, Zool. Novara Exped.; ibid, Spec. Lepid. p. 15.
Ajax, Godart, Enc. Meth. IX, p. 53. Bois. & Lee. pi. 1, (not text).
Var. Marcellus, Boisduval. Bois. & Lee. p. 8, pi. 2; ibid. Spec. Gen. 1, p. 257. Felder, Spec.
Lepid. p. 15.
Ajax, Esper, Eur. Schmett. 1, pi. 51. Hiibner, Exot. Samml. Schmett.
AJAX.— Vae, WALSHII.
Primaries broad, but little produced apically ; costa moderately arcbed ; bind margin in male concave, in female convex ; tail short, narrow ; tborax covered with long hairs ; frontal hairs long and bristling.
Male. — Expands from 2.6 to 2.8 inches.
Upper side pale black, marked and banded with greenish-yellow ; the hind margin broadly edged with black which is much advanced on costa of primaries and encloses a yellow band, divided by the nervures into spots that posteriorly are lunate ; on the costa a yellow spot and a stripe that reaches from costal edge to inferior corner of cell ; preceding this is a broad common yellow band that termi- nates on middle of secondaries and encloses on costal margin of primaries a variable black stripe, bar or spot, often nearly obsolete ; next, a black baxid bifid on costa and enclosing there a yellow stripe ; and a second yellow band, narrow, terminating at a point below the first ; bases of both wings and abdominal margin of secondaries black ; on primaries a yellow streak quite at base.
Secondaries regularly dentated, the excavations fringed with pale yellow; tails of moderate length, straight, varying in width in individuals, often very narrow, black, tipped only with pale yellow and slightly edged with same color at base on either side; along hind margin four whitish lunules; near angle two lunu- lar clusters of blue scales on the black ground, above the hindmost of which is a
PAPILIO I.
ty
deep yellow patch at the excavation of abdominal margin ; over this is a black sub- ovate spot enclosing a blue streak or lunule; next above a sinuous crimson bar, the upper edge often bordered by white; the disk opposite this bar irrorated with fine yellow scales.
Under side much the same in markings, the dark portions decidedly brown, the light bands greenish-yellow more or less tinted with buff ; within the marginal border, anterior to the macular band and to the spots on secondaries, is a reddish-grey stripe separated from each of the lunules by a black bar extending across the in- terspace; the limb irrorated with yellow; the crimson bar as above but always broadly edged with white, and nearly or quite connected with a sinuous crimson stripe which runs through the middle of the black band to the costal edge, and is also edged anteriorly by white.
Body black, the thorax above covered with long yellow-grey hairs, beneath black quite to the head; a narrow yellow stripe passes along the side of thorax and a yellow line starting at the insertion of secondaries passes along the side of abdo- men to last segment; palpi black with yellow hairs interspersed; front of head fur- nisned with long bristling black hairs ; antennae reddish ; club same above, reddish- brown beneath.
Female. — Same size and similar in color and markings.
Sub-variety Abbotii. — Resembles the variety just described except that on upper side of secondaries is a crimson streak, more or less distinct, nearly parallel to abdominal margin.
In some respects Walshii is further from Telamonides than the latter is from Marcellus. Besides the differences in the tail, the blackness of the body and the bristling front are conspicuous. More than half the individuals met with are of the narrow tailed variety represented on the plate.
The egg is pale green, globular, smooth, .016 in diameter. Duration of this state 7 to 8 days. The larva, on emerging from the egg, is black, covered with minute papillae from each of which proceed fine hairs. After first moult, which takes place at three days, it is ash colored, still covered with the papillae. These are lost at the second moult, after four days, when the larva assumes the general form and smooth skin which it shows at maturity, the color being yellow-white, with transverse grey stripes. After third moult, which takes place in six to eight days, the color is smoky-brown, each segment crossed by four lines of which the anterior is yellow and the rest dull white; the second, third and fourth segments without yellow, and the white lines nearly crowded out by the expanding of the brown; at the junction of fourth and fifth segments is a velvety -black band pre- ceded by a white on the fourth and followed by a yellow one on the fifth. At the fourth moult, from seven to ten days, the color becomes darker, quite black on the
PAPILIO I.
four anterior segments and dorsally throughout, crossed by a pale yellow and four grey stripes. This phase continues to maturity, about four days. Among 66 larvae of Walshii there was remarkable uniformity, and especially none were green, nor was there a trace of the blue band on fourth segment which replaces the white one in many larvae of Telamonides and Marcellus. Duration of larval state from 22 to 29 days.
Chrysalis .8 to .9 in length, greatest diameter .3; cylindrical, tapering pos- teriorly from middle of abdomen ; head triangular, terminated by two short, lateral sub-conic points; another on thorax, triangular, the upper edge slightly curved, beak-like; from this two small ridges pass along the wing cases and down the ab- domen to extremity, and between them two others starting from upper segments of the abdomen, on the outer sides of which last, in those chrysalids which are brown, is a fine dentaied light colored line; surface reticulated and on the abdomen marked more or less distinctly by transverse abbreviated dark bars; color either dead leaf brown or bright green. Duration of chrysalis state 14 days, but with fre- quent cases of irregularity. Some of the chrysalids retain the imago till the follow- ing spring.
;
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AJAX, VAR. TXLAMONIDE S. 1. 2. 3; 3. ?.
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PAPILIO II.
AJAX.— Vab. TELAMONIDES, Felder.
Primaries more produced than in var. Walshii; costa more arched; hind margin in male more excavated, in female convex; tail longer and broader; thorax covered with long hairs ; frontal hairs of medium length.
Male. — Expands from 2.8 to 3.2 inches.
Similar in color and disposition of bands and markings to Walshii; the tail not merely tipped with yellow, but bordered on either side from half to two-thirds the distance from tip to base, the extreme edges, except at tip, being black; the crimson bar narrower, often bilobed, and occasionally broken into two spots; the four marginal lunules usually distinct.
Body above as in Walshii, but beneath much less black, the collar being yel- low and the yellow lateral stripes broad and bright; palpi yellow, the hairs at extremity tipped with black ; frontal hairs black, very slightly interspersed with yellow at base next the eyes, shorter than in Walshii ; antennae reddish, club same, reddish-brown beneath.
Female. — Same size and resembles the male.
Telamonides is midway between the other two varieties in size. It has the fore wings of Walshii, especially in the female, but the hind wings are produced after the manner of Marcellus, and it has the tail of Marcellus, as well as the yellow throat and sides of thorax and abdomen. Like Walshii it has a crimson bar, but this is often broken into two spots. The frontal hairs are not wholly black and are but of medium length, and the hairs of palpi are nearly yellow.
Egg similar to that of Walshii. Duration of this state 4 to 5 days.
Larva similar up to the second moult, after which there is a wide divergence, some retaining a resemblance to Walshii, others being entirely black unrelieved by any light color whatever; in others the general color is grey, with white, black and yellow bands on fourth and fifth segments, and the segments after fifth crossed by one yellow and two dull white stripes. At other times the color is blue-green, each segment crossed by grey, yellow and clear white, the white band replaced by turquoise-blue. Or the color is pale green throughout, except one yellow stripe on each segment, the bands being blue, black and yellow. There is also a variety on which the black stripes are broken into points giving the larva a speckled appear- ance. Duration of larval state 15 to 18 days.
Chrysalis similar to that of Walshii, and either brown or green. Duration of this state 11 to 14 days.
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AJAX,TARmTlGB LLU S , 1, 2. t, 3 9 .
4-Yonrig larva* S in aiures larvae in* van. 6 Chrysalides: in- var.
PAPILIO III.
AJAX.— Vak. MARCELLUS, Boisduval.
Primaries in both sexes equally and largely produced, hind margins much excavated; costa less arched than in Telamonides; secondaries more produced; tail longer and broader; thorax covered with short hairs; frontal hairs very short.
Male. — Expands from 3.2 to 3.5 inches.
Color deep black, the borders and black bands broader than in either of the other varieties; the light portions pale blue-green in fresh specimens; the stripe be- tween the forks of mesial black band reduced to a mere streak; the two common green bands terminate on secondaries higher up the wing by nearly the width of one interspace; the tail very long and broad, bordered and edged as in Telamonides; the crimson band reduced to a single lunate spot of variable size, and occasionally wanting, with very rarely a second spot, always minute; the two middle lunules on the margin distinct, the other two more or less obsolete; a greenish band at base of both wings, on secondaries following the edge of the abdominal fold. On the under side the light portions tinted with buff, especially on cOsta and along the principal nervures and either edge of the black common band; two crimson anal spots ; otherwise as in Telamonides.
Body above black, the thorax covered with short grey hairs; beneath wholly bright yellow, except a narrow black stripe extending from the head to end of ab- domen, passing beneath the insertion of the wings, and a stripe along lower part of thorax and abdomen; a short black line inside the yellow space just before the last segment of the abdomen; palpi yellow; front of head furnished with very short hairs, black in front interspersed with yellow next the eyes; antennae reddish; club same, reddish-brown beneath.
Female. — Expands 3.5 inches.
The green bands of deeper color and narrower, leaving the surface very black. In many cases the green shade is replaced by a soiled or buff-white with no trace of green. The second crimson spot appears more often than in the male.
Marcellus differs from the other varieties by its increased size and blackness of wings and by their shape in both sexes, by the absence more or less complete of one or two of the yellow marginal lunules, by the substitution of a single large lu- nate crimson spot, occasionally accompanied by a crimson point, in place of bar of Walshii, or the double and usually equal spots of Telamonides. It also differs from the latter in the proportionate length and breadth of tail; is still more yellow on throat and thorax; the short frontal hairs are yellow and black, and the palpi are yellow.
PAP1LI0 III.
%
Egg similar to that of Walshii. Duration of this state 4 to 5 days.
The larvae of Marcettus combine the variations of Walshii and Telamonides, about one half resembling those of the former, and most of the remainder being either green or blue-green, as before described, with blue, black and yellow bands on fourth and fifth segments. Duration of the larval state twelve to nineteen days.
Chrysalis similar to that of Walshii, but varying much in size, the largest being .1 broader and .2 longer; thoracic process more prominent and hooked, and the reticulations and abbreviated bands more conspicuous. Color either brown or green. Duration of chrysalis state 11 to 14 days.
I subjoin the diagnoses of these forms given by Mr. Felder in his Species Lepidopterorum, Vienna, 1864, pp. 15 and 59.
Section 23. Sub-section E. — Marcelltjs.
“ Wings much broader than in preceding sub-sections, (i. e. Sinon, &c.) hind wings deeply dentated, much more produced, costa convex, the lower disco- cellular nervule of fore wings less sinuous, the cell of hind wing broader, the lower disco-cellular nervule much longer.”
Sub-section F. — Telamonides and Ajax (Abbotii and Walshii).
“ Fore wings less produced apically, the cell shorter; costa of hind wings longer but anal region much less produced than in Marcettus ; the superior and inferior disco-cellular nervules of fore wings a little concave outward ; cell of hind wings much shorter, the inferior disco-cellular nervule shorter ; tail narrower, shorter; club slender; front very hairy.”
Here therefore are three well defined forms, differing in many specific charac- ters and long recognised as distinct species. For eight years past I have had favorable opportunities for studying their habits, and have been intent on solving what very early struck me as a mystery. I am pleased at last at having met with sufficient success to warrant my giving the results thus far obtained in this volume.
Mr. Wallace, (Natural Selections, pages 145-159,) has admirably described and illustrated the phenomena of dimorphism or polymorphism. This is occasioned by common parents producing two or more forms of offspring of distinct types, without intermixture or hybridism, and among the lepidoptera, as stated by this author, has usually been observed in the female sex only. We have many examples in our fauna, partly cases of albinism, as in Colias, of flavism, in Anthocaris, or of melanism, as in Lycsena, and notably in case of Papilio Turnus, one of our largest, most widely distributed and best known butterflies. The male of this is always yellow, but the females in the Middle and Southern States are dimorphic, one form being yellow like the male, the other black. (There are however occasional cases of true hybridism between dimorphic forms, and I have several examples of hybrid Turnus, one of which is perfect.) We have also a case of dimorphism in Grapta Interrogationis, that embraces both sexes. There is another phenomenon
PAP1LI0 III.
?
called “seasonal” dimorphism by Mr. Wallace, where great differences exist be- tween the autumnal and vernal broods of the same insect, occasionally known to occur.
These phenomena meet in the species Ajax, there being a complicated seasonal polymorphism and also true polymorphism in both sexes. Moreover there is a considerable degree of variation in each of the three principal forms (though not to an extent to constitute intergrades) not merely in the imago but strikingly in the larva and somewhat in the chrysalis. There is also a tendency to still further departure from the average specific type, as seen in the sub- varieties of Walshii.
It is not certain which of these forms was first described as Ajax and should be entitled to give name to the species. The indefinite language of Linnaeus and Fabricius may apply to either. The figure of Esper, under the name of Ajax, repre- sents Marcellus; Cramer’s Marcellas is the one which I designate as Walshii. Abbot’s figures represent a variety of this last, the difference consisting in the pres- ence of a carmine stripe on the upper surface of secondaries. This form is not un- common, though I believe the stripe is always imperfect and in no case so promi- nent as appears on Abbot’s plate. About one individual in ten of either sex of Walshii exhibits traces of the stripe to a greater or less degree.
Boisduval and Leconte regarded this Abbotii as entitled to be considered the true Ajax, because besides giving a figure of the imago, Abbot also gives the larva and chrysalis, and they proposed to follow him. In the text they do so very nearly, but their plate represents Telamonides. Felder also accepts Abbot’s figure as that of the typical Ajax.
As regards the claims of the three principal varieties they are equal ; neither can be called a variety of the other, but they are varieties of one species. To avoid confusion it seemed to me well to apply the name Ajax to them collectively and to designate two of them by the names which have become familiar. The other I name in recollection of the late Benjamin D. Walsh, whose untimely loss proves well nigh irreparable to American Entomology. A second sub-variety of Walshii, characterized by very narrow tails and usually by diminutive size was pronounced by Mr. Felder, to whom it had been submitted, as distinct and constituting a fourth species, (see plate herewith).
I am not certain whether Walshii is as wide spread as Telamonides or not. Mr. Walsh informed me that he had never met with it in Illinois, where the other was common. But I have received it from Eastern Virginia and Dr. A. W. Chapman has sent it to me from Florida. Dr. G. M. Levettey has taken it abundantly in the month of April, near Indianapolis. Abbot’s figures purport also to have been taken from a Georgian insect. It seems probable therefore that it is wide spread but has been over-looked or confounded with Telamonides.
PAP1LI0 III.
Walshii appears in tlie Kanawha Valley (West Va.) from the fifteenth to twentieth of March, by which time the peach trees are usually in bloom. On these the females may certainly be found, and a little later, on the apple and in great numbers on the wild plum. The males appear a few days earlier and are to be seen by the water side or upon the road, but rarely upon flowers. The larvae feed on the Pawpaw (Asimina triloba, Gray), and as this is one of the latest of our trees to put forth its leaves, the butterflies are out at least from two to three weeks before the young shoots of the food plant are visible. But no sooner do these ap- pear than the females hasten to deposit their eggs. Telamonides begins to fly some weeks after Walshii, and both forms in this valley are for a time common. About the first of June, Walshii disappears, and before the end of the month Telamonides also. I have never seen either later than June save in one instance. In this, Mr. Theo. L. Mead captured a newly emerged Telamonides, at Coalburgh, 12th Sept., 1869. Mr. Mead is an accurate observer, and during several weeks spent with me, paid particular attention to this species. Every season I have brought me great numbers of butterflies taken in the vicinity, and as no other case of the late appearance of these two forms has come to my knowledge, it may be assumed that this occurrence of Telamonides was exceptional.
About 1st of June, Marcellus begins to appear and shortly is out in great numbers, continuing to be abundant till last of October. I have seen Marcellus in but one instance before last of May, and that was 11th April, 1867, when I myself captured a female on the wing, as much out of its season as the Telamonides in September.
I became satisfied in my own mind some years ago that one of these forms was the summer or fall brood and the others the spring broods of the same insect, hav- ing every year raised many of the larvae, either found on the leaves of the food plant, or bred from eggs so found, and the results thus obtained agreeing with out- side observations. But however probable it might appear, it was not possible to establish the certainty till the missing link could be supplied and one form bred from eggs actually laid by another, especially when the appearance of the Marcel- lus taken in April and the Telamonides emerged from chrysalis in April, 1868, hereafter referred to, furnished strong reasons for doubt.*
* Note. — It is true that Dr. Morris, in 1862, had stated in his Synopsis, page 9, that Dr. Gray considered Ajax and Marcellus to be varieties of the same insect, and added, “ This is now the opinion of all the collectors in this country. One of them declares that Ajax is the spring and Marcellus the fall brood of the same species.” But no reason for this opinion or proof of the assertion was given, and Dr. Morris allowed me to deny the identity of the two species in his appendix, p. 351, without com- ment. At best, no one seems to have more than reached an opinion founded in some cases probably on facts identical with those afterwards observed by me.
PAPILIO III,
To obtain this missing link seemed impossible and year after year I had failed. Twice I had seen a female Telamonides deposit an egg and succeeding in hatching the larva therefrom. But in one instance it died before maturity and in the other, the larva from an egg deposited 11th May, 1867, gave Telamonides in April, 1868.
1 had also succeeded in raising larvae from eggs seen to be deposited by Marcellus , but merely ascertained that the early summer brood of this form produced its like a few weeks later, without gaining any light as to the last brood of the season. The females would not lay their eggs in captivity, either in empty boxes or on cut branches of the food plant.
In 1870, 1 determined to try the effect of confining the females with the grow- ing food plant, and 16th May, enclosed in a keg from which the heads had been removed and the upper end covered with gauze, a Telamonides. During the day it laid several eggs on the leaves. I was now obliged to leave home, and was absent two weeks. On returning I found six larvae only in the keg, of equal size and about half grown. Others had been hatched but had either escaped or had been destroyed. By 5th June, these larvae had stopped feeding, although but three weeks had elapsed since the female was enclosed. On 7th, they had fixed and by 8th had become chrysalids. Between 20th and 24th they had yielded imagos,
2 $, 4 ?, all Marcellus. Time from laying egg to imago 85 days.
On 1st June, I enclosed three Telamonides, and, on 2d, had obtained from them 37 eggs. From these, on 3d July, 2 ? Marcellus emerged and others followed till 9th, when I had 12 $, 10 $, all Marcellus. Time from laying of egg to imago 33 days. One chrysalis from this brood went over the season, and 1st April, 1871, yielded $ Telamonides.
On 7th June, I enclosed a Marcellus and from it, on 23d, had five mature larvee. On 4th July, 1 $ Marcellus emerged, on 9th 3 $. Time from laying of egg to imago 27 days. One chrysalis went over the season and was alive 1st April 1871, but died before yielding imago.
On 1st July, I enclosed a Marcellus, which in point of time would be of the second brood in succession from Telamonides. By 18th, there were eighteen larvae living from which resulted fourteen chrysalids. On 31st, the imagos began to ap- pear and by 3d August, there were 4 <?, 3 $, all Marcellus. Time 30 days. Seven of this lot of chrysalids passed their period and one of them gave ? Marcellus, on 28th August, six weeks afterwards. The other six went over the season and were living in the following February, but unfortunately were destroyed by fire about the end of that month.
Late in August, from eggs of Marcellus obtained in same way, I had two larvae which matured 1 2th Sept. One of these soon after yielded Marcellus, the other went over the season but was lost with those before mentioned.
PAPILIO III.
ik
On 15th Oct., I had several larvae feeding. Of these but one went to chrysa- lis before frost killed the leaves of the food plant and caused the loss of the re- mainder. This one yielded Telamonides $, 15th April, 1871.
These observations therefore shewed that from Telamonides came Marcellus the same season and Telamonides in the following spring, that from Marcellus came successive broods of Marcellus the same season, and from the last brood Tela- monides in the spring.
It also appeared that while there was a general limit to the duration of the chrysalis state, namely about 12 days, there were frequent exceptions, the imagos then emerging at irregular periods and some of nearly every brood living in chrys- alis till the following spring.
The rapidity of growth from the egg was surprising, as compared with our other Papilios. In 1869, by obtaining very young larvae within a day or two after I had had butterflies emerge from chrysalis, I became satisfied that, besides the first brood from Walshii or Telamonides, there are three successive broods of Marcellus and the larvae of the fourth give chrysalids that go over the winter, thus making five broods per year.
These observations failed to determine the connection between Walshii and the other two forms, though I had good reasons for feeling confident as to what that connection might be. F or example, from twenty-seven chrysalids obtained from larvae found on the food plant in Sept. 1868, and which it is now plain must have come from the last brood of Marcellus, emerged twenty-seven imagos between the 2d and 21st April, 1868. Of these, twenty-six were Telamonides, and one was Wal- shii. Also from chrysalids of Sept. 1869, emerged two var. Abbotii in March, 1870.
Out of fifty-seven chrysalids from larvae found on food plant in last of June and 1st of July, 1868, which were probably from first brood of Marcellus, forty- five produced Marcellus within the usual period; but five went over the winter, and between 24th March and 8th April, 1869, yielded five Telamonides. Another larva fed in August, 1868 (2d or 3d brood of Marcellus) produced Telamonides 23d March, 1869.
In the spring of the present year, (1871) Walshii was unusually abundant and it seemed to me, at the expense of Telamonides, which was comparatively scarce. On the 10th April, I confined three Walshii with the food plant, and by 12th, had obtained one-hnndred and twenty-five eggs. On the 16th, I confined two others of same type separately and obtained many more eggs. The larvae from the last laying overtook in growth those of the first so that but one day intervened between the first chrysalis of each. Between 17 th and 23d May, all the survivors had changed, numbering seventy. From these emerged, between 1st and 6th June, fifty-eight butterflies, of which 22 $, 34 ?, were Marcellus, one $, Walshii and one
PAPILIO III.
/3
$, Telamonides. On 23d June, full three weeks after its period came another $ Marcellus and a second followed on the 12th July. Of the other chrysalids seven are living at this date (15th October) . In these cases the eggs of each lot were unusually long in hatching, 8 days, and the time from laying of egg to imago of the first was 51 days and of the second 44.
On 23d May, I enclosed another Walshii with the usual result. The eggs be- gan to hatch on 28th, five days. From these, on 13th June, I had thirty-two chrysalids. The first imago appeared 24th June. Time from laying of eggs thirty- one days. By 30th, 10 $, 7 ?, Marcellus had emerged and 14 chrysalids are living at this date (15th October).
On 27th May, I enclosed a Telamonides that had but a slight trace of white at sides of the tail near the tip and in this respect approached Walshii much more nearly than I had before observed in that variety, though otherwise it was distinctly Telamonides. From this I obtained many eggs which hatched on 31st and gave nineteen larvae. These were peculiar in that they were all remark- ably black, and several entirely so, without even the usual white line on fourth segment. The butterflies began to emerge on the 28th, and there resulted seven Marcellus. Time from laying of egg 32 days. At this date 15th October ten chrysalids are living.
From another Telamonides enclosed 28th May, resulted 2 $, 2 ? Marcellus on 3d and 4th July, and six chrysalids are still living (15th October.)
On 1st and 4th June, I enclosed several Marcellus. These laid scores of eggs and in due time I had 123 larvae, and from them on 2d July, seventy-six chrys- alids. On the 5th, the imagos began to appear and by 13th, 21 $, 15 ?, had emerged, all Marcellus. At this date, (15th October) 40 chrysalids have long passed their period. Time 34 days.
Finally, on 29th July, I enclosed a Marcellus , and obtained therefrom forty- two chrysalids. Of these, thirteen produced Marcellus 4 £, 9? , and twenty-nine go over the season.
It will be noticed that a large percentage of the chrysalids of nearly every brood pass the winter, the proportion seeming to increase as the broods succeed each other. Of the first brood of Walshii, of 67 chrysalids, 7 passed over ; of the second of 39 chrysalids, 14; of the first of Telamonides, of 17 chrysalids 10; of the second of Telamonides of 10 chrysalids, 6 ; of the first brood of Marcellus, of 76 chrys- alids, 40; of the second brood of Marcellus, of 42 chrysalids, 29.
The summing up therefore of this whole series of observations is this ; Walshii produces Walshii, Telamonides and Marcellus, the same season; Telamonides pro- duces Marcellus the same season and its own type in the Spring; Marcellus pro-
PAP1LI0 III.
duces successive broods of Marcellus the same season, and occasionally Telamonides, (individual taken by Mr. Mead in September, 1870) and the last brood produces Walshii and Telamonides in the Spring; and whenever any of the chrysalids of either brood of Marcellus pass the winter they produce the other two varieties, and probably sometimes their own type (individual taken April, 1867.) The chrysa- lids of Walshii that pass the winter of 1871 — 2 will probably produce Walshii or Telamonides.
Thus there are Marcellus produced by three different types of parent, and Tel- amonides by three and probably Walshii by the same number. I have carefully compared individuals of each variety so sprung from several parents and can dis- cover no tangible points of difference. Except in what I should call non-essential variations and which each variety is subject to, such as width of the bands, &c., each is true to its own type no matter what its parentage.
The duration of the several states of egg, larva and chrysalis also differs greatly, especially between Walshii and the other two varieties.
Walshii,
Telamonides
Marcellus,
Egg.
7 to 8 days. 4 to 5 days. 4 to 5 days.
Larva.
22 to 29 days. 15 to 18 days. 12 to 19 days.
Chrysalis. 14 days.
11 to 14 days. 11 to 14 days.
Total.
43 to 52 days. 30 to 36 days. 27 to 38 days'.
The female of Ajax may frequently be seen coursing through the pawpaw trees which hereabouts cover the lower hill-sides, or hovering about the young plants that spring up in the cultivated fields, searching for leaves on which to deposit her eggs. After touching or running over and rejecting several, she finds one suitable to her purpose. Thereupon, balancing by the rapid fluttering of her wings, she stands for an instant with legs stretched at full length, perpendicular to the body, and curving down the abdomen till it touches the surface, deposits a single egg; then flies away, presently to alight on a second leaf with like intent. Some- times the egg is upon the stem and occasionally on the under side of the leaf, but almost always it is on the upper side, and but one egg will usually be found on the same leaf. The process of laying continues for several successive days. At certain seasons it is almost impossible to find a young plant that is free from these eggs and it is easy to collect scores of them.
On dissecting the abdomen of a newly emerged female the eggs are found to be fully formed though not full-sized. I conclude that they mature with great rapidity because fertile eggs are laid by apparently fresh and uninjured females. With the Yanessans and Argynnides, (probably with the Nymphalidse generally,) this is far from being the case, the eggs maturing in the ovaries for a long period before they are ready for impregnation.
PAPILIO III.
/S
Many eggs are destroyed by insects and spiders. There is a minute scarlet spider scarcely larger than the egg itself, that mounts upon it and from a punc- ture extracts the contents. I frequently met the shells so despoiled before I dis- covered the cause and have since observed the marauder in its operations. I have also lost in a single night, owing as I supposed to crickets, numbers of eggs laid in confinement.
The larvae, in every stage of growth, are to be found resting on the surfaces of the leaves and one would suppose they must be nearly exterminated by birds. But like all Papilio larvae, they emit from the head, at the same time that they project a Y shaped tentacle, a peculiarly acrid and sickening odor which must effectually pro- tect them. I have however seen spiders feeding upon them, attacking even the head, and they have other enemies among the insects. They are very little troub- led by ichneumon-flies in this valley, and I have rarely lost a chrysalis from that cause. Consequently no Papilio is so abundant here throughout the season. I find on breeding them that a considerable percentage of the eggs do not hatch, and that more or less of the larvae die at every moult, as well as in the effort to change to chrysalids. Multitudes of chrysalids must be destroyed in the winter by birds and mice as they are but imperfectly concealed under stones and roots or even among the stems of the grasses. So that of the tens of thousands of eggs that are annually deposited but a very small proportion produce butterflies.
I am now clearly of the opinion that the number of each sex in any species of butterfly is about equal. On counting the Ajax that have emerged from chry- salis the last two seasons, I find 78 $, 83 ?, and with the Interrogationis, Comma , and other species I find about the same proportion. The scarcity of the females noticed by all collectors is owing to their frequenting different localities from the males.
With regard to obtaining the eggs of any species of butterfly, after two seasons experience, I find not the least difficulty, provided the food plant be known. If, on being confined with this, they do not immediately proceed to deposit their eggs, it is because these are not matured. I have repeatedly failed with the large Ar- gynnides until the month of September, and then have obtained hundreds of eggs. The larvae of Argynnis are the only ones however I have been unable to rear, and so far I have failed in every instance, though with Euptoieta Columbina , closely allied on one side, and the Yanessans on the other, I have had no difficulty whatever.
2p
i:
Drscwnl^y Mary Peart. BowenA C?,li£h. Thi?*
CiARIUS. I 2. 8 3. 4 $
CLODIUS. 5. 6- 5
PARNASSIUS I.
PARNASSIUS CLARIUS. 1—4.
Parnassius Clarius, Eversmann, Bull, de Mosc. XVI, p. 9. Bois. Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr. 1852.
Clodivs, Bois. Lep. de la Cal. 1869.
Male. Expands 2.2 to 2.4 inches.
Upper side sordid white ; the outer half of primaries semi-transparent, crossed to first median nervule by a submarginal row of white lunules ; a second abbreviated row of four similar lunules from the costa, separated from the white ground by a narrow semi-transparent space ; base densely powdered with black atoms which extend for some distance along costal margin and cover nearly half the cell ; on the arc a pale black bar, another across cell ; sometimes a black patch in submedian interspace. Secondaries have the base and upper part of abdominal margin densely powdered with black, which rarely reaches the extremity of the cell ; on costal margin a small, rather angular than round, spot, either reddish yellow or bright red, within black ring, and occasionally with a white pupil ; in upper discal interspace a second similar spot, smaller, but often represented by a black point only ; in some individuals a pale black narrow bar near anal angle.
Under side vitreous ; the black markings of upper side faintly reproduced ; both red spots conspicuous and usually with white pupils ; at base of secondaries oc- casionally traces of three or four red spots, but usually these are wholly wanting ; where on upper side there is an anal bar, beneath is a pale red bar with blackish edges.
Body above covered with grey hairs ; thorax brownish yellow above and beneath as is also the abdomen beneath ; palpi a deeper shade of yellow ; antennas black.
Female. Expands 2.4 to 2.6 inches.
Nearly the whole of primaries semi-transparent, crossed by a submarginal and discal row of white lunules or spots ; a third row borders the extremity of the cell ; the cellular bars larger than in male and the black atoms at base much extended, filling a large part of the cell.
Secondaries sordid white bordered by a row of large concolored lunules edged anteriorly by narrow semi-transparent crenations; the red spots much larger than in male, the one on disc accompanied by a small black spot on its inner side ; anal patch large, red, edged by black ; on the under side this patch has a white centre and the spots white pupils; the basal red spots distinct ; abdomen fur- nished with a large, white, corneous pouch.
P ARNASSIUS I.
Lakva unknown.
Found in the Sierra Nevada, Yo Semite Valley and other localities in California.
Respecting this species, Mr. Henry Edwards writes, “ I have seen Clarius on the wing and have taken both sexes. They were flying in a shady canon of the Sierras near Donner Lake, alighting frequently, taking short flights and having very much the appearance of dirty and worn Pieridce. Their flight is a short, jerking motion not unlike many Hesperians and they are easily captured. Clarius is a much more common insect than Clodius and seems to have a far wider range. I have also seen it in various parts of the Sierra Nevada from near Mt. Shasta down to Inyo Co., while Clodius I only know from the specimens collected byMr. Behrens at Bodega. Clarius appears to be strictly a mountain insect, being found at as high an elevation as 7 500 feet, while Clodius occurs at far lower levels, and even at the sea coast.”
o
P ARNASSIUS CLODIUS. 5—6.
Parnassius Clodius , Menetries, Enum. Corp. Anim. Mus. St. Petersb. I. p. 73.
Male. Expands 3 to 3.5 inches.
Upper side of both wings cream white, except the outer extremity of primaries which is semi-transparent and crossed, as in Clarius, by two rows of white lunules ; in the cell two bars, as in that species, but the one on arc broader and at its lower extremity sharper, the color of both being a dense black, therein differing noticeably from Clarius; a black patch in sub-median interspace; costa and base moderately powdered with black scales which extend over nearly one-half the cell.
Secondaries densely powdered with black from base quite to the extremity of the cell ; two nearly round, bright red spots, of equal size, situated as in Clarius, each in a broad black ring and usually with a small white pupil ; at anal angle a con- spicuous black arc, sometimes wanting.
Under side vitreous, the black markings as above but paler; the ocelli distinct, their pupils enlarged ; at anal angle a red arc edged by black ; at base three or four red patches, usually distinct with well defined black edges, but occasionally faint without black; these red spots when distinct are visible on upper side.
Body above covered with grey hairs ; abdomen at extremity yellow, be- neath yellow brown ; palpi yellow brown ; antennae black.
Female. Unknown.
From several males taken at Bodega, Marin Co., California, by Mr. James Behrens.
Having seen but a limited number of Parnassians from California, I had sup- posed the insect represented by figs. 5 and 6, on the plate, to be a marked variety
PARNASSIUS I.
of Clarius. But the protest of Mr. Behrens, who had seen a proof of the plate, and the result of a re-examination by Mr. Henry Edwards, to whom I had refer- red the question, have made me think it probable that there are two species, and that figs. 5 and 6 represent the true Clodius of Menetries. His description pur- ports to have been taken from a single male “brought from California by Wos- nesensky” without further notice of its habitat. Menetries states that it is dis- tinguished from Clarius , Eversmann, by its great size and dead white color, and he describes in nearly all respects an individual closely resembling the one fig- ured on our plate.
Boisduval, in his paper of 1852, gives a description of Clarius which seems to have been drawn from individuals of that species, and he states that it is found in the mountains of California.
But in his Lepidoptera of California, 1869, he states that he was in error in considering the species he had before described to be the Clarius of Evers- mann and substitutes therefor Clodius Menetries, omitting the former from his list of species.
Mr. Edwards, who has devoted many seasons to collecting the Califor- nian butterflies and who is largely acquainted with their habits and localities, writes, “ I am fully convinced from an examination of all the specimens with- in my reach, in my collection and in those of Mr. Behrens and Dr. Behr, that we have two species of Parnassius nearly allied and that these have been described by Eversmann and Menetries. The great differences appear to me to be that Clodius is larger than Clarius, of a clearer white, less transparent, with the red ocelli of a brighter, clearer color, and always with red spots at the base of secondaries beneath. The two black stripes on primaries are sharper, wider, and of a more intense black. In a long series of these insects perhaps other characters would present themselves, but in what I have seen, the dis- tinctions appear to be well preserved.’’
I have tabulated the differences between the males of the two species, thus ;
- Clarius.
Expanse of wing 2.4 inches.
Color sordid-white.
Discal bars pale.
Sometimes black spot on inner margin.
The two red spots, rather angular, of unequal size, one often a mere point.
Color of spots varying from pale yellow red to bright red.
Sometimes a narrow, pale bar at anal angle ) of- ten wanting.
Sometimes a pale red bar at anal angle below
Usually no red spots at base of secondaries.
Clodius.
Expanse 3.5 inches Color cream-white.
Dense black.
Always black spot on inner margin.
The two spots of equal size, rounded.
Color bright-red.
Usually a conspicuous, deep colored bar at anal angle.
Always a large red arc at anal angle below. Always red spots and usually conspicuous.
PARNASSIUS I.
Glarius, is also a mountain species. Clodius, so far, lias only been found on low ground near the sea coast.
Until witbin a few years this genus was supposed to be restricted to tbe old world and to contain but a small number of species, scarcely more than have already been found in North America. They mostly inhabit high mountain regions, the Alps, Caucasus, Himalaya, the mountains of Siberia and China, and recent expeditions have revealed the existence of many new species.
Parnassius is considered to form the connecting link between the Papilios and the Pieridae, partaking of certain characteristics of both, yet presenting others quite anomalous. The larvae are furnished with the Y shaped tentacle on second segment which is found in all the Papilionidae and is peculiar to them, but in other respects resemble the larvae of the Hesperidae or of certain moths. So also does the chrysalis, which, instead of being naked and suspended by a single thread around the middle of the body as in the Papilios and the Pieridae, is en- veloped between leaves in a slight silken web supported by several threads. It is moreover cylindro-conical in shape and is covered by a bluish powder as in the moths of the genus Catocala. The butterfly, in general appearance, resembles the Pieridae as it does also in the palpi and antennae. Unlike any other lepidopte- rous insect the extremity of the abdomen of the female is provided with a corneous appendage, taking the form of a large, open pouch as in Clarius or of a small keeled pouch as in JVomion and Sayii. The larvae of the European species feed upon species of saxifrage and sedum and probably those of the American species will be found upon similar plants.
5
(he -Stone by Mary Peart
X jj QTven , irthJPMI ?
SMINTHEUE.lAm varieties. 2.$. ( Sayii.)
PARNASSIUS II— IV.
Z{
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PAENASSIUS SMINTHEUS.
Parnassius Smmtheus, (Smin'-the-us) Doubleday, G-en. Diur. Lep. pi. 4, 1847. Edw. Proc. Acad. Nat.
Sci. Phil. 1862.
Phoebus, var. Kirby, Cat. p. 511, 1871.
Yar. Sayii, 9 , Edw. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 1868.
? Nomion, Bois. Ann. Soc. Ent. de Fr. 1852.
Var. Behrii , % , Edw. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1870.
Intermedius, Menetries, Enum. Corp. Anim. Mus. St. Petersburg, 1855, p. 72.
Male. — Expands from 1.5 to 2.5 inches.
Upper side pure white, semi-transparent at apex and sometimes narrowly along hind margin as far as the upper or even the second branch of median ; but most often the margin is bordered by white serrations, anterior to which the transparent space takes the form of a narrow serrated band; primaries have also an extra-discal row of spots, or rather of clusters of scales, sometimes limited to the costal mar- gin, sometimes extending quite across the wing, or of any intermediate length ; these spots are either dead-black and conspicuous, or delicate and pale-colored; on the arc an irregular black spot, sometimes terminating at the sub-costal nervure, but more often reaching the costal, and in form either sub-rotund or a curved bar, sometimes duplex, that portion between the two nervures then being nearly or en- tirely separated from the other and advanced towards base of wing; a second spot in cell starting from the sub-costal, sometimes also large, rounded, and at others a nar- row bar, but never quite reaching median nervure; costal edge of primaries densely irrorated with coarse black scales, as is also the base and basal portion of cell ; beyond cell are two, sometimes three black spots, each pupilled with crimson ; this color is often wholly wanting, or is present on the costal spot only ; another black spot is usually found on the middle of inner margin, either with or without a crim- son pupil.
Secondaries black at base and along abdominal margin quite up to cell, the basal third of which it covers, and often sends a curved branch around the extremity; hind margin sometimes immaculate, but in most cases bordered by a row of rounded black spots and points, which extend more or less across the wing; on middle of costal margin a crimson spot and another on disk, each in black ring and of variable size, but usually small ; these spots differ in shades of color in in-
PARNASSIUS II— IY.
dividuals from deep crimson to ochraceous, and frequently are pnpilled with white ;
_ many individuals also have a black spot near anal angle, and there is very rarely found a crimson dot within the black basal spot that occupies the sub-costal inter- space; fringes concolored, black at tips of nervules.
On the under side the markings are repeated, the cellular spots but in part dead-black, the crimson spots as above, and where the patch next anal angle is pres- ent it is usually pupilled with crimson ; there are also at base four black spots usually more or less covered with crimson, but sometimes this last is wanting on one or two or even altogether.
Body small, black, covered thinly with grey-brown hairs on both thorax and abdomen above, more thickly beneath, the color there being soiled yellow, often with a fulvous tint; legs yellow and black; palpi yellow; antennae white annulated with narrow black rings; club black.
Female. — Expands from 1.7 to 2.5 inches.
Upper side white, often with a yellow tint, marked generally as in the male, and exhibiting as great degree of variation; the crimson spots larger, sometimes even four being found in the extra-discal row, the fourth occupying the upper me- dian interspace; the spot on inner margin always present and largely pupilled with crimson; that near anal angle duplex, usually with crimson pupils; on primaries the transparent portions extend half way to cell and quite across the wing, enclos- ing a sub-marginal row of white lunules; the hind margin of secondaries more or less transparent and presenting a series of black crescents or of patches of scales indicating obsolete crescents; there is also frequently a crimson spot at base in sub-costal interspace ; on the under side the basal spots vary as in the males, from black to grey, and with or without crimson; abdomen furnished with a blackish, corneous pouch, flattened and curved down posteriorly, and presenting in front a thin, prominent keel; often there is no trace of this pouch.
Var. Female. — The wings melanized and largely transparent. Found at high elevations.
Yar. Behrii. — Characterised principally by conspicuous submarginal black spots on secondaries and orange discal spots, those of costal margin of primaries either white or pale orange. In the female the submarginal spots are very conspi- cuous and the mesial band on primaries broad; colored spots either orange or red.
From 180 $, 42 ?, taken in Colorado by Mr. T. L. Mead, in June, July and August, 1871; and several specimens received from Dr. Hayden’s Yellowstone Expedition, taken in Montana.
Egg. — Diameter .05 inch : chalky-white, button-shaped, the top depressed, base flattened, the surface encrusted with hexagons that diminish as they approach the
SMINTHEUS.l.Egg magnified. 2. Abdominal pouch. 3.Var. BEHRII.S. 4. same (-without pouch.) ■
Drawn "by Mary Peart.
Ij .B owen, litK .Phil*
SMINTHEUS in var. 1 6. B,3, 4,5 ,? EVERSMANII, 6,7,4.
PARNASSIUS 1 1— IV.
micropyle, and showing at each corner a minute cell. Deposited upon leaves and stems of Sedum.
Larva unknown.
In this series of specimens there is remarkable variation; in size, the lar- gest being full twice that of the smallest, in the extent of the transparent margin, in the density of the black border to abdominal margin, in the hook projected around the extremity of cell, in the size and shape of the black spots on costal mar- gin of primaries, in the number and size of the crimson spots on same wings, those of the costa varying from one to four; in the black spot on inner margin, varying from nil to a conspicuous patch, with or without crimson centre; in the shape and relative size of the two crimson spots on secondaries, and in the presence or absence of one or two spots at anal angle; in the hind margin of secondaries, sometimes im- maculate, at others ornamented with conspicuous black crescents; on the under side also, the four basal spots of secondaries, though always present, vary from grey to black, usually with crimson centres, but frequently without, or show but two or three of the number so marked; the colored spots also on both sides vary from deep crimson to ochraceous and are either with or without white pupils. In short the variation is sufficient to include several distinct species, were not the gra- dations so regular that it is not possible to draw a dividing line. What I for- merly described as Sayii, ?, is undoubtedly but an extreme variation, and I pre- sume this is the Nomion of Boisduval. P. Behrii, I am satisfied, is another variety, distinguished by the orange color of the spots and the heavy submarginal lunules on secondaries, surely distinct enough to be ranked as a species were it not for the many intergrades between it and the type.
Mr. Mead was fortunate in obtaining numbers of eggs of & mintheus by en- closing the females with the food plant. From some of these the drawings on the plate were made by Mr. Konopicky, Artist to the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, through the kindness of Dr. Hagen. A large number of drawings of eggs of other species, sent by Mr. Mead, and representing rare Coloradian but- terflies, were made by the same distinguished artist. To him also I am indebted for the drawings of the abdominal pouch represented on the plate.
The eggs obtained by Mr. Mead were carefully watched, but, two months after they were deposited, and very near the end of the season, they showed no signs of hatching, though on opening some of them the living larvae wrere found. Therefore we are still ignorant respecting their period or the habits of the larvae. If it had not been for the speedy approach of cold weather, the latter might be supposed to hatch early in September and to spend the winter in webs as do the larvae of Melitaea. It was the opinion of Mr. Mead that this was impossible and that they
PARNASSIUS II— IV.
do not emerge from the eggs till Spring. (Dr. Hagen informs me that it was ob- served by Schaeffer, as long ago as 1754, that the caterpillars of P. Apollo were found in the months of March and April in Switzerland, after the snow had gone, and of such size that they must have been just hatched, and have spent the winter in the egg.)
My attention has been called by Mr. Bates and Dr. Hagen to some remarks on the nature of the pouch of the female Parnassian by Yon Siebold, and Dr. Hagen has kindly prepared an abstract of what is to be found printed on the sub- ject.
“A paper by Prof. C. Yon Siebold was published in the Zeitung fur Wissen- schaftliche Zoologie, 1850, III, pp. 54 — 61, and reprinted Ent. Zeit. Stettin, 1851, XII, pp. 17 6 — 185. The first part is only historical to show that next to nothing was previously known about the matter, and that Dr. Boisduval had separated Doritis Apollinus generically because its female had no pouch. Siebold doubted that this organ formed part of the body and he found he could easily separate it in Mnemosyne, and with more difficulty in Apollo, as in this species it is glued more strongly by its broad base to the flat underside of the abdomen. Later, Sie- bold observed in the collections females of Apollo without the pouch, and con- cluded that it was formed in coition by one of the sexes and would probably as- sume the form externally of a cast of the male organs. Mr. Hoger, Berichte der Schlesischen Tauschvereiner, 1844, No. Y, p. 3, had before observed that females of Apollo and Mnemosyne just emerging from the chrysalis had no pouch. The chemical examination by Dr. Baumert showed that this appendage is soluble in caustic alkalic as it would not be if formed of chitine. When separated and boiled in the alkali it easily dissolved and only some brownish oily drops remained.
Siebold quotes Schaeffer, who gives a very good history of the transformation of Apollo, “ All specimens possessed this pouch which were raised by me. But in those caught in the mountains the pouch was seldom unhurt; in specimens that had long before emerged, as was evident from the bad condition of their wings, the pouch was very much damaged, so that sometimes I was obliged to look sharply to find the rudiments of it among the hairs of the abdomen.”
Siebold believed that Schaeffer’s first statement (the italicised words) was a mistake. Mr. Reutti, of Freiburg, had made experiments for Siebold in 1850. He took 50 caterpillars and from them raised 11 chrysalids only, because, as is stated by Schaeffer, this species {Apollo) is difficult to raise. Between 15th and 20th July, he had 4 $, 4 ?. The latter did not possess the pouch on emerging from the chrysalis. On the 17th, at 1 P. M. one pair united and so remained till late in the night, and on the following morning the female had a well formed pouch on the abdomen. The female died fourteen days later, without any use of the pouch as
PARNASSIUS II— IV.
observed by Mr. Reutti. The formation of the keel in Apollo, Siebold thinks de- pends on the size and form of the organs of the male; the secretion passing between the two claspers would form a keel.”
With regard to the localities and habits of Smintheus I give extracts from Mr. Mead’s letters. On the 8th of June, he writes from Fairplay, South Park, Colorado. “On Tuesday, I took a long walk, about eight miles, down Turkey Creek, finding many unfamiliar insects. Flying along the road were two Papilio Daunus, which I captured on the wing. Papilio Rutulus was present in moderate numbers. The two Eurymedon I send were on the flowers of a species of Larkspur which every- where sends up its spikes of dark purple flowers. But what delighted me was the abundance of Smintheus along the road side. I took thirteen specimens, nearly all males, and many of them so fresh from chrysalis that the wings had not yet thoroughly stiffened. The next day I discovered a favorite resort of this species and in course of the morning captured forty-one. They show much variation in the number and size of the crimson spots. They were solitary in their habits and fond of alighting on flowers, but did not appear to be attracted by damp spots on the ground as is so usual with butterflies. Their flight was well sustained though slow and within a few feet of the ground. All the females taken were provided with the pouch.”
On the 22nd, “Yesterday Mr. B. brought me a female Parnassius with an egg adhering to the ovipositor and said that it had deposited several eggs on a “tuft of grass.” On further inquiring he was not sure what the “grass” might be, and I conjectured it might be the stone-crop, (Sedum) which grows here abundantly, and the flowers of which are very attractive to these butterflies. Accordingly, on searching, I found two empty egg shells on the plant, apparently punctured by some insect. I also found on same numerous eggs of Euptoieta Columbina, a species which swarms everywhere on these hill sides.” On the 27th, from Turkey Creek Junction, “The Parnassians lay eggs freely. I have about 100, laid indiscrimin- ately on the box, or the cloth covering it, within which I had enclosed a female with the food-plant. Very few were on the plant itself.” On the 24th of July, “ My eggs show no sign of hatching, but most of them retain their normal contour. In regard to the theory of the formation of the pouch, it was suggested that the period of connection between the sexes of these butterflies must be very long. In that case I should have found many pairs in coitu, whereas I have not so found a single pair.” On the 21st of August, “I opened a Parnassius egg to-day and found a half-developed larva inside apparently in a natural state.” On the 27th of Au- gust, “ To day I dissected a Parnassius egg carefully and found a completely formed caterpillar entirely black and somewhat hairy.”
In another letter he expresses the opinion that the eggs do not hatch until
PARNASSIUS II— IV.
the following Spring, and on the 5th of September, he writes from Kenosha. House, “All the leaves are falling or have changed to their Autumnal tints and naturally the butterflies are fast disappearing.” Mr. Mead informs me since his return, that, on the 10th of January, in New York, some of these eggs which had been of late kept in a warm room were found to have hatched, but the larvae had died from want of nourishment.
Mr. Mead also state that, as a rule, the larger specimens of Smintheus, were taken at the lower elevations. The females there also were usually white. On the 8th and 9th of August, at Blue Biver, in the Middle Park, at an elevation of about 9000 feet, six specimens were taken, the males large and beautifully marked, the colors bright and black spots distinct. But the females were different from any others taken by him, being characterized by broad and dark marginal borders, the black spots intense and the disks of a decided, though pale yellow, the wings little obscured by grey, (see fig 2, pi. 3.) Another of smaller size was of a deeper yellow, and brilliantly adorned, (see fig. 3, pi. 3.)
On the 16th of August, several specimens were taken on the top of Berthoud’s Pass, at 11,300 feet, where was a grassy space of two or three acres extent. Others were taken on the Peaks around Twin Lakes, at about 12,000 feet. The males did not differ from the usual type, except in size, (see fig. 1. pi. 3,) but the females were melanized, the greater part of the surface of the wings being black and trans- parent, (see figs. 4 and 5, pi. 3.) The same peculiarity had been noticed in the specimens taken on 5th of August, on the Continental Divide, elevation 11,000 feet, on the trail from Georgetown to Middle Park and near Gray’s Peaks. Much of the difference therefore existing between the size of these insects is owing, as might be expected, to the difference in elevation at which they are found, because the severity of the climate or the scanty supply of food on the mountain tops would restrict the growth of the larvae. But why the general coloration of the male should be identical at all altitudes while the females present such differences or why at great elevations there is such a tendency to melanization in the females alone is not clear unless in some way serving for protection. On this point Mr. Mead writes, “On the bleak summits of the peaks vegetation is scanty and the general as- pect is dark and sombre. The rocks themselves are dark-colored, and the lichens which nearly cover them are black and give the prevailing color. Lower down where the “bunch” and “gramma” grass can thrive the prevailing tint is pale brown, even during the height of the growing season, as the dead spears of the last years growth are remarkably persistent.” Perhaps this may help to explain the melanism of the Parnassius females found in the upper regions. A somewhat similar illustration may be found in Chionobas. C. semidea, a blackish species, frequenting the Colo-
PARNASSIUS 1 1 — IV.
radian summits, while the other species of this genus, C. chryxus and C. TJhlerii , both ochraceous, are found below.
I do not know why Smintheus has been assumed to be a variety of Phoebus, as there is no close resemblance between the species, not so much in fact as between Smintheus and Jacquemontii, Bois. Phoebus is larger, of a more opaque white, with a tendency in the males to yellow; the transparent marginal space is far broader and longer than in Smintheus, and is wanting in the white serrations that charac- terize the marginal edge in the latter; the grey sub-apical stripe in Phoebus reaches hut a little way from costa, usually only to first discoidal nervule; in Smintheus it is of all lengths and frequently extends quite across the wing; in Phoebus the margin of secondaries is immaculate; in Smintheus there are almost always at least traces of submarginal spots on the under side, and more often conspicuous spots on both, reaching the extreme shown in var. Behrii; the red spots in Phoebus average twice the size of those in Smintheus, and those at base of secondaries, in both sexes, are both large and intense; in Smintheus they are small, much replaced by black and ofteu wanting altogether or represented by a few scales only; the fringes in Phoebus are mixed black and white at the ends of the nervules, the black not dis- tinct; in Smintheus they are there largely and distinctly black; the body of Phoebus is densely covered with long hair, in Smintheus very thinly.
As to the females the differences are still greater and almost preclude com- parison. Except in the presence of red on primaries, the female Phoebus is much more like that of Apollo .
— o
PARNASSIUS EYERSMANNI.
Purnassius Eversmanni , Menetries, Enum. Corp. Aaim. Mus. St. Petersburg, Part I, pi. 1, 1865. Scud- der, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1869,
Male. — Expands 2.5 inches.
Upper side citron yellow, the nervures black and prominent; primaries have a broad, semi-transparent marginal border, preceded by a row of yellow lunules; next anterior to these a grey stripe reaching from costa to a little below median ner- vure, and followed by a broad yellow band completely crossing the wing; anterior to this is a second grey stripe and a second yellow band that passes around the end and lower side of cell; both these bands divided into spots by the nervules; in the cell two sub-quadrate yellow spots separated by a grey bar; a similar bar on arc; base of cell and costa throughout sprinkled with black; the hind margin distinctly edged by a yellow line. Secondaries have an obsolete sub-marginal row of grey
PARN ASSIUS II— IV.
spots, indicated by the presence of a small cluster of scales near outer angle and by a few scales in the several interspaces; the inner margin broadly covered with black, doubly excavated in and below cell, projecting a point to end of cell, and confluent at anal angle with a transverse black stripe that connects with the black discal spot; this spot is pointed with red; on the costa a large red spot within a black ring; fringes black.
Under side yellow, a shade paler, marked as above; secondaries have both cos- tal and discal red spots large, equal, and with white centres ; an elongated red spot also within the black spot at angle; at base three red spots, all edged without by black, the two lower ones large and the lowest of all three enclosing a white spot.
Body black above covered thinly with yellow hairs, below densely covered ; legs black; palpi yellow; antennae yellow and black.
From a single male, taken by Lieut. W. H. Dali, in Aliaska, at the Ram- parts, two hundred miles below Fort Yukon, June 15th. This belongs to the Chicago Academy and is probably the only butterfly remaining of their former large and valuable Collection. Fortunately, not long before the fire, Dr. Stimpson had lent me this unique, and for fear of future loss, I determined to figure it. The only other specimen of which I have knowledge is the one described by Menetries, and found in Siberia. Mr. Scudder has pointed out certain differences that are to be found between the present specimen and that, consisting principally in the presence of red in the discal spot on upper side of secondaries, and in the up - per basal spot of under side. The grey bands of our specimen are also narrower. But these are variations that constantly occur among the Parnassians, and I have no doubt both are to be referred to one species.
4
WIE.CD) Pirn® E A FEUllSo.
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Drawn "by Mary Peart.
L. Bowen, Col.
N. MENAPIA. 1, 2. 6,3 9 P. BEOEERII. 4 5 6 6 79
NEOPHASIA.
NEOPHASIA MEN APT A. 1—3.
Neophasia Menapia, (Pieris) Felder, Weiner Ent. Monats. Ill, p. 271, 1859. Pieris Tau, Scudder, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1861. Ninonia, Bois. Lep. de la Cal. 1869.
Male. Expands 2 inches.
Upper side white with a faint pink tinge ; costal margin of primaries partly bor- dered from base by a black band which curves downward at extremity covering the arc ; apical border black, sinuate within, enclosing from three to five subovate white spots, and terminating abruptly on second median nervule ; fringes white.
Under side white, the markings of upper surface repeated ; the apical spots enlarged ; the nervures of secondaries narrowly edged by black scales, and crossed by a submarginal black stripe not always complete.
Body black covered above with white hairs ; beneath, thorax white, abdomen yellowish; legs black and white; palpi same; antennae black; club black, tip pale fulvous.
Female. Expands 2.2 inches. Similar to male.
This fine species is as yet rare in collections. According to Felder it is found in Utah. Boisduval describes it as coming from eastern California ; and Mr. Scudder as found abundantly at Gulf of Georgia. Although Felder’s description was published in 1859 and translated in Morris’s Synopsis in 1862, none of our col- lectors suspected the identity of the species with Tau, Scudder, or Ninonia, Bois. till 1870 and after the Synopsis of the Pieridse in this work had been published. Dr. Behr, in 1869, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. erected for the present and an allied species the new genus Neophasia, between Pontia and Pieris, “differing from the former by the shape of the wing, and from the latter by its gauze-like substance, by the shape and proportions of the head and the slenderness of the thorax and abdomen.” According to Dr. Behr, both these species are found in- habiting the pine forest region of the mountain chains parallel to the coast of the Pacific, and he agrees with Mr. Lorquin in the opinion that the larvae feed on some coniferous tree ; “an unusual food for a Pieris, but not unknown in the case of certain Australian species.”
PIERIS I.
PIERIS BECKERII, n. sp. 4—7.
Primaries produced apically, slightly excavated on costal and hind margins.
Male. Expands 2 inches.
Upper side pure white, the texture of secondaries slighter than that of pri- maries, discovering the spots of under surface; base of wings not powdered with black as in allied species ; primaries have the apical half of hind margin bordered by small black patches or clusters of scales, diminishing in size to middle of mar- gin; anterior to these two similar sub-apical patches and a third in upper median interspace; on the arc a dense black subrectangular spot (not reaching the costa) with a central white streak. Secondaries immaculate. Fringes white except against the apical spots, there black.
Under side white; the nervules at apex and on upper hind margin bordered by black scales and suffused with greenish yellow; the spot on interspace black and as on upper side ; cellular1 spot enlarged, its base broadened and posterior edge excavated.
Secondaries have all the nervures and their branches yellow; those termina- ting on hind margin edged by broad bands of yellow green reaching to middle of disk and connected anteriorly; three large spots of same color about the cell, two being at the outer angles, and one above and reaching the costa; another large triangular subapical spot on costa; the nervures at base also banded with green; all these bands and spots slightly sprinkled with black scales.
Body above covered with grey hairs; beneath, abdomen yellowish, thorax white; legs white; palpi white, grey on upper side and at tip; antennae white above and at base below, beyond brown ; club black nearly covered with rows of white scales ; tip pale fulvous.
Female. Expands 2 inches.
Primaries less produced and broader than in male ; same shade of color ; the marginal spots enlarged and extended to second branch of median ; in addition to the three submarginal spots, which are also enlarged, is another in submedian in- terspace and a streak below this along inner margin ; the cellular spot much en- larged, rhomboidal, with slight central streak; secondaries have a patch on costa and four on the marginal nervules commencing at and posterior to subcostal ; also an interrupted submarginal stripe opposite cell, posteriorly indistinct; under side
31-
i
PIERIS I.
as in male, except that a round black spot appears in submedian interspace on primaries.
Taken by Mr. Henry Edwards, at Virginia City, Nevada, April 1870, on flowers of Brassica. Four individuals were taken, and these were the only ones seen. This fine species is allied to Protodice and Occidentalis, hut is abundantly distinct.
At the request of Mr. Edwards I have named it in honor (using his own lan- guage) “ of one of my earliest and most valued entomological friends, Dr. Ludwig Becker, who laid down his noble life in the cause of science in Australia. He was attached as naturalist and draughtsman to the great expedition of Burke and Wills across the continent from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and died of fatigue and privation at Cooper’s Creek, New South Wales, in 1861. The friend of Humboldt, Milne Edwards and Owen, he possessed a most observant and philosophical mind and his papers upon various subjects connected with his favor- ite science testify to his vast and varied erudition. I have always promised myself that I would commemorate our friendship by attaching his name to some species I might discover, and the present is very appropriate as a few moments before I took my first specimen of this Pieris I was thinking very much of Becker and of the many happy collecting days we had passed in the forests of Australia.”
PIERIS II.
PIEEIS VEENALIS. 1—4.
Pieris Vemalis, Edwards, Proc. Eat. Soc. Phil. 1864.
Male. Expands 1.7 inch.
Upper side white; primaries have small black serrated spots at the extremi- ties of the apical nervures, preceded by an imperfect abbreviated row of small black patches; a black bar on the arc. Secondaries more delicate, showing the markings of under side.
Under side of primaries white; the spots reproduced, but pale colored and dilated, those at apex tinged with greenish grey ; an additional black patch on sub- median interspace, sometimes wanting. Secondaries have all the nervures broadly edged with greenish grey so that none of the white surface appears except in nar- row stripes in the cell and interspaces; near hind margin a band formed by grey serrations connecting the nervules.
Body above covered with blue grey hairs ; beneath, thorax grey white, abdo- men yellow; palpi yellowish; antennae black above, annulated below with white; club black tipped with ferruginous.
Female. Expands 1.8 inch.
Color less pure, similarly marked, the spots larger, thediscalbar conspicuous: secondaries show clusters of grey scales on costa and at outer angle and in the in- terspaces on the margin ; under side as in the male.
I have taken this species at Coalburgh, W. Va., in the month of March, it be- ing one of the earliest butterflies of Spring, but it is exceedingly rare. I have also received it from the vicinity of Philadelphia. It was brought by Mr. Hidings, in 1864, from Colorado and may perhaps be much more abundant westward. It much resembles Protodice, and would be usually taken for a variety of that species, but besides its much earlier flight, it presents decided differences, being smaller, of a less pure white and quite differently marked on the under side of secondaries. Its nearest allies are Sysimbri, Bois., a Californian species, and Calyce, Edw., from Nevada.
PIERIS II.
PIERIS VIRGINIENSIS. 5—8.
Pieris Virginiensis, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1870.
Male. Expands 1.7 inch.
Upper side white, less pure than Oleracea and much obscured by grey brown scales which are scattered over the whole surface but are dense on apex, costa and basal half of primaries and at base and along the subcostal and median nervures of secondaries; a grey patch also on costa of secondaries.
Under side white, the nervures all bordered with grey brown, most conspicu- ously on sub-median of both wings and the branches of this nervure on secondaries; shoulder pale orange.
Body above blue grey, beneath white; palpi white tipped with grey; antennae blackish above, finely annulated with white below; club black tipped with yellow- ish.
Female. Expands 1.9 inch.
Similar to male, the surface usually still more obscured.
This species is allied to Oleracea, from which it may be readily distinguished by the shape of its wings, which are longer and narrower, by their texture, which is more delicate, and by the constant presence of grey scales over the surface. In the Kanawha district it replaces Oleracea which is yet unknown there. It is not uncommon in the month of May, frequenting open woods rather than gardens, and in this respect differing in habit from the allied species. I have never met with it later than June, though Oleracea, in the Northern States, is most abundant after that month and continues breeding till the early autumn frosts.
I have received specimens of Virginiensis from Mr. Wm. Saunders of London, Canada, and am informed by him that it is there a rare insect.
The larvae of this group of Pieris feed upon garden vegetables, Brassica, Ra- phanus, Nasturtium, and allied plants in a wild state, and are sometimes exceed- ingly destructive. The female butterfly deposits great numbers of long slender pointed eggs upon the under side of the leaves, often a score or more upon a single leaf. These eggs are greenish white in color, and stand at right angles to the surface. To an inexperienced person they might seem to be eggs of some fly, or the result of a disease of the leaf itself, but they would not be suspected to be the eggs of any butterfly.
In four or five days the young larvae emerge, one tenth of an inch in length, green in color, requiring a keen sight to discover them. At once they attack the leaf eating a small hole and to the margin of this they return when disposed to feed till all the surrounding parts are eaten away. The large leaves of horse rad- ish may be seen entirely consumed in this way leaving but ihe skeleton untouched.
PIERIS II,
When at rest the larvae lie extended upon the surface of the leaf, generally along one of the ribs or in a depression, and as they retain their green color to maturity they are effectually screened from notice. When mature they are about one inch in length, cylindrical, covered with fine white papillae from each of which is emit- ted a single short hair. The chrysalids are brownish white marked anteriorly by a few points and short lines of black, and are distinguishable from those of any other genus by angular ridges on the back of the wing covers and head. They may be seen attached to fences and buildings near the food plant, or to the plants themselves. This description will apply either to Oleracea, or Rapae, which in both larval and chrysalis states are extremely alike. And doubtless will be found to apply as well to the same stages of Virginiensis.
Fortunately multitudes of these insects are destroyed by small ichneumon-flies which deposit their eggs in the very young larvae. From these proceed grubs which feed upon the substance of the larva, but instinctively avoid any vital part. In due time the larva becomes a chrysalis and shortly after the matured grubs eat their way out and soon become flies, while nothing is left of the chrysalis but the empty shell.
Until within a few years, Oleracea was considered to be our only eastern spe- cies of this group, and although in its larval state somewhat destructive yet was never so much so as to excite alarm. But of late P. Rapae, an European species, and a pest of that continent, has been introduced, first being seen in the vicinity of Quebec. From probably two or three individuals and from that centre it has rapidly increased, and, year by year, made its way South and West till it swarms in many parts of New York and New Jersey and in Ohio. Already the loss to the cabbage crop alone begins to be estimated at millions of dollars annually, and it is probable that this species will continue to extend its area till it has taken posses- sion of the whole continent east of the Bocky Mountains.
to
AMM®(DAKm
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Dr sewn Toy Mary Peart.
Bowen& C° ]i£h. DhiF?'
PlEAKTRTII. 1.2 . 3. 3: 4 ?. COOPER!!. 5.6. 6 7. 8. ?
ANTHOCARIS I.
ANTHOCAEIS EEAKIETII. 1—4.
Anthocaris ReaMrtii, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., 1869.
Male. Expands 1.3 to 1.5 inch.
Upper side soiled white, blackish at base ; primaries have a large bright or- ange apical patch, as in Sara, edged on the apex by black as in that species, with serrated black spots also upon the hind margin ; a narrow bar, straight, slightly irregular on its edges and of nearly uniform intensity of black, crosses the wing from middle of costa to inner angle ; costal edge much specked with black scales ; fringe alternate white and black.
Secondaries have three or four patches of black at tips of upper nervules ; fringe white, black at ends of nervules.
Under side white ; the orange spots reduced and paler ; costa of primaries and the whole space on apex and margin outside the orange, densely covered with green patches ; on the arc a bent bar ; secondaries densely and uniformly covered from base to margin by large green patches.
Female. Expands 1.7 inch. Same color as male ; costal margin slightly specked ; the orange spots paler and narrower, reaching from costa to hind margin, not edged by black on inner side, but on outer by a sinuous band, between which and the apical border is a series of serrated spots, often confluent ; the band con- nected with the triangular marginal spots by black nervures ; on the arc a bent bar, starting from costal edge; beneath as in the male, except that costa, margins and secondaries are much less spotted with green.
California. Vicinity of San Francisco. From specimens in my own collec- tion and those of Messrs. Reakirt and Henry Edwards, and Dr. Behr.
The distinctness of the present species from Sara was first pointed out to me by Mr. Reakirt and I have since learned that our Californian lepidopterists had assured themselves of the same thing. But I am not at all certain that this is not the species intended to be described by Dr. Boisduval. His description applies equally well to either form, but as our collectors have agreed in calling the larger Sara, I have no hesitation in following them.
The males of the two species much resemble each other on the upper side ex- cept in size, Sara expanding more by three or four tenths. In Sara $ the black discal band is waved and of faint color. In Sara ? the discal bar is separated from the costa-. In ReaMrtii $ the costal margin of primaries is always irrorated, and the margin of secondaries is never without black spots. On the under side it is much
ANTHOCARIS I.
more and differently marked with green. The yellow form is also wholly wanting in Reakirtii. In a letter from Mr. Henry Edwards dated September, 1869, he says. — “This species is one of the earliest insects of our spring, and may be seen even so soon as March if the season he favorable. As far as my own observation goes it is found generally in oak groves, flying about flowers, and is but rarely seen in open pastures ; liking shade and flying rapidly from flower to flower. It rarely alights, and is difficult to take on the wing, I have met with it chiefly in the neighborhood of San Francisco, As to Sara, I first met with it two years ago in Santa Clara Co., and was at once struck by its larger size, the yellow color of most of the females, and the absence of the irrorated line along the anterior margin, as well as by the much fainter green markings on the under side of lower wings. Unlike Reakirtii, this species seems to prefer the open fields, flies much more slow- ly, and alights often upon flowers of Brassicse, Nasturtium, Ac. I am so accusto- med to the two forms that I can now distinguish them by the flight alone. Sara appears early in May, or probably in the warmer parts of the State as soon as Ap- ril, and continues on the wing until August. Probably at least one-half the fe- males are more or less tinged with yellow.”
ANTHOCARIS COOPERII. 5—8.
Anthocaris Cooperii , Behr, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., 1869. Angelina , Boisduval, Lep. de la Cal’e.,
1869.
Male. Expands 1.4 inch.
Upper side soiled white with a yellow tinge, much irrorated with black at base of wings ; primaries have a small pale orange sub-apical patch, as in female Reak- irtii, edged at apex by spots of greenish-black, partly united into a band ; on the arc a narrow, nearly straight blackish bar, not quite reaching the costa ; fringes white, the nervules on primaries largely and on secondaries slightly tipped with black.
Under side of primaries white ; the orange patch repeated, but paler ; apex tinged with green and, as well as costa, somewhat irrorated with greenish-black ; discal spot nearly obsolete.
Secondaries much covered by yellow-green patches, most dense next base.
Body above grey, beneath, thorax covered by yellow hairs ; palpi white tip- ped with grey.
Female. Expands 1.5 inch. Same color as male; the orange patch want- ing, but the nervules within the space orange ; apical spots separated and less dis- tinct. Under side of primaries have the apex decidedly greenish-yellow; in oth- er respects like the male.
From San Diego, California; Collection of Dr. Behr.
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3APA. 1. 2. 5 3 . 4 ¥52 Vax.
ANTHOCARIS II.
ANTHOCARIS SARA. 1—5.
AntJiocaris Sara, Boisduval, Ann. Ent. Soc. de Er. 1852.
Male. Expands 2 inches.
Upper- side pure white, blackish at base ; primaries have a large bright orange apical patch, broadly edged at apex* of wing by black and enclosing on hind mar- gin two serrated black spots ; posteriorly edged by a broad black band which ex- tends from costal edge across the cell, covering the arc, and connects with a waved band of irregular width and less intensity of color that reaches to inner angle ; costal margin slightly specked with black ; secondaries usually immaculate, but sometimes marked by small black patches on the ends of the nervules, especially at and near the outer angle ; fringe of primaries alternate yellowish and black, of secondaries white, except at tips of nervules where it is black.
Under side white tinged with yellow on hind margin and apex of primaries ; the orange spot reduced, pale ; apex specked with black ; on the arc a broken black bar. Secondaries have the nervures yellow, and the surface covered thinly and irregularly with greenish points and patches.
Body above covered with grey hairs ; beneath, abdomen yellowish, thorax white ; palpi white tipped with grey ; antennae brown above, whitish below ; club black, white at tip.
Female. Same size.
Upper side color of male ; the orange patch paler and narrower, not bordered with black on inner side, but edged without by a sinuous blackish band or stripe more or less complete, between which and the blackish apical border are serrated white spots, sometimes confluent ; discal mark, a bent bar not extending beyond the arc : under side as in male.
Variety A, Female. — Upper side pale yellow, marked as in the type.
California. Found especially in Santa Clara County: rare in vicinity of San Francisco, where it is replaced by A. Reakirtii. According to Mr. Henry Ed- wards, nearly one half of the females are of the yellow variety
(See notes on A. Reakirtii.)
Drawn "by Mary- Pe art .
Bowen & C° ]ith.. TiiiL?'
ALEXANDRA. 12.6. 3. 4. ?. HELENA 5. 6. 6. 7 £
COLIAS I.
V
$
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COLIAS ALEXANDRA. 1—4.
Colias Alexandra. % $ . Edwarls, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. ii, p. 14. 1863.
Male. Expands from 1.9 to 2.2 inches.
Upper side bright lemon-yellow, with a greenish tinge on the inner half of secondaries ; base of wings and costa of primaries slightly powdered with black scales ; fringe yellow. '
Primaries have a broad black marginal band, the inner edge of which is usu- ally not crenated, hut is parallel to the margin, with a small angular projection upon the submedian interspace ; at the apex it curves slightly and extends a little way along the costal margin, less than in C. Philodice ; on the inner margin it termi- nates as in that species ; this band is crossed to the fringe by the yellow nervules ; on the arc is a narrow black mark, in length not exceeding half the arc, sometimes a little dilated and then enclosing a yellow point.
Secondaries have a narrow margin terminating acutely before the anal angle, crenated within and crossed by the yellow nervures ; sometimes on the arc is a mi- nute spot of paler color, but this is usually panting.
Under side : primaries same yellow as above, pale at apex and on inner mar- gin ; ^ costal margin slightly powdered with minute black scales and edged with pale roseate ; discal spot as above ; otherwise immaculate. Secondaries wholly greenish- yellow, covered with black scales ; discal spot small, rounded, silver-white, without a border ; otherwise immaculate ; nor is there a pink tinge at base as in Philodice and many species of Colias ; edge of costa pale roseate to the end of the costal ner- vure only ; fringe of both wings yellow.
Palpi pale yellow ; legs and antennae pale roseate ; club blackish above, brown- ish-yellow below and at tip.
Female. Expands 2.3 inches.
Upper side less brightly colored, having a greenish tinge throughout, and with- out a marginal band ; fringe yellow and otherwise as in the male.
Variety a. Female; expands 2.1 inches.
Primaries have the apex bluish-white, and an obsolete macular band, indica- ted only by clusters of scales along the margin and apex and by a line of scales anterior to these ; on the under side of secondaries the hind and inner margins have a bluish tint.
c*0.
COLIAS I.
From Colorado. Mr. James Ridings, who collected in that region in 1864, informs me that he took this species at Empire City, high up in the mountains near the Snowy Range, in the month of August ; that it was moderately abundant but very wild and difficult to capture on account of the unevenness of the ground.
o-
COLIAS HELENA. 5—7.
Colias Helena (Hel'-e-na) % 9 . Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. ii, p. 80. 1863..
Male. Expands 1.5 inch.
Upper side greenish-yellow, deepest colored on secondaries, sprinkled with black on the costa of primaries and at the base of the wings ; border of primaries broad, black, much advanced on the costa, not crossed by yellow nervures ; that of secondaries of medium width, short, terminating midway on the margin ; both bor- ders erose on inner edge ; primaries have a slender, black, discal mark ; second- aries only an indistinct pale point; fringes rose-red.
Under side : primaries in color much as above, with a similar discal mark ; secondaries dark greenish-yellow, covered with fine black scales ; discal spot small, round, silver- white, with no border ; at the base a few rosy scales ; body black above, yellow beneath ; collar rosy ; palpi yellow with rosy hairs at extremity ; legs and antennae rosy ; club brown.
Female. Expands 1.7 inch.
Upper side soiled white with a slight green tinge ; primaries have a brownish- black border, very broad at the apex, terminating in a point at the inner angle, the inner edge on the inferior nervules emarginated ; secondaries have a narrow border at outer angle only ; discal spots as in the male ; fringes rose-red.
Under side : primaries same white as above, the apex and costal margin washed with yellow ; secondaries as in the male.
From Mackenzie’s River, taken by Mrs. Ross, in 1862.
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COLIAS II.
COLIAS CHRISTINA. 1—4.
Colias Christina. % 9 . Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. ii, p. 79. 1863.
Male. Expands 2.1 inches.
Upper side : primaries bright yellow, with a large deep-orange patch on the disk, which reaches neither the costa nor the base, and occupies about one-half the space inside the border ; the border is broad, black, crossed by the yellow nervures nearly or quite to the margin, and resembles C. Eurytlieme in the outline of its inner edge ; discal spot small and black ; edge of costa rose-red.
Secondaries lemon-yellow with a pale orange patch which is confined to the outer limb, reaching neither the costa nor abdominal margin ; the border narrow, with a very even inner edge, also crossed by the yellow nervures; discal spot large’ deep-orange ; fringe of both wings long, rose-red.
Under side : primaries same yellow, the basal half pale-orange ; costal mar- gin sprinkled with fine black scales ; between the nervules three or four sub-mar- ginal brown points or clusters of scales ; discal spot as above.
Secondaries more greenish, covered uniformly with fine black scales ; an ob- solete sub-marginal row of brown points ; discal spot small, round, silver-white, in a reddish-brown circlet about which are a few scales of same color ; a few rosy scales at the base ; fringe and costal edge of each wing rose-red : palpi pale yellow ; legs and antennae rosy ; club blackish.
In three specimens out of four there were no traces of the sub-marginal points.
Female. Expands 2.5 inches.
Upper side wholly pale yellow, without a border ; discal-epots as in the male, that of secondaries being more yellowish ; fringes rose-red.
Under side paler and immaculate, excepting the discal spots ; the basal half of primaries brownish-yellow instead of orange ; otherwise like the male.
Taken at the portage of Slave Eiver, by Mrs. Bernard C. Ross, late of Fort Simpson, in 1862.
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COLIAS II.
COLIAS BEHRII. 5—7.
Colias Behrii. % 9 . Edwards, Proc. Eat. Soc. Phila. vi, p. 201. 1866.
Male. Expands 1.5 inch.
Upper side greenish-yellow, much sprinkled with minute black scales, especi- ally on primaries ; base of wings black ; hind margin of primaries broadly edged with black, which is covered with greenish-yellow scales and not clearly defined on the inner side ; the marginal border of secondaries is clear black, of medium width, well defined on inner side, curving regularly, with no prominent projections, and terminating a little short of the anal angle; costa of primaries rose-colored; discal spot a minute yellow streak edged with black scales ; discal spot of secondaries small, round and yellow ; fringes greenish-yellow.
Under side greenish-yellow, paler than secondaries above, entirely specked with black scales, except on inner margin of primaries, where the color is whitish ; discal spot of primaries a yellow streak, of secondaries minute, yellow, edged with a few rosy scales ; costa of each wing rose-colored ; abdomen and palpi greenish- yellow ; legs and antennae rose-colored.
Female. A little larger than the male, paler green, the marginal black bor- der less distinct and more expanded at apex of primaries ; fringes both above and below roseate, in contrast to the fringes of the male, which are yellow.
From two males, and one female, received from Dr. Herman Behr, San Fran- cisco, and taken by members of the State Geological Survey among the Yo Se- mite mountains, at an elevation of about 10,000 feet above the sea.
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COLIAS III.
COLIAS EURYTHEME. 1—6.
Colias Eurytheme , (Eu-ryth'-e-me), Boisduval. Ann. Ent. Soc. de Fr. 1852. Amphidusa, Boisd. ib. Edusa,V ar. Calfornica, Men^tries, Cat. Imp. Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. Edusa? Boisd. and Lee. p. 61.
Male. Expands 2 to 2.3 inches.
Upper side uniform bright orange, with an opaline reflection ; costal and abdo- minal margins sulphur yellow ; base of primaries covered with black scales which extend a little way along inner margin ; base of secondaries covered in same man- ner as also part of cell and of lower median interspaces ; primaries have a large black sub-ovate discal spot ; marginal band broad, black, crossed at apex by yel- low nervules, the general direction of the inner edge, from submedian to disco-cen- tral, being parallel to the margin, sometimes crenulate and sometimes nearly straight, with a slight projection on the sub-median ; from the disco-central curving to cos- tal edge and diminishing to a point at about one-third the distance from apex ; on inner margin throwing out an acuminate branch, which is depressed on upper side and terminates nearly at the middle of margin.
Secondaries have the border one-half the width of that of primaries, erose with- in, commencing half way between the costal and upper branch of sub-costal and ending at first branch of median ; a rounded deep orange discal spot, upon the an- terior edge of which is sometimes a dot of same color ; fringes yellow at base, rose- ate at extremity.
Under side deep yellow, usually with an orange tinge upon disk of primaries ; costal margin of primaries and disk lightly powdered with fine black scales ; a sub-marginal transverse row of small black patches, the three lower distinct, others more or less obsolete ; three black dots in the sub-costo-apical interspaces near the edge ; discal spot black, oval, enclosing a streak which is yellow, or sometimes mar- garitaceous.
Secondaries have a row of faint brown points parallel to margin, a small patch on costa ; a round discal margaritaceous spot, in a brown ring, about which is a second, paler and broader ; at insertion of median a small red spot ; costal edges and fringes of both wings roseate.
Body above covered with greenish-yellow hairs, which, on the collar, are roseate at extremity ; abdomen black above, partly covered with yellow scales ; under side yellow ; legs pale roseate ; palpi yellow beneath, black above ; an- tennae and club pale roseate.
COLIAS III,
Female. Expands 2.5 inches.
Upper side orange, less pure than in male, much obscured by black scales at base of primaries and over whole of secondaries ; often, however, the color is green- ish-yellow with a deep orange tint upon the disk and inner margin of primaries and a slight flush of same over secondaries ; primaries have the marginal border broad, dilated at apex, much advanced on costa, the inner edge not clearly defined, with two deep sinuses on the sub-median and upper median interspaces ; within the border a transverse, yellow, macular band, of which the spot in median inter- space is usually wanting ; discal spot large, nearly round.
Secondaries have the border irregular, dilated at upper end and partly enclos- ing a yellow macular band ; discal spot and fringes as in male.
Under side pale yellow, or greenish-yellow, (according to the jire valence of orange or greenish-yellow on upper side,) tinted with orange on disk of primaries ; the sub-marginal patches and points distinct ; discal spots as in male, that of pri- maries having the central spot conspicious.
Variety A, ?. Color above and below greenish- white ; marked as in the type.
Larva : mature, length 1.4 inch. Dorsal surface dark velvety green, finely plicated transversely. On either side a narrow white line on which are irregular patches of bright vermillion, some of which are occasionally shaded with orange yellow. Under side green.
Chrysalis light green, with a stigmatal yellow line, above which is a brown point on each segment ; a sub-dorsal brown patch commencing at edge of wing cov- ers and occupying two or three segments. Length .95 inch.
Egg greenish white, translucent, pointed at one end and truncated at the other, ribbed longitudinally with transverse striae between. Length, .086 inch, greatest width .009 inch.
From notes by L. K. Hay hurst, Esq., Sedalia, Missouri, who succeeded in rais- ing the larvae from eggs deposited by a female in captivity. The larvae fed upon Trifolium repens (white clover) and T. reflexum (Buffalo grass) . The eggs hatched July 1st ; changed to pupae July 15th and the butterflies emerged July 24th. Mr. Hay hurst adds, “the larvae are scarcely different from those of C. Philodice , except in being larger and having the lateral spots of a brighter scarlet.”
According to Dr. Behr, “the caterpillar is of a lively green with a brimstone colored stripe above the feet, and feeds upon a species of Hosackia, and probably other liguminous plants.” This species is- widely distributed over the western part of the Continent, both in the Mississippi valley and on the Pacific slope. Dr. Behr says “it is very common in California,” and it also is in the vicinity of New Orleans and in part of Texas. Very rarely specimens have been taken east of the Alle- ghanies. I have never met with it myself, either in New York, New Jersey or even
COLIAS III.
in West Virginia. Nor have I received it from Georgia, although large miscel- laneous collections have been sent me from that State. Mr. Reakirt has taken a single specimen at New Castle, Delaware. This is supposed to be the species form- erly mentioned by authors as Edusa, which it somewhat, but by no means closely, resembles. Boisduval & Leconte say of this Edusa, “ it is found in the Spring, but especially in the Autumn, in the fields in the vicinity of New York, less common than Philodice,” (a species which swarms in that region). Which of course is erroneous. The common and careless practice of pronouncing American insects identical with European has led to endless perplexity. No genus has suffered more in this respect than Colias, as the names Hyale, Palceno, Phicomone, JVastes, Edusa, and Chysotheme show. Excepting JVastes, which comes to us from Labra- dor, it is more than doubtful if one of these is American.
It is difficult to say whether the present species is the one designated as Eury- theme by Dr. Boisduval or not, as his short and very general description would at- tach to almost any orange Colias whatever. But of late years this name has been so applied by American lepidopterists, the species I have separated as Keewaydin being regarded as a variety only.
It is uncertain also what the brief mention of Amphidusa was intended to cover. This is described as “wholly like Edusa, having the border of the same form and breadth” only wanting the glandular space that characterises that species. Its lo- cality is given as the North of California, and we are told that it is “perhaps but a variety of the preceeding,” (Eurytheme.) No such form is known in any of the large Californian collections to which I have had access.
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COLIAS IV.
COLIAS KEEWAYDIN, n. sp. 1—9.
Male. Expands from 1.6 to 1.8 inches.
Upper side sulphur yellow, the disk of both wings more or less tinted with orange, which occasionally has an opaline reflection ; on primaries the orange is deepest next base and on inner margin, towards hind margin insensibly passing into yellow ; on secondaries the tint is less deep, extends quite up to the marginal border but fades into yellow towards costal and abdominal margin ; base thickly powdered with black which extends a little way along inner margin of primaries, and, on secondaries, covers part of the cell and median interspaces ; discal spot of primaries black, sub-ovate, often much compressed, but sometimes almost circular ; marginal border black, of median width, crossed at apex and often throughout by yellow nervules ; regular on its inner edge, with a slight projection on sub-medi- an and an indentation below that nervure, not quite parallel to the margin in its general course, but approaching it somewhat near the disco-central ; beyond this, curving roundly towards costa and terminating (usually quite abruptly) on costal edge at about one-fourth distance from apex to base; on inner margin projecting a short, attenuated spur.
Secondaries have the discal spot deep orange, occasionally with a small atten- dant spot on its anterior edge ; the marginal border narrowed, usually regular, but sometimes a little excavated between the nervules, commencing above the upper branch of sub-costal and ending acutely at or a little beyond the first branch of median ; fringes yellow, edged slightly without by roseate, more decidedly at apex of primaries.
Under side uniform deep yellow ; costal edges and fringes roseate ; costal mar- gin of primaries and the whole of secondaries much sprinkled with fine black scales ; discal spot of primaries sub-ovate, sometimes triangular, black, with a dot or streak of yellow, or sometimes white, in the centre ; the sub-marginal row of brown spots faint, consisting of but a few scales and partly obsolete ; secondaries have a similar row of spots, a small elongated patch on costa and a roseate spot at inser- tion of median ; discal spot large, margaritaceous, in a narrow brown ring about which is a paler halo ; the attendant spot, if any, a dot in the centre of a similar ring.
Body covered with yellow-grey hairs which are tipped with faint roseate on the collar ; abdomen black partly covered with yellow scales, beneath yellow ; tho-
COLIAS 1Y.
rax yellow ; legs roseate ; palpi yellow, dark on upper side, roseate at extremity ; antennae and club roseate.
Variety A, Upper side pale yellow with a very slight tinge of orange on disk of primaries ; sometimes wholly without orange and then uniform lemon- yellow ; the marginal borders also yery pale. (Fig. 7.)
Female. Expands 1.7 to 2.1 inches.
Upper surface yellow, the secondaries having a greenish tint ; disk of prima- ries slightly tinted with orange ; primaries have the marginal border broad, more or less excavated between the nervules and enclosing a macular yellow band, usu- ally complete, although the spot in median interspace is often but faint ; discal spot large, black, circular or ovate, and sometimes enclosing a central spot.
Secondaries have the border abbreviated posteriorly and dilated towards outer angle, there enclosing two or three yellow spots of a band which disappears in the ground color ; discal spot as in male.
Under side greenish-yellow except at base and on disk of primaries which are deep yellow ; discal spot of primaries large with a central white or yellow spot.
The usual type from California and Texas.
Variety A, $. Upper side of primaries bright orange and of secondaries pale orange, both wings much obscured by black scales ; macular band yellow. From Illinois. (Fig. 5.)
Variety B, ?. Color above greenish-white, the secondaries with a faint yel- low tint ; beneath secondaries and apex of primaries more decidedly yellow ; marked as in the type. From California and Texas.
Larva unknown.
Found in the valley of the Mississippi from Nebraska and Illinois to Texas and westward to the Pacific, occupying much the same region as Eurytheme, but apparently less common and more local than that species. Also occasionally found in the Middle States and Canada.
My attention was first called to the differences between the two species passing under the name of Eurytheme by Dr. Behr, in 1865. In a letter then received from him, he says, “These are two good species but have hitherto been considered as one. I am certain either of the two is different from the European Chrysotheme (of which species Dr. Boisduval had considered Eurytheme as probably a variety.) “It is easy enough to characterise the males, but as to the females, I am often at a loss myself ; and at the same time the two species are easy to recognize when on the wing.” And again in 1868, “I will- send you a pair of each of the two Colias. The difference is about the same as between Edusa and Myrmidone whose repre-
COLIAS IY.
sentatives they are. The males are easy to recognize, but the females approach each other so much, that, in some of my specimens I am puzzled myself, especially when they are not quite fresh.”
I have received (December 1868,) a very interesting series of specimens of both Eurytheme and Eeewaydin from Mr. Henry Edwards, of San Francisco, a careful and experienced observer, showing a much wider variation in Keewaydin than in the other, both in size and color. Some of the males are very small, scarcely one half the size of the best developed, and they vary in color from deep orange to lemon-yellow. Mr. Edwards writes, “I may notice that the flight of the new species is much more rapid and varied than that of Eurytheme — that the only variety which appears in the latter is in the case of the albino female, while the male of the new species is constantly subject to run into the lemon-yellow variety, which however, is rarely so well defined as in the specimen I send you. [Figured in plate.] There appear to be two broods during the year, the insect being most abundant early in the spring, in fact, before Eurytheme makes its appearance. It seems to be local and by no means widely distributed. I have chiefly found it at Alameda and along the eastern side of the Bay as far as the San Jose district, but it does not appear in San Mateo County, though Eurytheme is very common there. As it is always hovering over plants of Medicago, I presume the caterpillar feeds upon that, but nothing is known by me of either larva or chrysalis at present.”
From Illinois and vicinity of New Orleans I have received these two species in about equal numbers, but of a large number sent me by Prof. Moore, from Ox- ford, Miss., all were Eurytheme . On the other hand specimens sent by Dr. Lince- cum, and taken in Washington Co., Texas, have been nearly or quite all of the other species. Of this collection about one-fourth the females were albino, and the others were quite distinct in size and color from the female of Eurytheme. But two fe- males sent from Illinois by Mr. Walsh do very closely approach that of Eurytheme, and justify the remark of Dr. Behr. (Fig. 5.)
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COLIAS Y.
COLIAS EURYDICE. 1—4.
Colias Eurydice, (Eu-ryd'-i-ce) Boisd. .Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852. WosnesensM, M6n6tri6s, Catal. Acad. St. Petersburg, 1855. 9 . Rhodocera Lorquini , Boisd. Ann. Ent. Soc. France, 1854.
Male. Expands 2.5 inches.
Upper side of primaries dark fuscous on terminal half and on costal margin ; base thickly powdered with black scales and partly covered by long greyish hairs ; extra basal space violet pink with an opaline reflection, but changing to deep brown- ish yellow wrhen viewed obliquely, slightly specked next base and next costa by dark blue scales and cut by black nervures, deeply excavated at extremity of cell, moderately on submedian interspace, and projecting prominently along the upper median interspaces into the fuscous border; three pink streaks on costal edge near apex.
Secondaries deep brownish yellow, clear yellow on costal and abdominal mar- gin ; immaculate, fringes roseate.
Under side deep yellow, pale on inner margin of primaries ; costal edges pink ; edge of hind margin of primaries pink with deep ferruginous marginal points in the interspaces ; a submarginal common row of similar points, partly wanting on primaries ; two or three such points on costa of primaries and a small patch of fer- ruginous scales near outer angle of secondaries ; at base of secondaries a deep rose- ate streak on median nervure ; discal spot of primaries round, silvered, within a large black ring ; of secondaries large, round, silvered, within a broad ferruginous ring, on the anterior edge of which is a second ring enclosing a silver point.
Body above covered with greyish yellow hairs, beneath yellow ; legs pink ; palpi yellow, pink at extremity ; antennae brownish pink.
Female. Expands 2.3 inches.
Upper side pale greenish yellow, more decided yellow on secondaries; immac- ulate, except the discal spot on primaries, which is round, pale brown. Under side of primaries yellow, of secondaries pale buff ; discal spots on both wings silver in faint pink rings.
Lakva unknown.
Found in California and Oregon.
This lovely species was first made known by Dr. Boisduval who exhibited spec- imens of it and other Californian butterflies at a meeting of the Ent. Soc. France,
COLIAS V.
in 1854. The Report mentions, “C. Eurydice, the most beautiful of all known Co- liades, haying the size and form of Ccesonia, with much the same design; but in this brilliant species the yellow is replaced by a vivid orange and the fore wings have a violet reflection” and “ Rhodocera Lorquini, which has nearly the form of our Rhamni, with the hind wings a little less angular and a black spot upon the mid- dle of the fore wings.”
The Lorquini has proved to be the female of Eurydice, connecting the genera of Colias and Gonepteryx (Rhodocera) in a remarkable manner.
Mr. Henry Edwards writes me of this species. “This insect is too rare for us to make many observations upon it. It appears to be very local, its chief home being in Marin Co. about 25 or 30 miles from San Francisco. I have also heard of it near Sacramento and have occasionally seen it flying in the streets of this city (San Francisco) . It appears in May, the female being sometimes found as late as Au- gust. Its flight is very rapid and wild and it is exceedingly difficult to capture. I have seen it alight on the flowers of thistle, but only for a few moments and then away to some considerable distance. The collector who is fortunate enough to se- cure a good male has indeed a prize. The female is more common and is more readily captured. I have heard of certain years in which this species has been com- mon, so that, like many other butterflies, it may appear periodically in considera- ble numbers.”
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COLIAS VI.
COLIAS EDWARDSII, (Behr in lit.). 1—5.
Male. Expands 2.1 inches.
Upper side bright lemon yellow, color of Alexandra ; base of wings slightly powdered with black scales ; primaries have a narrow, black, marginal band, the inner edge of which is nearly regular, extending a little way on costa, and on in- ner margin projecting a short attenuated spur ; this hand cut nearly to the fringe by the yellow nervules ; discal spot black, subovate ; costal edge and apical part of fringe roseate, at and above inner angle yellow. Secondaries have a narrow mar- ginal hand terminating at the lower branch of median, cut by the nervules, nearly regular within, there being only slight projections on the nervules ; discal spot wanting ; fringe yellow.
Under side of primaries pale yellow, fading towards hind margin and still more on inner margin ; discal spot black with a few roseate scales in centre ; cos- tal margin slightly covered with black scales. Secondaries much covered with same scales, most densely at base and in middle of disk ; ground color very pale yellow ; at base of median a small roseate spot ; discal spot of medium size, marga- ritaceous, with rosy scales about its edge; fringes as above; costal edges of both wings roseate.
Body above, lemon yellow, beneath inclining to whitish ; palpi whitish ; legs pale roseate; antennae roseate; club brown above, ochrey yellow beneath and at tip.
Female. Expands 2.3 inches.
Upper side same color as male ; hind margin of primaries has a broad, incom- plete border, represented at inner angle by a few scales only ; discal spot as in male, but with a few scales only in centre.
Secondaries have a large, rounded, orange spot on disk, without ring ; beneath as in male, except that secondaries are more densely powdered with black, giving a grey shade to the wing ; discal spot larger, distinct, edged with roseate ; fringe of primaries, above and below, pale roseate, except at the inner angle of primaries ; costal edge of secondaries, and both hind and abdominal margins fringed with roseate.
Variety A, ? Color much paler; primaries have a narrow border of sep- arated scales edging the whole margin, expanded on costa into a large patch ; discal spot of primaries pure black, of secondaries orange ; beneath as in the type.
One male, two females, from the collection of Dr. Behr, taken near Virginia City, at high elevations, and named by Dr. Behr in honor of Henry Edwards, Esq., of San Francisco.
This species belongs to the same group as Alexandra and Emilia.
OeCIDUNTALIS. 1. 2 6 3. 4. ? 5. 2 Var.
COLIAS VII.
COLIAS OCCIDENTALIS. 1—5.
Colias occidentalism Scudder. Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1862.
Male. Expands 2 inches.
Upper side lemon yellow ; primaries have a broad, black marginal border, not cut by the nervules, erose within and nearly straight to the curve, advanced on costa to one-fourth the distance from apex to base, and on inner margin pro- jecting an unusually long, attenuated spur; discal spot con-colored, oval, in a pale black ring. Secondaries have the border broad and nearly even on the inner edge; discal spot large, round, orange; fringes roseate except at inner angle of pri- maries and outer of secondaries where they are yellow.
Under side deep yellow ; costal edge of primaries and basal half of seconda- ries much irrorated with black ; primaries immaculate excepting the discal spot, which is yellow in oval black ring ; secondaries have an obsolete sub-marginal series of ferruginous patches, the middle ones only distinct ; a ferruginous patch on costa ; at base a roseate point ; discal spot large, round, silvery with a roseate tinge, within a brown ring that is much specked with roseate scales.
Body above black covered with greenish hairs ; below yellow ; collar roseate ; legs roseate ; palpi yellow, roseate on upper side ; antennae dark brown above, paler below ; club brown.
Female. Expands 2.4 inches.
Upper side deeper colored inclining to orange on disk of secondaries ; the latter without marginal band ; that of primaries broad, faintly marked, consisting merely of patches of grey scales enclosing large yellow spots ; discal spot large, sub-ovate, black enclosing a yellow streak ; that of secondaries large, round, orange ; under side of primaries deep yellow on disk ; rest of wing, and all of secondaries pale ; discal spots as in male.
Female. Variety A; upper side greenish white ; secondaries with a broad border enclosing whitish spots as on primaries.
Taken on Mackenzies Biver and at the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia.
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COLIAS VIII.
COLIAS SCUDDEKII.
Colias Scudderii, Reakirt, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1865.
Male. — Expands 1.8 to 2 inches.
Upper side greenish yellow; marginal borders broad, black, on primaries reg- ularly crenated within, or sometimes, very slightly erose, little advanced on costa projecting a short, attenuated spur on inner margin, and usually cut to the edge by- yellow nervules; discal spot of primaries small, black, sub-ovate, of secondaries pale yellow, corresponding in shape to the spot beneath; fringes roseate, yellow at inner angle of primaries and outer angle of secondaries.
Under side dark greenish-yellow, the costa of primaries and whole of second- aries densely irrorated with fine black scales; discal spot of primaries small, black, subovate, with yellow streak, sometimes sub-triangular, a mere line about a yellow spot; of secondaries a silver spot, edged with roseate scales in narrow ferruginous ring, sometimes accompanied by a point of ferruginous, or a large spot with silver pupil; sometimes also a stout ray of ferruginous projects from the large spot to- wards hind margin; on costal edge of secondaries a few ferruginous scales and a bright pink spot at base; otherwise immaculate.
Body above covered with yellow and grey hairs, beneath concolored; collar roseate, legs roseate; palpi yellow, grey in front; antennae roseate; club brown above, roseate below.
Female. — Same size.
Upper side pale yellow, much irrorated with black along costal margin and apex and hind margin of primaries, but showing no regular band or spot; discal spots as in male; under side still more densely irrorated except along hind margin of secondaries, the disk having a greyish-yellow shade.
Yar. A. — Female. — Color pale greenish-white; the margin of primaries much irrorated at tips of nervules, and sometimes, small patches of scales at ori- gin of sub-costal nervules; under side white at base and on inner margin of pri- maries, yellow at apex and over whole of secondaries, this yellow space always densely irrorated. In both sexes there is much variation in size of dorsal spots on under side.
CO LI AS VIII.
Taken in abundance by Mr. Mead, in Colorado, in tbe upper Arkansas Valley and in tbe vicinity of Twin Lakes, during July 1871. The species seems to re- place C. Alexandra, which is more peculiar to the Platte Valley, although individ- uals of both species are to be found Jn either district. Four-fifths of the females of Scudderii, taken were albinos, while with Alexandra the albinos were exceedingly rare. The latter species was first observed by Mr. Mead on the 15th of June, near the South Park, at an elevation of about 9000 feet, and a few days later it was abundant at Turkey Creek Junction. Many eggs were obtained, deposited on a dwarf species of Lupinus. A young larva was also found. It was three-fourths inch in length, clear green, with a double, yellow-white dorsal stripe and a single lateral stripe of similar color, each stripe enclosing a broken roseate line.
o
COLIAS MEADII.
Colias Mendii, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1871.
Secondaries presenting a large sub-ovate, ochraceous, glandular space at base of subcostal nervure, as in Edusa.
Male. — Expands 1.7 inch.
Upper side fiery orange, of uniform shade quite to the marginal border and with an opaline reflection ; bases of wings densely irrorated with black ; abdominal margin of secondaries green and yellow similarly irrorated; the border of prima- ries very broad, black, erose within, not much advanced on costa and projecting but a short spur on inner margin ; that of secondaries nearly as broad, covering the whole margin ; discal spot of primaries merely indicated by a few black scales on a deeper orange ground; of secondaries deep orange; fringes roseate mixed with yellow.
Under side of primaries yellow green on costal and hind margins, buff on disk; the anterior part of the wing much specked with black; discal spot yellow in black oval; secondaries yellow-green, though varying in depth of color in in- dividuals, and much obscured by black scales; discal spot silvery in a large ferruginous patch, sometimes accompanied by a second small spot; a roseate spot at base; otherwise immaculate.
Body above black; collar roseate, thorax and abdomen green; legs pale roseate; palpi green, roseate in front and at tip; antennae roseate; club brown tipped with fulvous.
Female. — Expands 1.9 inch.
Primaries orange, sometimes as bright as in the male, but often duller colored;
secondaries much irrorated with black, giving the whole wing a dull orange-grey shade; within the marginal borders a complete series of small yellow spots, not wholly enclosed on secondaries ; discal spot of primaries an orange streak in small black oval ; on the under side the green is of a bluish, often greyish tint.
Taken in Colorado by Mr. T. L. Mead, in the month of July, 1871. Mr. Mead wrote from Twin Lakes, on 12th July, “On 8th, we left Fairplay in an open hack which carries the weekly mail for this section. The driver was a Yankee boy who obligingly delayed altogether more than an hour for me to catch specimens on the “divide.” This is the water-shed between the Platte and Arkansas valleys. Probably the pass is very nearly 12,000 feet above the sea. Above 11,000 feet an elegant species of Colias makes its appearance. It is fiery orange and the female also is very bright. I secured 12 specimens.” From Fair- play, 24th July, “ Last Saturday we rode out to Mt. Lincoln and made the ascent. I took 34 specimens of the fiery Colias.” He also took a single specimen at Kenosha House, a few days later. The species frequents the highest peaks and ranges, and none were obtained at a lower level than 10,000 feet above the sea.
This Colias bears close resemblance to Hecla, but may be readily distin- guished by the glandular spot before spoken of (see Plate) , a character not found in Hecla , and so decisive that it is not necessary to point out minor points of difference.
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ARGYNNIS I.
ARGYNNIS DIANA. 1—4.
Argynnis Diana. % . Cramer, II. 4, pi. 98. Fab., Ent. Syst. III. 447. Say, Am. Ent. I. pi. 17. Boisduval and LeConte, p. 149. 9 • Edwards, Proe. Ent. Soc. Phil, iii, p. 431. (1864.)
Male. Expands 3.3 inches.
Upper side, from the hase to beyond middle of wings, dark Velvet-brown ; the outer limb deep orange, forming a wide hand, crenate within on primaries and cut by the brown shade along the nervures almost to the margin ; both wings edged by a brown line, which is preceded by a second, somewhat indistinct, but conspi- cuous at the crossing of the nervures, especially on primaries, where, at each cross- ing, is a patch of brown scales ; upon the orange band a double row of rounded brown spots, the outer one partly obsolete, the inner distinct and having the three lower spots much larger than the others.
Under side of primaries, next hase, black, edged without by a zig-zag line similar to that of Cyhele and allied species, the interspaces next within this line of the color of the margin ; transverse patches of same color in the cell ; next the arc an irregular silver bar ; on the costa a few silver scales ; outer limb orange- brown ; the three largest spots of sub-marginal row reappear faintly.
Secondaries have a silky gloss ; the basal two-thirds a dead-leaf brown ; outer limb same as on primaries, immaculate ; edging the brown space is an interrupted black line, more or less covered by silver scales and terminating, on each margin, in a triangular silver spot ; between the costal and sub-costal a silver crescent, edged anteriorly by black ; at the junction of same nervures a few silver scales ; on the arc an indistinct eyelet of darker brown ; within the margin a continuous hand of elongated silver crescents.
Body above velvet brown, beneath same as secondaries ; legs and palpi same color; antennae dark brown above, ferruginous below; club dark brown tipped with ferruginous.
Female. Expands nearly four inches.
Upper side black, with blue or green reflections. Primaries have three trans- verse rows or spots ; the marginal small, rounded, white or bluish-white ; the sub- marginal elongated, rectangular, wanting two spots next the costa, bluish-white ; the median of irregular blue patches ; a blue patch on the costa ; the two lower spots of the suhmarginal and median united.
Secondaries have a marginal row of bluish white bars between and reaching to the nervures, the three or four hinder ones broadest and bisected by a black line ; a broad submarginal metallic blue band, divided by the nervures into oblong
ARGYNNIS I.
spots, each of which, except the two extreme, enclosing a rounded black spot near its anterior edge. Fringes of both wings white, black at ends of nervures.
Under side of primaries black, with a slight blue reflection ; apical border brown ; on the apex a white patch edged within by silver ; a marginal row of white crescents, nearly obsolete above, the lower ones preceded by a grey shadow and streak ; a median row of whitish spots corresponding to those of upper surface ; a large white patch on costa ; anterior to the median a row of spots, of which the lower is purple, the upper one green, much elongated ; in the cell three green spots, that next the arc slightly silvered ; between the other two a faint brown patch ; sil- ver scales on the costa.
Secondaries have the basal two-thirds brown, varying in shade in different specimens, from blackish to dark red, and usually with a greenish-grey reflection ; this space edged without by a silvery line more or less complete, (but sometimes wholly wanting,) which terminates on the margins in triangular silver spots ; the silver crescent as in the male ; eyelet on the arc often silvered ; outer limb black- ish-brown, with green reflections ; hind margin edged by a narrow grey band, which is preceded by silver crescents as in the male.
Body black above, red brown below, legs and palpi red brown ; antennae as in the male, but a shade darker.
Specimens vary much, some having the spots of upper surface green instead of blue ; the variation in silvering below is extreme, from almost nothing to com- plete ornamentation.
The larva is unknown.
Until quite recently this butterfly has been almost unknown in Collections. Boisduval and LeConte say that they never saw it, and that their description, as well as that of Godart, and probably of Fabricius, were taken from the figure of Cramer. This figure of Cramer’s is much better than that of Say, which must have been made from a worn-out specimen, as his description also indicates. Say says he had taken the species in Georgia, Florida, Arkansas and Missouri. No mention is made of the female by any author, and it seems to have been unknown till its discovery by me in 1864, in Kanawha County, West Virginia. On the 20th August I saw, for the first time, a male, hovering about the flowers of the Iron-weed (Vernonia fasciculata),and succeeded in taking it. Two days afterwards, in same vicinity, while breaking my way through a dense thicket of same weed, hoping to find another Diana, I came suddenly upon a large black and blue butter- fly feeding so quietly as to allow me to stand near it some seconds and watch its motions. It seemed to be a new species of Limenitis, allied to Ursula, which it resembled in color. But on taking it, I saw it was a female Argynnis, and the general pattern of the under wing left little doubt of its affinity to Diana male, despite its total difference in color and of upper surface. Subsequent captures con-
ARGYNNIS I.
firmed this conjecture, and out of the large number that have since been taken the males have been of the known type and the females black, with no tendency in either to vary in the direction of the other.
When my attention was called to the species, I found it not very uncommon, always upon or near the Iron weed, which is very abundant and grows in rank luxuriance upon the rich bottom lands of the Kanawha river, frequently reaching a height of eight to ten feet, and, in August, covered by heads of purple flowers that possess a remarkable attraction for most butterflies. Both sexes are conspicuous, the males from the strong contrast of color, and the females from their great size and the habit of alighting on the topmost flowers and resting with wings erect and motionless. It is an exceedingly alert and wary species, differing in this from our other Argynnides. At the slightest alarm it will fly high into the woods, near which, upon the narrow bottoms or river slopes it is invariably found. It is a true southern species, sensitive to cold, not to be looked for in the cooler part of the morn- ing, but flying down from the forest when the sun is well up. From eleven to three o’clock is its feeding time.
Altogether, nearly 50 of both sexes were taken in 1864, between the 20th and 30th August, the males all worn and corresponding with Say’s figure, the females in large proportion fresh from chrysalis. In 1865 nearly one hundred were taken in same locality with like results. In the two years following they were extremely rare. On the 4th July, 1867, a perfect male, very different in shades of color from the poor specimens hitherto seen, was taken, and two others were seen shortly after, but in the absence of flowering plants it was impossible to approach these last.
In July, 1866, Mr. James Ridings, while on an entomological excursion in Georgia, captured three perfect males near Atlanta, from one of which our figure was drawn. These were all by the road side in the sandy, flowerless pine forest, and had alighted on logs or tree trunks. No females were seen by Mr. Ridings.
We may be sure, therefore, that the males emerge early in July and are in flight till last of August, and the females from early in August till last of Septem- ber. And that the range of the species is from Georgia to the lower part of West Virginia, but how far west we have no knowledge, except from Say’s mention of Arkansas and Missouri. It probably may be found along New River (as the up- per part of the Kanawha is called) which flows from the mountains of North Caro- lina, and offers a channel by which many southern species of butterflies, and insects of other orders, find their way to the warm valley of the Kanawha.
The contrast between the sexes in the present species has no parallel among North American butterflies. In the instance of Papilio Turnus there are females of two colors, one of which resembles the male in color and markings, and the other (Glaucus) , while differing in color, retains the markings. And in Turnus there are many cases where the two colors are mingled in the same individual, giving them a
.ARGYNNIS I.
brown or a mottled appearance. I have a curious example of this last, taken on the Kanawha, where the whole surface is mottled, sometimes yellow prevailing, sometimes black. But in Diana the sexes are absolutely separated in color, and, on the upper surface, as widely separated in markings. On part of the lower surface there is a resemblance, but any other two species of Argynnis that may be selected are nearer each other than are the two sexes of Diana.
In the Sixth Edition of Ly ell’s Elements of Geology, figure 179, is repre- sented a fossil butterfly (reproduced below) from the miocene beds of Croatia, taken from Heer’s Insektenfauna der Tertise, Ac., which bears a singular resemblance to Diana male. It is called Vanessa Pluto in the text, but is plainly an Argynnis. Even the colors of the insect were partially preserved. Heer himself calls attention to the resemblance to Diana, though he inclines to think it still more resembles Va- nessa Hedonia, Cramer, an Indian species. He says, “among butterflies of a simi- lar coloration may be mentioned A. Diana, Cramer. This butterfly is black (dark brown?) and is furnished on the outer bor- der with a row of yellow spots divided by the nervures. These yellow spots reach to the border and each one has two black dots. Diana is decidedly larger. In size and coloration the fossil agrees better with Hedonia, yet this point cannot be decided with certainty until a specimen is found with the outer border completely pre- served.” With the Pluto are found Dragon-flies “with speckled wings, like those of the Southern States of North America.” Lyell, page 245. And on page 256, “the insect fauna of the age of the beds of Oeningen, (miocene,) like the plants, are of a recent American type.”
Variations in size are of little moment in comparing species, as every species furnishes individuals both much larger and much smaller than the average. Form and markings are essential, and coloration in a less degree. In the present case, taken in connection with the character of the fauna, I am apt to believe that our superb Diana comes of a venerable antiquity, and is entitled to rank as the head of this large and beautiful family.
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ARGYNNIS II.
ARGYNNIS CYBELE. 1—4.
Argynnis Cybele (Cyb'-e-le), Fabricius, Ent. Syst. Ill, 445. Grodart, Enc. Meth. IX, 263. Boisduval and LeConte, 151. Daplmisl Cramer, plate 57.
Primaries broad, strongly arched, slightly concave on hind margin.
Male. Expands 3 inches.
Upper side fulvous, inclining to luteous, brown at base ; whole surface marked and spotted with black ; primaries edged by a narrow line, preceded by a second, heavier and parallel, upon which rests a series of connected lunules, each enclosing a rounded fulvous spot; the clear fulvous space between the lines cut into spots by the black nervules; beyond the lunules a row of large round spots, a bar on costa, and a heavy zig-zag median band; outside the cell a spot shaped like the letter P inverted, inclosing a fulvous space; three sinuous bars across the cell.
Secondaries have the submarginal line only, and a series of detached uncon- nected crescents; a row of small rounded spots and a median band of irregular spots, crescent or rectangular, almost obsolete on the abdominal margin but expand- ing largely near costa in the direction of the base; on the arc a spot like the let- ter S; nervures black only from the submarginal line to edge;' fringes yellowish at the emarginations, black at tips of nervules.
Under side of primaries pale yellowish-brown, the apical space yellowish and enclosing a bright brown patch on costal margin; the hind margin has a broad border of same color, except at the extremities, where it is yellowish; resting on the border next inner angle are three lanceolate black spots, beyond these, to apex, five others, brown; all enclosing yellowish spaces, those next apex slightly, if at all, sprinkled with silver scales ; on the patch are three silver spots ; the black markings of upper surface repeated.
Secondaries have the basal two-thirds red-brown, more or less mottled with yellow; hind margin brown, fading into yellow near anal angle; the space between the two outer rows of silver spots bright yellow and immaculate, making a conspi- cuous band, characteristic of the species; the silver spots are twenty-four or twenty- five in number, viz : seven large dentate upon the border, all edged above with brown; a second row of eight irregular, the eighth, a stripe on the margin, often wanting ; a third row of five or six, the first Emulate, the second minute, the third minute, often wanting, the fourth pyriform, cut by the arc, the fifth and sixth streaks ; next two round spots in the cell, a third below the median and two at the junction of the nervures above; the shoulder broadly silvered; abdominal margin 1 ightly ; all these spots, except the marginal row, the last on third row and the two
ARGY.NNIS II.
next base, are edged with black above ; the three round spots near base circled with black.
Body above color of base, below light buff ; legs and palpi still lighter ; anten- nae fulvous above, ferruginous below ; club black, ferruginous at tip.
Female. Expands 3.5 inches.
Luteous ; the base more obscure, often almost black, spots and lines heavier.
Under side duller colored ; the band on secondaries broad and immaculate.
The two species, Cybele and Aphrodite, have generally been confounded by au- thors and collectors. Boisduval and LeConte say, “it appears to us without doubt that P. Aphrodite of Fabricius is the same as his Cybele, only we believe that he has described the male from nature under the name of Aphrodite, and the female under the name of Cybele from the figure of Cramer.” The figure in Boisduval and LeConte is that of Cybele female.
The Daphnis of Cramer represents neither Cybele nor Aphrodite. The fore wings are too narrow and pointed for either. The color and markings of upper surface are nearest Aphrodite ; the under side of hind wings is also nearest Aphro- dite in the basal color, but it has the immaculate yellow band of Cybele.
Godart says “ Cybele has the outer row of silver spots separated from the next by a pale transverse sinuous band, broad in the female, very narrow in the male;” of Aphrodite, “that it has a yellow band posteriorly,” thus confusing the two spe- cies and the sexes of one ; inasmuch as Cybele in both sexes has a broad yellow band, and Aphrodite a narrow one, usually so encroached on by the basal color as not improperly to be called a “sinuous” band, but if anything, broad in the male, narrow in the female. Godart adds, “we find it (Aphrodite) very similar to Cy- bele.”
In Harris’ Insects of Mass. 2d ed. 1862, Aphrodite is described as being “tawny yellow in the males, ochre yellow in the females,” which applies pretty well to Cybele, but not at all to Aphrodite. The figure given is Aphrodite female. Cybele is not mentioned by Dr. Harris as found in New England.
In Westwood and Humphrey’s British Butterflies is a general description and a figure of what is called an Aphrodite, an American insect, on one occasion taken in England. It is certainly not to be recognised as Aphrodite or any other Ame- rican species. The text says, “there are several very closely allied American spe- cies including the present, if indeed they are not merely varieties of each other.”
Kirby (Fauna Bor.) describes Aphrodite at length, and his description is copied in Morris, (Syn. Lep. N. Am.) He gives Aphrodite as synonymous with Cybele. I have followed this description carefully, with specimens of both in hand, and am unable to determine which he describes. He says, “primary wings ‘tawny orange ’ — at the posterior margin is a deep orange band edged with black
ARGYNN1S 11.
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“beneath, at the external angle are five silver marginal triangles surmounted with black;” secondaries underneath “have a pale tawny marginal band, a marginal series of seven triangular spots edged with black” None of these characters belong to Aphrodite, and unless it be the color — “tawny orange” “and the tawny marginal band” — none belong to Cybele.
Mr. A. Id. Grote, who spent several months the past year (1867) in examin- ing the principal entomological collections of Europe, informs me that in none of them are these two species separated, sometimes being labeled by one name, some- times by the other.
The description of Cybele by Fabricius is as follows : —
“Alis dentatis fulvis nigro maculatis: subtus maculis 34 argenteis.
Papilio Daphnis. Cram. Ins. 5, tab. 57, fig. E. F.
Habitat in America.
Statura praecedentium [i. e. Aglaja, Aphrodite,‘&c.]. Alae omnes dentatae, luteae, nigro maculatae. Subtus puncta octo in alis anticis et 2G iu posticis argentea. Fascia flavain alis posticis ante marginem.”
This description is correct in the essential particulars, color luteous, second- aries with a yellow band. The exact number of silver spots is immaterial, as in both species they vary.
. The description of Aphrodite is as follows : —
“Alis dentatis fulvis nigro maculatis : posticis subtus fuscis : maculis 24 argenteis.
Habitat in America meridionali.
Medius. Antennae ferrugineae clava nigra, apice ferruginea. Alae supra fulvae, nigro maculatae. Subtus anticae fulvae, nigro maculatae punctisque quatuor apicis argenteis. Posticae fuscae fascia apicis fiavescente maculisque 24 argenteis.”
Color fulvous ; fore wing beneath fulvous; hind wings beneath fuscous, that is, black and red.
This description applies particularly to Aphrodite female.
I therefore present, for the first time, descriptions and figures of the males and females of both species. Cybele is the larger, and the difference in color between the sexes is much less than in Aphrodite. In the latter the male is much smaller in proportion to the female, is brighter colored than Cybele, and has very little brown at base of wings. The black markings are noticeably more delicate, the marginal lines on primaries nearer together, more or less excluding the fulvous spots which, in Cybele, are distinct along the whole margin. The margin of secondaries also has an edge line like the primaries ; the median band is formed of small crescents, separated by wide spaces and obsolete on costal margin ; and there is no black space between the costal and subcostal as in Cybele. On the un- der side the silver marginal and costal spots are decided, while in Cybele they are usually wanting, or indicated by a few scales only ; the basal color of secondaries is cinnamon-brown, and the band is more or less encroached on by the ground color ; the pyriform spot of third row is cut by the arc as in Cybele, but the smaller
ARGYNNIS II.
spot thus made is edged above with black and is in effect a distinct spot. Com- paring the females, Cybele is luteous, very dark at base, heavily marked with black. Aphrodite is suffused with a rich red tint that seems as if in the very tex- ture of the wing, and that makes living specimens conspicuous ; the under side of primaries is red fulvous, of secondaries deep ferruginous, and the band is almost wholly crowded out. I have taken scores of individuals of both species, in many localities and for many seasons, and there is no mistaking either at first glance.
Cybele is found in the lowlands of New York, and in New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania and Virginia and westward to Illinois. How much farther south I am un- able to say, but have not received it in collections from Georgia, Florida or Louis- iana, nor from beyond the Mississippi River. In West Virginia, on the Kanawha River, it is abundant in June and September, frequenting gardens and clover fields in June, and later, the Iron weed, in company with innumerable Papilios, Vanes- sas and Hesperians, and occasionally an Aphrodite or Diana.
Of the larvae nothing is known, as is unfortunately the case with the larvae of a large proportion of our butterflies. Probably, like the European species of this family, it feeds upon the wild violet.
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ARGYNNIS III.
ARGYNNIS APHRODITE. 1—4.
Argynnis Aphrodite (Aph-ro-dl-te), Fabricius, Ent. Syst. Ill, 443. Cybele P Godart, Ent. Metb. IX, 264. Kirby, Faun. Bor. IV, 290. Harris, Ins. Mass. 1862, 285.
Primaries broad, strongly arched, slightly concave on hind margin.
Male. Expands 2 to 2.2 inches.
Upper side bright red fulvous, slightly obscure at base, marked and spotted with black; primaries edged by a double marginal line, enclosing between the ner- vules fulvous streaks next inner angle and points at apex ; other markings as in Cybele, but more delicate.
Secondaries have also a double marginal line more separated than on prima- ries and enclosing a clear fulvous space, the submarginal at the intersections ex- panding into spots that extend a little distance upon the nervule ; the marginal crescents as in Cybele, but reduced ; the rounded spots minute ; the median row consists of small, widely separated crescents ; the mark on the ark like the letter S ; fringes buff at the emarginations, black at tips of nervules.
Under side of primaries reddish next base and on inner margin, buff towards apex, with brown apical patch and hind margin ; on the patch two or three silver spots ; the border edged by lanceolate spots, the lower two black, the other' six brown, enclosing silver spaces.
Secondaries have the basal two-thirds cinnamon brown, which color so en- croaches on the buff space that is between the two outer rows of silver spots, espe- cially at the extremities, that it does not present a pure band, as in Cybele ; hind margin same brown as on primaries ; on this rests a series of seven silver spots, the two next apex nearly oval, the rest dentate ; the second row consists of seven elongate or pyriform ; the third of six, the first crescent, second minute, third often wanting, fourth pyriform, cut by the arc into two, the lower as well as the upper edged above with black ; fifth crescent, sixth minute ; within the cell one, some- times two round spots ; an oval below the median and two patches at base ; all edged with black above, except the outer row, which is edged with brown, and the two basal patches ; shoulder and abdominal margin heavily silvered.
Body above color of base, beneath buff, legs and palpi brown ; antennae ful- vous above, pale below ; club black ferruginous at tip.
Female. Expands 2.6 inches.
Less fulvous than the male, the outer limb inclining to luteous ; suffused on the basal half with a fiery tint, very noticeable in fresh specimens ; hind margin of primaries has a heavy black border enclosing fulvous streaks and points ; base
ARGYNNIS III.
and inner margin reddish ; secondaries beneath nearly covered with dense ferrugi- nous almost obliterating the hand.
This species has usually been confounded with Cybele. For a full comparison of the two see the preceding paper.
Aphrodite is common throughout the southern and less elevated parts of New England and of Canada, hut also of the mountainous parts of southern New York and of Pennsylvania, and is occasionally found in West Virginia and as far west as Illinois. Mr. Scudder, in his List of Butterflies of New England, says it is not found among the White Mountains, where it is replaced by Atlantis. In the Cats- kill Mountains, of New York, it is a very common species, hut not to the exclu- sion of Atlantis, which also is tolerably abundant. The males are first seen in that region from the 1st to 10th of July and the females about the 15th, flying through the open woods and upon the still uncut meadows. In the sunlight the red tint, especially of the females, is intense. Something of this is lost in cabinet specimens, but it is always sufficiently preserved to show a strong contrast to Cy- bele. In the Northern States Aphrodite produces but a single brood. In West Virginia, upon the Kanawha River, there are two, in June and September. These southern specimens are less brightly colored. I have never seen the larvae, but am informed by Mr. D. W. Beadle, of St. Catherines, Canada, that “ they feed upon all kinds of wild violet, that they feed at night, but lie concealed during the day beneath chips or stones on the ground. In appearance they much resemble the larvae of V. Antiopa, and are found early in July.”
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ARGYNNIS IV.
ARGYNNIS NOKOMIS.
Argynnis Nofcomis (No-ko'-mis), Edwards, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862.
Primaries broad, strongly arched, slightly concave on hind margin.
Male. — Expands 3.4 inches.
Upper side uniform fiery fulvous, very little dusky at base; hind margins edged by two parallel black lines, the outer one delicate, the other heavy, the ful- vous spaces between cut into spots by the black nervules; both wings inscribed and spotted with black, more coarsely than in Aphrodite; the rounded spots small; the clear fulvous extra discal space notably broad ; the submarginal spots on primaries lunular at apex, otherwise serrate; on secondaries lunular, separated from each other and from the marginal lines; the mesial band of secondaries formed of sepa- rate crescents; the spot on arc like the letter 8.
Under side of primaries bright red at base and on disk, changing to fulvous on outer limb and quite to hind margin ; apical portion golden yellow, the anterior six submarginal spots well silvered; four silvered subapical spots, the upper two minute, each on an olivaceous ground, posteriorly edged by black scales.
Secondaries uniform golden yellow from base to margin ; the silver spots con- spicuous, the outer row entirely surrounded by black, and all the others heavily edged anteriorly by black; the seven spots of outer row narrow, elongated except the two at outer angle, which are broad and rounded ; of the eight spots of second row, the first three from costa and fifth and sixth rounded, the fourth small, seventh lanceolate, the eighth a dash on the margin; the third row of three, large and ir- regular; in cell a round spot in black ring, an oval below, and two spots without edging at origin of upper nervures; costa and abdominal margin lightly silvered.
Body above fulvous, below buff slightly tinted with fulvous; legs buff; palpi buff, deep fulvous at tip; antennae dark brown above, fulvous below; club brown tipped with fulvous.
Female. — Expands 3.6 inches.
Upper side dark chocolate brown, the black markings indistinctly shown; the disks spotted with bright yellow, which takes the form of a common band of spots separated by the black nervules, and very much resembling in shape and distribu- tion the blue spots on Diana female, enclosing in same way as in that species the rounded extra discal black spots; these elongated spots are sometimes tinted slightly with fulvous, especially on primaries, and are much and irregularly irrorated AYith
ARGYNNIS IV.
black scales; tlie submarginal lunules are yellow and the spaces between the mar- ginal lines partially so, giving the effect of a double row of marginal spots on sec- ondaries; in the cell of primaries two transverse yellow stripes and nearer base a stripe composed of greenish scales; under side similar to male except that the yel- low is more decided and not golden and the margins of both wings as well as the apical portion of primaries much irrorated with black; the suhapical silver spots are also on a black ground; secondaries have the basal portion much obscured by a greenish-brown tint, and much irrorated with black, the belt between the two outer rows of silver spots being clear yellow and immaculate.
From 5(?, 2?, brought from Arizona by the Exploring Expedition under Lieut. Wheeler, in 1871, but with no further intimation of their locality. The original specimen from which the description of the species was drawn was received by me in 1862, through the Smithsonian, and was labelled “Bitter Boot Mountains.” Until the present year (18721 it has been an unique in my collection and, so far as I know, not found in any other. But the species is so superb an one that I have not hesitated to redraw the plate. It is allied to Leto in many respects, in the general appearance of the upper side of the male, and in the colors of the female. But in the shape of the spots the female bears a curious resemblance to Diana. I regret that I am able to add nothing of its history.
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ARGYNNIS V.
ARGYNNIS ATLANTIS. 1—3.
Argynnis Atlantis. Edwards, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1862. -
Primaries long and narrow, moderately arched ; hind margin slightly convex.
Male. Expands from 1.75 to 2.25 inches.
Upper side fulvous, obscure at base ; both wings have broad black hind mar- gins which enclose more or less fulvous between the nervules of secondaries, and at inner angle of primaries ; the marginal spots either lunular or serrate, often confluent on secondaries as on primaries, and resting on the border ; the spots of median row on secondaries narrow and confluent, forming an angular band, in this respect differing from the other Atlantic species ; the other markings as in Aphro- dite ; fringes yellowish, black at tips of nervules.
Under side of primaries reddish, costa and apex light buff with brown apical patch and hind margin ; upon the patch two silver spots ; on the margin eight ser- rate spots, the upper six brown enclosing silver triangles, the two lower black.
Secondaries dark red brown, much mottled with greenish grey or with drab ; the band between the two outer row of spots pale yellow, usually pure from mar- gin to margin ; upon the border a series of seven triangular silver spots edged be- low with black and above by a few black scales preceded by brown lunules ; the second row consists of seven rounded or oval spots, each projecting a brown shadow upon the band ; the third row of six spots, of which the fourth is cut into two by the arc and the smaller spot edged above with black ; two round spots in the cell, a third, long oval at origin of median and two at base of upper nervures ; all ex- cept the last edged above with black ; the round spots and oval wholly ; shoulder and abdominal margin broadly silvered.
Body above color of base of wings ; beneath, abdomen yellowish, thorax grey ; palpi reddish grey ; antennae fulvous ; club black, tipped with ferruginous.
Female. Expands from 2.25 to 2.75 inches.
Color inclining to luteous ; the black margins very heavy.
Atlantis is readily distinguished from Aphrodite by its smaller size, duller color, broad black margins, confluent median band of secondaries and color of same wings below ; also by the longer and narrower fore wings. It is found in the mountainous districts of New York and in British America at least as far north as Rupert’s House, Hudson’s Bay, and Lake Winnipeg. Among the Catskill mountains of New York it is not uncommon in certain localities, such as narrow passes through the mountains and in the grass fields, which in those places often
ARGYNNIS Y.
^j\o
skirt the forest. But it is rarely to he seen in the open country, where Aphrodite abounds. The males appear, in the Catskills, early in June, two or three weeks before Aphrodite. They may he seen in company with Limenitis Arthemis and L. Proserpina, alighted in small clusters among the damp leaves by the road side or upon offal of any description. All these species are attracted by any decaying animal matter, and a piece of meat or a dead bird or snake has irresistible charms for them. Mr. Scudder, in the List of Butterflies of New England, mentions that Atlantis is common in the valleys about the White Mountains the last of July and early in August, which is a month and more later than they appear in the Cats- kills. The northern specimens are diminutive in size. According to Mr. Scud- der, Aphrodite is not found among the White Mountains. The three species, At- lantis, Aphrodite and Cybele occupy severally northern, middle and southern belts of the Atlantic slope. Of the other two large Atlantic species, Diana strictly be- longs to a belt still more southern than Cybele. Idalia alone is very generally distributed, though nowhere common, being found occasionally from Maine to Georgia, east of the Alleghenies.
The larvae of Atlantis I am unacquainted with, but I am informed by Mr. Scudder that the late Mr. C. H. Shurtleflf found both larvae and pupae at Eastport, Maine. He seems to have left no memoranda respecting them but the following, taken from his Journal ; “ they suspend themselves by the tail to rails, boards or logs lying on the ground.”
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Drawn T^y- Mary Peart.
Bowen & C° ]i£h.. Phil®-
CALLIPPE.. 1.2. 6.3.4. ?.
ARGYNNIS VI.
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jLa. (d-A-wiA')
AKGYNNIS CALLIPPE. 1—4.
Argynnis Callippc, (Cal-lip'-pe) Boisduval, Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 2 ser. x. p. 302. 1852.
Primaries long, narrow, moderately arched, slightly concave on hind margin.
Male. Expands 2.3 inches.
Upper side dull fulvous, very much obscured, the nervules being broadly edged with black, and inner angles of both wings and three-fourths the surface of second- aries, of same color ; hind margins black, with heavy, confluent dentations ; the discal interspaces of primaries and marginal spots of both wings of a paler fulvous than the ground color, and on secondaries an extra median row of still lighter spots, corresponding to the silver spots of lower surface, each starting from the black median band (which is confluent) and terminating in one of the rounded black spots ; other markings of both wings as in the allied species ; fringes yellowish, black at tips of nervules.
Under side of primaries fulvous at base and along the lower nervures and their branches ; costa, outer half of cell and interspaces on the disk clear yellow ; the outer limb mixed or mottled with fulvous ; the submarginal serrations black- ish next inner angle and almost wanting above, enclosing triangular spots more or less silvered ; two silver spots on subapical patch.
Secondaries yellow, the basal two-thirds more or less mottled with reddish- brown of a darker shade than that of primaries ; the band between the outer rows of spots clear yellow, immaculate ; the silver spots are 23 or 24 in number, viz : the marginal row of seven, large, triangular, all edged above with brown ; the second of eight, the first and fifth obovate, second and third long oval, fourth minute, sixth long and rectangular, seventh and eighth irregular, all edged slightly above with black ; the third row of four or five, the first large, semi-oval, second often wanting, third pyriform, cut by the arc, fifth a streak, the first, third and fourth edged above with black ; in the cell one or two small rounded spots, a third, long oval, at base of median, these wholly edged with black ; a silver patch at base of costal; shoulder and abdominal margin silvered.
Body above dark fulvous, beneath, yellow on abdomen, greyish-yellow on thorax ; palpi grey fulvous ; antennse fulvous ; club black, ferruginous at tip.
Female. Expands nearly three inches.
Color paler, fading to whitish on the disk and in the extra median and mar- ginal spots of secondaries ; the black markings heavier than in the male ; under side paler, but similar to male.
ARGYNNIS VI.
From California. The most common or only species of Argynnis found in vicinity of San Francisco, according to Dr. Behr, who adds “it seems pretty uni- versally distributed throughout our State. There exists but one generation, and the imago is found in June.” Of the larva I can obtain no information.
It is difficult to determine this species from the diagnosis of Dr. Boisduval, which possibly includes at least two species, the other being Odronis, Behr. Dr. Boisduval does not notice the dark coloration of upper surface or the con- spicuous pale spots of secondaries. But the present is the species designated by the name in our collections, and is so recognized by Dr. Behr in his paper on the Argvnnides of California, Ann. Acad. Nat. Sci. Calif. 1862.
Drawn "by Mary Peart.
Bowen & C° lith. Phi0-
HE SFERIS. 1.2. 6.3. ?.
ARGYNNIS VII.
ARGYNNIS HESPERIS. 1—3.
Argynnis Hesperis, (Hes'-pe-ris) Edwards, S , Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil, ii, p. 502. 1864.
Primaries long, narrow, moderately arched, hind margin slightly convex.
Male. Expands 2.3 inches.
Upper side deep fulvous, obscure at base ; primaries have a narrow black hind margin ; the submarginal spots serrate and confluent.
Secondaries bordered by two fine parallel lines on which the spots are serrate, sometimes dentate ; the median spots form a narrow, confluent band, as in Atlan- tis ; other markings of both wings as in that species ; fringe yellowish, black at tips of nervules.
Under side of primaries pale fulvous inclining to luteous ; the apex, upper part of margin, apical patch and upper serrations ferruginous ; the spots within the latter buff ; lower serrations blackish enclosing fulvous spots ; the spots on patch buff as also are the apical interspaces.
Secondaries deep ferruginous, excepting the space between the two outer rows of spots, which is buff, and immaculate ; (but occasionally this space is encroached on by the basal color, as in Aphrodite ;) the spots are 23 or 24 in number, viz : the mar- ginal row of seven, triangular, edged above with ferruginous ; the second row of eight, mostly narrow and elongated ; the eighth, on inner margin, lunular and in- complete ; all but the eighth projecting a ferruginous shadow on the buff belt and all edged above with black ; the third row of four or five, the first lunular, second minute or wanting, third semi-oval, cut into two by the arc, the lower part edged above with black, the fourth and fifth streaks ; all these are edged above with black ; within the cell one or two small round spots ; an oval at base of median ; these last wholly edged with black; a patch at base of costal; shoulder and abdo- minal margin greyish ; all the spots are buff, some of them occasionally sprinkled with a few scales of silver.
Body above color of base ; beneath greyish ; palpi reddish-grey ; antennae ful- vous, club black tipped with ferruginous.
Female. Expands 2.4 inches.
Paler colored, but otherwise similar to the male.
Found in Colorado, and first taken by Mr. James Ridings in 1864. It seems to be not uncommon in that region.
AM (KOOO S
Drawn "by Mary Pe art .
Bowen & C
MONTICOLA. 1.2, 6.3.4 9.
ARGYNNIS VIII.
AKGYNNIS MONTICOLA. 1—4.
Argynnis Monticola, Behr, Proc. CaL Acad. Nat. Sci. 1862, p. 172. and 1863, p. 84. Zerene, Boisduval, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, p. 303.
Primaries broad, moderately arcbed, slightly concave on hind margin.
Male. Expands 2.6 inches.
Upper side bright fulvous, marked and spotted with black as in allied species ; both wings edged by a double line which encloses fulvous spaces between the nervules ; the submarginal spots are lunular on secondaries and lunular or dentate on primaries, connected with each other and with the marginal lines ; the rounded spots on outer limb unusually large, except the fourth on secondaries and the four upper ones on primaries, which are minute ; the median band on primaries heavy, the separate spots of which it is composed much diffused ; that of secondaries heavy and confluent ; the cellular spot of secondaries like the letter S, but varies much, being sometimes very open, and sometimes compressed into a round spot; fringes yellowish at the emarginations.
Under side of primaries bright red-fulvous over the whole base, disk and in- ner margin ; costal and apical portions buff with a violet tinge next the hind mar- gin ; this margin and the apical patch brown ; same markings as on upper surface ; the submarginal spots blackish next inner angle, brown towards apex, enclosing severally fulvous or buff spaces ; on the patch buff spots.
Secondaries violet brown more or less mottled with clear brown ; between the two outer rows of spots a belt of rather paler shade than the ground color, much encroached on by the brown shadows projected by both rows of spots ; hind mar- gin brown ; the spots are twenty two in number, viz : seven submarginal, long and very narrow, edged without by a few scales of black ; eight median of moderate size, heavily edged with black above ; the third row of four, all heavily edged with black above, the first and third crescent, the second cut by the arc, the lower part edged with black above ; in the cell one, sometimes two, rounded spots and an oval below the median, surrounded by black ; all these spots light buff without silvering.
Body above fulvous, below buff; legs light buff; palpi same color edged with fulvous ; antennse black above, fulvous below ; club black tipped with fulvous.
Female. Expands 2.8 inches.
Color somewhat paler than the male ; the black markings heavy ; the spots enclosed in the submarginal dentations paler than the ground. Under side like the
u
ARGYNNIS Till.
male, tlie apical spot on primaries sometimes silvered, as also the outer row on sec- ondaries.
According to Dr. Behr, (paper first cited) “ the diagnosis of Zerene , Boisd., certainly comprises two species,” one of which is now Monticola above described. In a letter from Dr. Behr, dated San Francisco, Aug. 16, 1868, he says, “A. Mon- ticola is found in different localities from A. Zerene. It is more alpine, and is found in the Yo Semite valley and other mountain localities.”
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HAL CYOJSiE . 6
ARGYNNIS IX.
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(Zeft')
ARGYNNIS HALCYONS.
Argynnis Ralcyone (Hal-cy'-o-ne). New species.
Primaries broad, moderately arched, concave on hind margin.
Male. Expands 2.5 inches.
Upper side fulvous, inclining to luteous, very little dusky at the base ; the hind margins bordered by two parallel lines which enclose narrow fulvous spaces between the nervules ; the submarginal spots of primaries serrated, enclosing spaces a little paler than the ground color ; those of secondaries lunular and connected with each other as well as with the marginal lines ; the median band of secondaries confluent ; other markings as in the allied species, less delicate than in Hesperis, but very much more so than in Monticola ; fringes luteous, black at tips of nervules.
Under side of primaries pale fulvous at base and on inner margin, yellowish or buff on costa and disk, with brown sub-apical patch; hind margin yellowish- brown ; sub-marginal spots serrate at inner angle and black, toward the apex lunular and brown, all the latter enclosing spots more or less silvered ; on the brown patch two silver spots ; the other markings of upper surface repeated.
Secondaries deep red-brown, more or less mottled with yellowish ; hind margin brown, paler towards anal angle ; the space between the two outer rows of silver spots encroached on by the basal shade ; the silver spots are twenty two or three in number, viz : the outer row of seven, rounded or oval at outer angle, remainder elongated, all edged slightly above and below with black scales and surmounted by a broad brown shade ; the second row of seven, the first three and fifth obovate, fourth small, rounded, the sixth and seventh nearly rectangular, edged above with black ; the third row of four or five, the first and fourth crescent, second often wanting, third pyriform, cut by the arc, fifth on the margin, a streak, all edged above with black ; in the cell a rounded spot, another below median, both surrounded with black ; two small patches of silver at base of nervures; shoulder and abdominal margin heavily silvered.
Body above luteous, beneath yellowish ; palpi yellowish ; antennae dark above, fulvous below ; club black, ferruginous at tip.
Female unknown.
From two specimens, taken in Colorado by Dr. Yelie, and now in the collec- tion of B. D. Walsh, Esq. of Rock Island.
LET 0. 1. 2.4,3. 4. ?
ARGYNNIS X.
ARGYNNIS LETO.
Argynnis Leto , Behr, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862.
Primaries broad, moderately arched, slightly convex on hind margin
Male. — Expands from 2.6 to 3 inches.
Upper side pale fulvous, obscure at base, lightly marked and spotted with black ; hind margins of both wings bordered by two fine parallel lines between which the space is fulvous; primaries have a submarginal row of serrated spots, not touching each other or the marginal lines ; a transverse line of rounded spots, an indistinct bar on costal margin, sometimes wanting, a zigzag median band of separated spots, mostly lunular; outside the arc a spot shaped like the letter P inverted, and three sinuous bars across the cell.
Secondaries have a submarginal row of lunate spots, separated and not touch- ing the marginal lines, a second of small rounded spots or points, and a mesial of small widely separated crescents in size and shape like those of Aphrodite; on the arc a pyriform or obovate spot.
Under side: primaries pale fulvous at base, light buff on costal margin and in the marginal interspaces, the nervules edged with brown; the sub-apical patch brown; submarginal spots serrated, enclosing buff spaces, not silvered; other markings as on upper surface.
Secondaries dull ferruginous from the base to second row of spots; between the two outer rows a broad buff belt as in Cyhele; the silver spots are twenty-one or twenty-two in number, viz; seven submarginal, lunate, edged with ferruginous below and above; the second of seven or eight, all but the last heavily edged above with black, and projecting a brown shadow upon the belt, the first, second and fifth largest, third and sixth half the size of the others, the fourth minute, the seventh and eighth, (when present) streaks; the third row of three, edged also with black above; a small rounded spot in the cell, a patch at origin of median nervure and another at base of costal; costa at base and abdominal margin slightly, if at all, silvered.
Body above dark brown, beneath, abdomen yellowish; palpi fulvous; antennae fulvous; club black tipped with fulvous.
ARGYNNIS X.
Female. — Expands 3 inches.
Upper side dark ferruginous-brown from base to middle of disk, and beyond, to the brown marginal band, greyish-yellow. On the under side, primaries have the base and inner margin port-wine color and the apical and costal portion, as far as middle of cell, greyish-yellow; secondaries have the basal two-thirds deep ferru- ginous, and between the two outer rows of spots a clear band of greyish-yellow, brighter colored than on upper side ; spots as in the male.
This species has been found somewhat abundantly in the Yo Semite district of California and in Oregon. The males that have reached our collections are mostly in good condition, but with the exception of two females received from Oregon, through the kindness of Mr. Henry Edwards, all the specimens of that sex known to me have been faded out to a pale brown and sordid white, without a trace of their original beautiful coloring. The contrast between the sexes in this species is of same nature as in Diana and Nokomis, and it is a very curious prob- lem how the sexes in these species have come to differ so remarkably when in near- ly every other member of the extensive genus Argynnis they are essentially alike.
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A.EDWARDSII.l.2.6,3. 49
ARGYNNIS XI.
AEGYNNIS EDWAEDSII. 1—4.
Argynnis Edwardsii, Reakirt, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., 1867.
Primaries long and narrow, moderately arched ; slightly concave on hind margin.
Male. Expands nearly 3 inches.
Upper side pale fulvous, a little dusky at base, marked and spotted with black ; hind margin edged by two fine parallel lines, on which rest a series of connected lunules, which enclose fulvous spots a shade paler than the ground color ; other markings as in the allied species, rather more delicate than in most ; a sagittate spot in the submedian interspace near base.
Secondaries have the extra discal spots small; a discal band of small separated lunules ; the spot on the arc like the letter C ; fringes luteous in the emarginations.
Under side of primaries pale reddish fulvous at base and along the posterior nervules; remainder of wings light buff, except the apex and hind margin, which are greenish ; the submarginal silver spots are seven in number, triangular, the three posterior ones edged by blackish sagittate spots ; three anterior subapical spots sil- vered, the middle one large, sub-ovate.
Secondaries pale olivaceous somewhat mottled with buff ; the band between the two outer rows of silver spots much encroached on by the ground color, as in Aphrodite ; the silver spots are twenty-four in number ; viz. seven submarginal, large, lunular or sub-triangular, each edged above by olivaceous ; the second row of seven, the fourth minute, the others large, mostly sub-ovate, slightly edged above with black, and below projecting olivaceous shadows on the band ; the third row of five, the first and fourth lunular, the second minute or wanting, the third large, pyri- form, cut by the arc, the fifth a stripe on the margin, all edged above with black ; in the cell one or two rounded spots and three at origin of the nervures ; shoulder and abdominal margin silvered.
Body above fulvous, below buff ; legs and palpi fulvous ; antennae dark brown above, light below ; club black, ferruginous at tip.
Female. Expands 2.8 inches. Primaries shorter, hind margin straight.
Upper side obscured by black, much as in Callippe, showing like that species pale lunules within tire submarginal spots and a discal row of pale spots corres- ponding in shape to the second silvered row of under side ; apex ot primaries also paler than the ground color ; hind margin of primaries broad, blackish, of sec- ondaries similar in color, but of medium width.
ARGYNNIS XI.
Under side as in male except that apex and hind margin of primaries and whole of secondaries are of a deeper olivaceous, a paler shade of same color tinting those parts that in the male are huff ; the silver spots large, the outer row triangu- lar, slightly edged by black above ; the spots little if at all edged by black.
Larva unknown.
From specimens taken by Mr. James Ridings in the mountains near Empire City, Colorado, in August 1864.
This species had been known in collections for several years prior to Mr. Ri- dings’ expedition, from the Collecting of Messrs Wood, Drexler, and others, and had been erroneously taken for Aglaia, an European species to which it bears some re- semblance. As Dr. Behr has remarked “ nearly all the Californian Argynnides (which includes the Rocky Mts. and Eastern species as well) belong to the type of Aglaia , which is altogether more developed and more numerously represented on this continent than in the old world, where the type of PajpMa takes its place.”
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Drawn T-yMaaT-Peart
Bower. & C° lith.. PHL®'
BEHREN SIT. 12 6.3.4. ?.
ARGYNNIS XII.
n-
ARGYNNIS BEHKENSII. 1—4.
Argynnis Behrensii , Edwards, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 1870.
Primaries narrow, slightly arched, concave on hind margin.
Male. Expands 2.2 inches.
Upper side dull fulvous, much obscured at base ; primaries bordered by two fine parallel lines enclosing very narrow fulvous spaces between the nervules ; rest- ing on these a series of small black crescents, each enclosing a fulvous spot ; the round submarginal spots of medium size ; other markings as in Hesperis and al- lied species.
Secondaries have a double marginal line enclosing large fulvous spaces ; the lunules large, crescent, not quite touching each other or the line ; the rounded spots small ; the median row confluent, forming an unusually narrow band, much like that of Hesperis ; on the arc a recurved black spot enclosing a narrow ful- vous space ; between the submarginal spots and median line a row of pale fulvous spots corresponding to the second silvered series beneath.
Under side : primaries light buff, at base and along the nervules pale ferrugi- nous ; on hind margin and at apex dark brown ; the marginal spots sagittate, black next inner angle, deep brown above and near apex lost in the ground color ; the upper five enclosing silver spaces; on the sub-apical patch three silver spots; other markings as above.
Secondaries of a deep, dense ferruginous, (much as in female Aphrodite ) which color occupies the whole wing except a narrow violet-brown space between the outer rows of spots ; these are twenty-one or twenty-two in number, all silvered, viz : seven submarginal, narrow, elongated, edged above by broad ferruginous crescents ; a second row of seven mostly oval or pyriform ; a third of five; of which the first and third are semi-oval, the second a point, fourth and fifth streaks on the margin; both the two last rows narrowly edged with black ; in the cell a round spot and a point; an oval at base of median, another at base of costal ; shoulder and abdominal margin lightly silvered.
Body above fulvous ; beneath, abdomen buff, thorax covered with gray-ful- vous hairs ; palpi fulvous ; antennae black above, fulvous below ; club black, tip ferruginous.
ARGYNN IS XII.
Female. Expands 2.4 inches. Upper side of a duller shade ; the marginal borders of primaries broad, black, with no fulvous space ; the submarginal cres- cents heavy, enclosing very small pale fulvous spots ; other markings heavier than in male.
Under side similar to male, except that primaries have the base and hind mar- gin deep fulvous ; secondaries have the same ferruginous tint with a similar violet- brown submarginal space.
Taken at Mendocino, California. From 1^,1$, in the Collection of James Behrens, Esq., San Francisco, to whom I take pleasure in dedicating this fine and distinct species.
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ZERENE. 1.2.3 3.4' 5
ARGYNNIS XIII.
ARGYNNIS ZERENE. 1—4.
Argynnis Zerene, Boisduval, Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr., 1852. Behr, (No. 9) Proc. Oal. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1862. Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., 1864. Hydaspe, Boisduval, Lep. de la Cal’e., 1869.
Primaries broad, strongly arched, much rounded at apex, convex on bind margin.
Male. Expands 2.1 to 2.3 inches.
Upper side deep fulvous ; hind margins edged by two fine parallel lines which enclose a fulvous space; on these rest a series of heavy black lunules, connected on primaries, separated on secondaries ; other markings as in Monticola ; fringes yellowish in the emarginations.
Under side of primaries cinnamon red except at apex, where it is buff ; sub- apical patch ferruginous ; spots without silver, buff except at inner angle, there suffused by the ground color.
Secondaries ferruginous, mottled with buff, which is usually more or less tint- ed with pink ; submarginal band much covered by the ferruginous shadows pro- jected by both rows of spots ; hind margin ferruginous ; spots yellowish buff, with- out silver ; the seven submarginal large, rounded or triangular, edged above and below by a few dark brown scales, and above also by ferruginous lunules ; the sec- ond row mostly large ; the first, second, third, fifth and sixth, nearly equal in size, subovate, all heavily edged above with black ; the third row of five, of which the first, fourth and fifth are semi-oval, the second a point, the third large, pyri- form, cut by the arc, all heavily edged above with black ; in the cell one or two small spots in black rings, and an oval in ring at base of median.
Body above fulvous, below, thorax grey-fulvous ; legs buff ; palpi buff below, fulvous above ; antennae brown ; club black, tip ferruginous.
Female. Expands 2.4 inches.
Upper side dull fulvous, much obscured at base ; the sub-apical fulvous spots pale ; under side of primaries deeper red ; spots without silver.
California ; found according to Dr. Behr, between N evada City and Bear V alley.
In 1862, in paper above cited, Dr. Behr says, “The diagnosis that Dr. Bois- duval gives of Zerene certainly comprises two species,” and he temporarily desig- nates the two as Nos. 8 and 9 in his list of Californian Argynnides. In his subse- quent paper of 1863, he names No. 8 Monticola, leaving Zerene to the other species.
ARGYNN1S XIII,
In 1864, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., I translated Dr. Behr’s description, applying the name Zerene, Bois., to the species No. 9.
In 1869, Dr. Boisduval published his second paper on Californian Lepidoptera, utterly ignoring all that had been done by lepidopterists since 1852, and named as new thirty-five species of butterflies, the greater part of which have been described in Proceedings of scientific societies years ago. In the other orders Dr. Boisdu- val has proceeded with like indifference.
In the last paper he intimates that his former diagnosis of . Zerene includes two species, and he applies that name to Monticola Behr, giving to the other, that of Hydaspe. Nevertheless according to the recognized rule in such cases, the names Monticola and Zerene will remain as Dr. Behr determined them.
In both these papers the very general descriptions given often apply to two or more species, and some of them will continue to be a puzzle to students who have no access to the types in Dr. Boisduval’s collection. In many other cases it is im- possible to tell what the descriptions are intended to represent, as in Anthocaris lan- ceolata, C. Amphidusa, P. Leucodice, Mel. Pulchella, M. Cocyta, &c. There is also a constant tendency to discern European forms under what are called “local mod- ifications,” as in cases of A. Ausonoides, C. Eurytheme, Theda dumetorum, Coen. Californica and Galactinus, Thanaos Cervantes, Hesperias Comma and Sylvanus, which is calculated to perplex and mislead. With profound respect for Dr. Bois- duval, every lepidopterist in this country has cause to regret the confusion thus introduced into our fauna.
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“NEVADEN SIS. 1.2. $. 3. 4.2.
ARGYNNIS XIV.
ARGYNNIS NEVADENSIS. 1—4.
Argynnis Nevadensis, Edwards, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iii, p. 14.
Primaries long, narrow, strongly arched, convex on hind margin.
Male. Expands 2.2 inches.
Upper side pale yellow fulvous, slightly obscured at base ; hind margins bor- dered by two parallel lines, enclosing throughout narrow fulvous spaces between the nervules ; the submarginal lunules narrow, serrated or lunular, connected with each other and with the marginal lines ; and enclosing large concolored fulvous spots, other markings delicate, well defined, similar to those of Edwardsii; the median band of secondaries being confluent and the discal spot large, open, much like the letter C inverted ; fringes luteous, on primaries blackish at ends of ner- vules.
Under side of primaries pale buff, next base and inside the two cellular spots with a faint reddish tint ; apex olivaceous ; the two lower submarginal spots black, enclosing buff spaces, the others, six in number, olivaceous enclosing sil- ver spots ; submarginal patch olivaceous with two silver spots and sometimes a third on the margin. Secondaries yellow, the disk mottled with olivaceous ; the band between the two outer rows of spots narrow, distinct ; the silver spots unusu- ally large, iridescent, 24 in number, viz: seven submarginal, sub-triangular, edged both above and below by black scales and above by a broad olivaceous border; the second row of seven, the first three, fifth and sixth nearly equal, subovate, the fourth small, triangular, the seventh subquadrate, all narrowly edged above with black and projecting olivaceous shadows upon the band ; the third row of five, the first semi-oval, the fourth and fifth lunate, the second obsolete, third large, sub-pyriform, cut by the arc, all narrowly edged with black; in the cell two small round spots and below median a long oval, these three edged with black; two sil- ver patches at margin of upper nervures; shoulder and abdominal margin lightly silvered. Body above fulvous, beneath buff; legs buff, palpi buff, ferruginous above and at tip; antennae brown above, fulvous and grey beneath; club black tipped with ferruginous.
Female. Expands 2.8 inches.
Color a shade paler; the marginal lines diffuse, on primaries forming a broad black band showing traces of fulvous spots only next inner angle; the spots within
ARGYNNIS XIV.
apical lunules whitish ; secondaries present a row of spots, a shade paler than the ground, corresponding to the second silvered row of under side.
Under side of primaries yellow huff, deep fulvous at base, on inner margin throughout, and over three fourths of cell, passing into reddish buff towards inner angle ; sub-marginal spots enclosing, throughout, silver spaces. Secondaries pale buff, mottled with darker shade; silver spots large, the second row completely but delicately edged with black, the sub-marginal nearly ovate.
Taken in the valleys of the Sierra, near Virginia City, Nevada.
In the markings of upper side and in the form and size of the silver spots, JVe- vadensis is nearest Edwardsii.
Mr. Henry Edwards, to whom we owe the discovery of this fine species, writes as follows respecting it. “The range of Ne vadensis appears to be very limited as I have only seen it in the immediate neighborhood of Virginia, but it is there by no means rare. It loves to fly about the warm canons of the mountains and is es- pecially abundant near Washoe Lake. This is a beautiful sheet of water about two miles wide by seven long almost on the summit of the spur of the Sierra of which Mt. Davidson is the highest peak and on the sides of which Virginia is built. It is nearly 6000 feet above the sea level and its shores are covered in the Spring with a luxuriant growth of Composite, Violacese and Liliacese. About this Lake during this summer (1870) I saw scores of Nevadensis, but I only captured a few, owing to their wonderfully swift flight. I rarely saw them alight and it was necessary to take them on the wing. The males are very pugnacious and chase each other with great earnestness. The capture of our mountain butterflies is always a task of diffi- culty from the uneven nature of the ground, and frequently the work is terrible. One has to toil over dry mountains covered with “ sage brush,” with not a tree in sight, and rarely is a drop of water to be found throughout a days tramp.”
Note. — Since the publication of the plate of Arg. Edwardsii, that species has been confidently asserted by no less eminent authorities than Dr. Staudinger and Mr. Moschler to be identical with Aglaia.
Dr. Staudinger writes, 6th April, 1871 : “There is not the least doubt that Arg. Edwardsii is Arg. Aglaia, Linn. There is not the least difference and the Aglaia from Asia differ much more from the true European type than your Ag- laia of Colorado, which differs only in name A
I am not advised that either of these naturalists have any acquaintance with the American species beyond what is to be gained from my plate and description. Certainly the insect is as yet excessively rare in collections.
At the date of publication of the plate, (1869) I had the use of the few spe- cimens collected by Messrs Wood, Drexler and Ridings, which comprised, so far as I knew, all that were to be found in collections in this country. Quite lately, Mr. T. L. Mead has placed in my hands a number of specimens taken by him, in June
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F.AUNUS. 1. 2. 6. 3. 4 ?
ARGYNNIS XI Y.
of the present year, (1871) in Colorado, viz, 15 $, 6$, all of which are fresh and in the best possible condition. With sufficient material therefore for comparison, I am at a loss to see the resemblance between this species and Aglaia. Indeed it is not too much to say that they belong to different sections of the genus. They constantly differ in size, in the form of the wings, in color, and in the number, size and shape of the silver spots. The form of the fore-wings is a distinguishing characteristic between species of this genus, and so is the size and shape of the sil- ver spots, especially the sub-marginal spots of both wings. Dr. Behr, in his paper on Californian Argynnides, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. April 21, 1862, says “of great importance for the diagnosis of these specimens is the shape of the marginal lunulse.”
So also does the presence or absence of a clear buff or yellow band between the two outer rows of silver spots constitute a highly important distinction, as is strikingly exemplified in Gybele and Aphrodite, for which I refer to the plates of those species in this Volume.
As to the species in question, in size, Edwardsii is at least from one third to one half the larger in superficial area. As to shape of fore-wings, in the male Aglaia, these are broad, strongly arched, not at all produced apically and as nearly as possible straight on hind margin. In the female they are distinctly convex on hind margin.
In the male of Edwardsii, the fore-wings are remarkably long, narrow, much produced apically, slightly arched and distinctly concave on hind margin. In the female the wings are shorter and broader than in the male, hut the margin is straight, not rounded. Mr. Reakirt says, “The wings of this species are rela- tively more narrow and more elongated than in any member of this genus with which I am acquainted.”
The margin of the hind wing in the female is not circular as in both sexes of Aglaia, but the wing is produced so that the outline is oval, and from the anal angle to upper median nervule the margin is not curved, but straight.
In Aglaia, I have seen no specimen with more than the faintest traces of sub-marginal silver spots on under side of fore-wings — merely a few silver scales — and none of sub-apical silver spots. The figure of Esper represents no such spots and that of Humphreys very small marginal lunular spots. West- wood, in the description, makes no mention of them. On secondaries the spots are small; the third row from the margin consists of three only, and of these the middle one is truncated, stopping at the arc; the spots of the second row are small and rounded and the sub-marginal are small, narrow, and lunate.
In Edwardsii, on the fore-wings are seven conspicuous submarginal silver triangles and three sub-apical spots, ten in all ; besides these, in fresh specimens, two or three of the rounded black spots in the mesial row are always more or less silvered. On secondaries are 24 distinct spots. The third row contains five, the middle one of which is very large, sub-pyriform, cut by the arc; of the second row, six are large, nearly equal in size, sub-ovate; the submarginal are large and triangular. In the female all these spots are found, but they are still more conspicuous, and the submarginal especially so.
ARGYNNIS XIV.
In short, the species is remarkably silvered. The silver spots also are hea- vily edged with black, quite contrary to what appears in Aglaia.
As to color, passing by the upper surface as of less consequence, though the shades of fulvous are different in both sexes, in Aglaia, three fourths of the under surface of the fore- wings is tinted with dull fulvous, the submarginal portions only being ochraceous ; the secondaries are of a chrome-green mottled with ochraceous from base to second row of silver spots, and the band between this and outer row is broad, ochraceous and not encroached on by the basal green color.
In Edioardsii, deep fulvous covers half the cell of fore wings and that part of the interspaces next below the cell, and the median nervures are narrowly bor- dered with same color nearly to the margin ; the remainder of the cell and all the upper interspaces being a bright huff. In the female the basal color is in- tensified to a fiery red, covering the whole of the two inferior median interspaces. In the male, the ground color is pale olivaceous mottled with buff, with a very nar- row buff band between the silvered rows. In the female the whole wing except the submarginal band is olivaceous upon a brown ground, giving a mottled appear- ance to the surface ; and at the margin and anterior to the marginal spots it is wholly brown ; the sub-marginal band is of a brighter green, owing to the absence there of the sub-color.
These differences are specific and it is not necessary to look for others of minor importance.
On referring to Humphreys as cited, the very title of the species indicates the peculiar color of the under surface of secondaries; “A. Ag]aia. The Dark Green Fritillary.” The description reads. “The outer margin of the fore-wings in the males is almost straight or scarcely perceptibly concave, whilst that of the females is distinctly rounded. Beneath, the hind wings are varied with green and yellow with about seven silvery spots at the base, an irregular row of seven silver spots beyond the middle of the wing and a row of seven submarginal.
Two varieties are mentioned by Westwood and one is figured under the name A. Charlotta, neither of which have any nearer approach to the American species.
Godart says of Aglaia, “The silver spots are usually small and round.”
I have thought it well to go thus into details as to the distinction between Aglaia and Edwardsii, as perhaps, and with as good reason, Nevadensis may be pronounced a variety of Aglaia.
For if Edwardsii is Aglaia, and there is not “ the least difference except in name,” we may as well deny specific characters altogether, or call all green forms one species, all brown another and so on.
The truth is, the sooner the theory of identity between the European and North American fauna in this department is exploded the better. It is founded on the merest modicum of fact, and leads its advocates into inconsistencies and contradictions. Unquestionably, certain boreal and alpine butterflies have passed from one continent to the other in high latitudes, as have a few strong flying Ya- nessans and Coliades, but I believe the whole number common to the temperate regions of both continents can be counted on one’s fingers.
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CHALGE.DON. 1 2, 5 3. 4. ?.
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MELITJ1A I.
MELIT^EA CHALCEDON. 1—4.
Melitxa Chalcedon, (Chal-ce'-don) Boisduval; Doubleday and Hewitson, Gen. Diur. Lep. pi. 23; Ann. Ent. Soc. de Fr. 1852. Edwards, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 1862.
Male. Expands about two inches.
Upper side black spotted with pale ochrey yellow in transverse sinuous bands ; the hind margins edged by a series of red spots, sometimes conspicuous, but usually small, rather indistinct and occasionally wholly wanting ; the yellow spots vary much in individuals, both as to size and form ; but usually the first on sub-mar- ginal row of primaries is minute, the second of medium size, bifid on costal mar- gin, the spots of the inner branch partially red; the third row somewhat larger than the second ; in the cell a compressed bar, a spot near base, and on inner mar- gin a third. On secondaries the first two yellow rows are composed of small spots, but those of the third are large and elongated; four yellow spots near base.
Under side of primaries bright brick red; the marginal border broad, conco- lored, and presenting on its anterior edge a series of deep yellow lunules, those next inner angle frequently obsolete ; beyond this a second row of rounded spots, one or two patches On costa and sometimes a spot in cell ; a black line on the arc and two transverse lines in cell. Secondaries have also a red marginal border, a submarginal series of large yellow lunules on a black ground, preceded by a row of rounded deep red spots on a black ground, each edged by a delicate yellow border ; across the disk a band of large yellow spots, divided by the black lunules and cut unequally at either extremity by a transverse black line; next beyond this a red band, ex- pandedincell and there enclosing a yellow spot in a black ring; at base of nervures four yellow spots, and another on shoulder.
Body above black, the segments of the abdomen edged with yellow, and to- wards the extremity with red; sides of abdomen red, below yellow; thorax yellow; legs and palpi red; antennae black above, red below; club black.
Female. Expands 2.5 inches.
Primaries broader, more rounded apically; spots larger.
Mature Larva. Length 1.5 inch. Color black, finely irrorated with white ; head black, bilobed, compressed, furnished with simple black spines ; on body, from third segment to last, seven rows of thick, many branching spines, the dorsal
MELITvEA I.
row orange, the others blue-black, those of second lateral row rising from tubercu- lated orange spots; legs and pro-legs black.
Chrysalis. Length .7 inch Cylindrical; color pearl-white, marked with patches and points of dark brown ; on the abdomen several rows of orange tubercles.
Mr. Henry Edwards speaking of Chalcedon says: — “The perfect insect appears to be generally distributed throughout the State, extending also into Oregon and Nevada.. The first individuals make their appearance about the second week in April and successive broods are hatched up to middle of July. The caterpillar feeds upon Scrophularia chiefly, though I have observed it upon Dipsacus, Castil- leja and Lonicera. It is one of the most abundant of our species, every canon lead-