  "Into the sunshine, Full of light, Leaping and flashing From morn till night." Russell. The PamphilinÆ found in our fauna fall into two groups. Group A.—The antennÆ are not greatly hooked and generally sharply pointed; the palpi have the third joint short and inconspicuous; the cell of the fore wing is always less than two thirds the length of the costa; the lower radial is somewhat nearer to the third median nervule than to the upper radial. The hind wing is often lobed. The lower radial in the hind wing is generally lacking. The male never has a costal fold on the fore wings, and but rarely is provided with a discal stigma. But three genera belonging to this section of this subfamily are found in our fauna, namely, the genera Amblyscirtes, Pamphila, and Oarisma. Group B.—The antennÆ are sometimes curved, but never hooked, the palpi having the third joint minute, sometimes horizontally porrected. The cell of the fore wing is less than two thirds the length of the costa. The lower radial arises much nearer to the third median nervule than to the upper radial. The hind wing is elongated, but never tailed. The male is never provided on the fore wing with a costal fold, but is in many genera furnished with a discal stigma on the fore wing. When in a state of rest the majority of the species elevate their fore wings and depress their hind wings, an attitude which is peculiar to the insects of this group. Genus AMBLYSCIRTES, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ are short, with a moderately thick club, crooked at the end; the third joint of the palpi is bluntly Egg.—Hemispherical. Caterpillar.—Not differing materially in its characteristics from the caterpillars of other hesperid genera. Chrysalis.—Somewhat slender, with the dorsal and ventral outlines straighter than in any of the preceding genera, and the dorsum very slightly elevated in the region of the thoracic segments. (1) Amblyscirtes vialis, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 5, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 40, chrysalis (The Roadside Skipper). Butterfly.—This little species, an exceptionally bright example of which is represented in the plate, may be known by the dark color of the upper surface, almost uniformly brown, with a few subapical light spots at the costa. In the specimen that is figured these light spots are continued across the wing as a curved band, but this is not usual. The wings on the under side in both sexes are very much as on the upper side, save that both wings on the outer third are lightly laved with gray. Expanse, 1.00 inch. Early Stages.—These have been described with minute accuracy by Dr. Scudder. The Roadside Skipper ranges from Montreal to Florida, and westward as far as Nevada and Texas. It is not a common species in the valley of the Mississippi; it seems to be far more common in southern New England and in Colorado. At all events, I have obtained more specimens from these localities than from any others. (2) Amblyscirtes samoset, Scudder, Plate XLVII, Fig. 6, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 45, chrysalis (Pepper-and-salt Skipper). Butterfly.—This little species on the upper side has the ground-color as in the preceding species; the fringes on both wings are pale gray. There are three small subapical spots on the fore wing, three somewhat larger spots, one on either side of the second median nervule and the third near the inner margin, and two very minute spots at the end of the cell. On the under side the wings are pale gray, the white spots of the upper side Early Stages.—The caterpillar apparently feeds upon grasses. We know as yet very little of the life-history of the insect. It is found in Maine, New Hampshire, along the summits of the Appalachian mountain-ranges as far south as West Virginia, and is reported to be common in Wisconsin and Michigan. (3) Amblyscirtes Ænus, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 7, ? (The Bronze Skipper). Butterfly.—This obscure little species has the upper side of the wings somewhat tawny. The markings, which are similar to those in A. samoset, are not white, but yellow. The wings on the under side are darker than in samoset. The spots of the fore wing are the same, but the spots on the under side of the hind wing are different, and form a zigzag postmedian transverse band, with a single small spot at the end of the cell, and another of the same size beyond the middle of the costa. Expanse, 1.00-1.20 inch. Early Stages.—These are unknown. The species occurs in western Texas and Arizona. (4) Amblyscirtes simius, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 8, ? (Simius). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is correctly figured in the plate. The wings on the under side are quite pale; the spots of the fore wing reappear on the under side, and the fore wing is blackish at the base; the hind wing has the angle at the base broadly white, with a broad white blotch at the end of the cell, and a semicircular curved band of obscure spots traversing the middle of the wing. Expanse, ?, .90 inch; ?, 1.20 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The species was originally described from Colorado. (5) Amblyscirtes textor, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 16, ?, under side (The Woven-winged Skipper). Butterfly.—This little species, the under side of which is accurately delineated in the plate, needs no description to characterize it, as its peculiar markings serve at once to distinguish it from all other species. Expanse, 1.25-1.45 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. This little insect ranges from North Carolina southward to Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Genus PAMPHILA, Fabricius Butterfly.—The antennÆ are very short, less than half the length of the costa. The club is stout, elongate, and blunt at its extremity; the palpi are porrect, densely clothed with scales, concealing the third joint, which is minute, slender, and bluntly conical. The body is long, slender, and somewhat produced beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut. Egg.—Hemispherical, vertically ribbed, the interspaces uniformly marked with little pitted depressions. Caterpillar.—The body is cylindrical, slender, tapering forward and backward; the neck less strangulated than in many of the genera. The body is somewhat hairy; the spiracles on the sides open from minute subconical elevations. Chrysalis.—Not materially differing in outline and structure from the chrysalids of other genera which have already been described. Only a single species belonging to the genus is found in North America. (1) Pamphila mandan, Edwards, Plate XLXII, Fig. 1, ? (The Arctic Skipper). Butterfly.—No description of this interesting little insect is necessary, as the figure in the plate will enable the student at once to distinguish it. It is wholly unlike any other species. Expanse, 1.10 inch. Early Stages.—These have been described by Dr. Scudder and Mr. Fletcher. The caterpillar feeds on grasses. The insect ranges from southern Labrador as far south as the White Mountains and the Adirondacks, thence westward, following a line north of the Great Lakes to Vancouver's Island and Alaska. It ranges southward along the summits of the Western Cordilleras as far as northern California. Genus OARISMA, Scudder Butterfly.—Closely related to the preceding genus. The antennÆ are very short; the club is long, cylindrical, bluntly rounded at the apex, not curved. The palpi are stout, the apical joint very slender, elongated, and porrect. The head is broad; the body is long and slender, projecting somewhat beyond the posterior margin of the secondaries. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut. Early Stages.—So far as known to me the life-history of no butterfly of this genus has yet been ascertained. (1) Oarisma garita, Reakirt, Plate XLVII, Fig. 3, ? (Garita). Butterfly.—This obscure little insect is light fulvous on the upper side, with the costa of the hind wing somewhat broadly marked with leaden gray; on the under side the fore wings are brighter fulvous, with the inner margin laved with dark gray. The hind wings are paler fulvous, inclining to gray, with the inner margin brighter fulvous. Expanse, .75-1.00 inch. Early Stages.—We know little of these. The species is found in southern Colorado, ranging thence westward and southward to Arizona. (2) Oarisma powesheik, Parker, Plate XLVII, Fig. 4, ? (Powesheik). Butterfly.—This species may be distinguished from its ally garita by its larger size, the darker color of the upper side of the wings, and the red markings on the costa of the fore wings. On the under side the fore wings are black, edged on the costa and outer margin for a short distance below the apex with light fulvous. The hind wings are dusky, with the veins and nervules white, standing forth conspicuously upon the darker ground-color. Expanse, 1.00-1.25 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. Powesheik occurs in Wisconsin, and ranges thence westward to Nebraska, northward to Dakota, and southward as far as Colorado. EXCHANGES One of the best ways of adding to a collection is by the method known as exchanging. A collector in one part of the country may find species which are rare, or altogether unknown, in another part of the country. By a system of exchanges with other collectors he is able to supply the gaps which may exist in his collection. No one, however, cares to effect exchanges with collectors who are careless or slovenly in the preparation of their specimens, or inaccurate in naming them. A collector who contemplates making an exchange should, as the first step, prepare double lists, in one of which he gives the names and the number of specimens of either sex of the butterflies which he is able to offer in exchange; in the other he sets forth the things which he desires to obtain. The first list is said to be a list of "offerta"; the second is a list of "desiderata." As an illustration of the manner in which such lists may be conveniently arranged, I give the following:
The collector who receives these lists of offerta and desiderata will be able to decide what his correspondent has which he desires, and what there may be in his own collection which the correspondent wishes that he can offer in exchange; and the process of exchange is thus immediately facilitated. Persons who exchange insects with others should always be extremely careful as to the manner of packing the specimens, and the directions given in the introductory portion of this book should be very carefully followed. Too much care cannot be taken in preventing damage to specimens in transit. Genus ANCYLOXYPHA, Felder Butterfly.—Very small, the antennÆ very short, the club straight, bluntly pointed. The palpi have the third joint long, Egg.—Hemispherical, marked with lozenge-shaped cells; yellow when laid, later marked with orange-red patches. Caterpillar.—The entire life-history has not yet been ascertained. The caterpillars live upon marsh grasses; they construct for themselves a nest by drawing together the edges of a blade of grass with bands of silk. In form they do not differ from other hesperid larvÆ. Chrysalis.—Not as yet accurately known. (1) Ancyloxypha numitor, Fabricius, Plate XLVII, Fig. 2, ? (Numitor). Butterfly.—The upper side is correctly delineated in the plate. On the under side the fore wings are black, margined on the costa and on the outer margin with reddish-fulvous. The hind wings are pale fulvous. Expanse, .75-.95 inch. Early Stages.—What has been said in reference to these in connection with the description of the genus must suffice for the species. This pretty little insect is widely distributed, and abounds among grasses about watercourses. It ranges from the province of Quebec to eastern Florida, thence westward across the Mississippi Valley as far as the Rocky Mountains. Genus COPÆODES, Speyer Butterfly.—The antennÆ are very short; the club is thick, straight, rounded at the tip; the palpi are as in the preceding genus. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut. The abdomen is slender, extending beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The male is provided in most species with a linear stigma. Early Stages.—These have not as yet been described. (1) CopÆodes procris, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 9, ? (Procris). Butterfly.—The plate gives an excellent idea of the upper side of this diminutive species. On the under side the wings are col This pretty little butterfly is a Southern species, is found plentifully in Texas and Arizona, and occurs also very commonly in southern California. (2) CopÆodes wrighti, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 10, ? (Wright's Skipper). Butterfly.—This species may be easily distinguished from the preceding by the dark fringes of both the fore and the hind wing and by the different arrangement of the discal stigma on the fore wing. On the under side it is colored very much as procris. Expanse, .75-1.10 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The species is found in the Mohave Desert and southern California. (3) CopÆodes myrtis, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 11, ? (Myrtis). Butterfly.—This diminutive little species may be readily recognized by the plate. The fore wings are somewhat broadly margined with dusky at the apex and along the outer margin; the hind wings on the costa are broadly and on the outer edge narrowly margined with dusky. On the under side the fore wings are blackish at the base. Expanse, .75 inch. The only specimens of this butterfly that I have ever seen came from Arizona. The type is figured in the plate. Genus ERYNNIS, Schrank Butterfly.—The antennÆ are short, less than half the length of the costa; the club is robust, with a very minute terminal crook; the palpi have the third joint minute, suberect, and bluntly conical. There is a discal stigma on the fore wing of the male. Egg.—Somewhat spherical. Caterpillar.—Feeds upon grasses, and is stouter in form than Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is elongated, cylindrical. Our knowledge of this stage is not very accurate as yet. (1) Erynnis manitoba, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 2, ?; Fig. 3, ? (The Canadian Skipper). Butterfly, ?.—The upper side of the wings is depicted in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, the fore wings fulvous on the cell, pale gray at the apex and on the outer margin. There is a black shade at the base of the primaries, and a black streak corresponding in location to the discal stigma on the upper side. The hind wings are pale ferruginous, except a broad streak along the inner margin, which is whitish. All the light spots of the upper side of both wings reappear on the under side, but are more distinctly defined, and are pearly-white in color. ?.—The female, on the under side of the fore wing, has the black discal streak replaced by a broad ferruginous shade. The hind wings are darker, and the light spots stand forth more conspicuously upon the darker ground. Expanse, ?, 1.25 inch; ?, 1.30 inch. Early Stages.—These remain to be ascertained. The Canadian Skipper is found across the entire continent north of a line roughly approximating the boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada. Along the Western Cordilleras it descends into the United States, as far south as Colorado and northern California. (2) Erynnis morrisoni, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 26, ?; Fig. 27, ? (Morrison's Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings in both sexes is sufficiently well delineated in the plate to obviate the necessity for description. On the under side the fore wings are pale fulvous, black at the base and ferruginous at the tip, the ferruginous shade interrupted by the subapical pale spots, which on this side of the wing are pearly-white. The hind wings are deep ferruginous, obscured on the inner margin by long pale-brown hairs. From the base to the end of the cell there is a broad silvery-white Early Stages.—Unknown. The species ranges from southern Colorado to Arizona. (3) Erynnis sassacus, Harris, Plate XLVI, Fig. 13, ? (The Indian Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is as shown in the plate. The female is larger, the fulvous ground-color paler, the outer marginal shades darker, and the discal stigma is replaced by a dark-brown shade. On the under side in both sexes the wings are pale fulvous, with the spots of the upper side feebly reproduced as faint lighter spots. The fore wings in both sexes are black at the base. Expanse, ?, 1.10-1.25 inch; ?, 1.25-1.35 inch. Early Stages.—The caterpillar, which is plumper than most hesperid larvÆ, feeds on grasses. The insect ranges from New England to Georgia, and westward to Colorado. (4) Erynnis ottoË, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 11, ?; Fig. 12, ? (OttoË). Butterfly.—Considerably larger than the preceding species. The wings of the male on the upper side are pale fulvous, narrowly bordered with black. The discal stigma is dark and prominent. The female has the wings on the upper side more broadly but more faintly margined with dusky. The wings of both sexes on the under side are uniformly pale fulvous or buff, marked with dark brown or blackish at the base of the fore wings. Expanse, ?, 1.35 inch; ?, 1.45-1.50 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The habitat of this species is Kansas and Nebraska. (5) Erynnis metea, Scudder, Plate XLVII, Fig. 33, ?; Fig. 34, ? (The Cobweb Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings is fairly well represented in the plate, the male being a little too red, and the wings at the base and the discal stigma not being dark enough. On the under side the wings are brown, darker than on the upper side. The pale markings of the upper side are all repeated below as distinct pearly-white spots, and in addition on the hind wings near the base there is a curved band of similar white spots. Expanse, ?, 1.20 inch; ?, 1.25-1.30 inch. Early Stages.—We know as yet but little of these. The species occurs in New England, New York, and westward to Wisconsin. (6) Erynnis uncas, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 27, ?; Fig. 28, ? (Uncas). Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings of both sexes is well represented in the plate. On the under side in both sexes the wings are beautifully marked with conspicuous pearly-white spots on a greenish-gray ground. The spots are defined inwardly and outwardly by dark olive shades and spots. Expanse, ?, 1.30 inch; ?, 1.55 inch. Early Stages.—We know nothing of these. The insect ranges from Pennsylvania to Colorado and Montana. (7) Erynnis attalus, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 23, ? (Attalus). Butterfly.—The male is fairly well depicted in the plate, but the light spots are too red. The female is larger and darker. On the under side the wings are dusky, with the light spots reproduced in faint gray. Expanse, ?, 1.25 inch; ?, 1.45 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The species occurs very rarely in New England, is found from New Jersey to Florida and Texas, and ranges westward to Wisconsin and Iowa. (8) Erynnis sylvanoides, Boisduval, Plate XLVII, Fig. 44, ? (The Woodland Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is well shown in the plate. The female on the upper side has less fulvous, the wings being prevalently fuscous, and the red color reduced to a spot at the end of the cell. There is a median band of fulvous spots on both wings. On the under side in both sexes the wings are quite pale gray, with the costa near the base and the cell of the primaries reddish. The primaries at the base near the inner margin are black. The spots of the upper side reappear, but are pale and faint. Expanse, 1.25-1.35 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The species ranges along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California, and eastward to Colorado. (9) Erynnis leonardus, Harris, Plate XLVII, Fig. 35, ?; Fig. 36, ? (Leonard's Skipper). Butterfly.—Stouter and larger than the preceding species, and Early Stages.—These are only imperfectly known. The caterpillar feeds on grasses. The butterfly, which haunts flowers and may easily be captured upon them, ranges from New England and Ontario southward to Florida, and westward to Iowa and Kansas. (10) Erynnis snowi, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 29, ?; Fig. 30, ? (Snow's Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings of both sexes is well represented in the plate. On the under side the wings are uniformly reddish-brown, with the primaries black at the base, and the median spots enlarged near the inner margin and whitish, as in the preceding species. The light spots of the upper side reappear below as pale spots, which are well defined on the dark ground-color. Expanse, 1.25-1.40 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The species ranges from southern Colorado to Arizona. Genus THYMELICUS, HÜbner Butterfly.—The antennÆ are short, less than half the length of the costa; the club is stout and short, somewhat crooked just at the end. The third joint of the palpi is conical, almost concealed in the thick vestiture of the second joint. The neuration is given in the cut. Egg.—The egg is hemispherical, with the surface marked by irregular angular cells formed by slightly raised lines. Caterpillar.—The caterpillars feed on grasses. They are long and slender, thicker behind than before, covered with short hair. They are generally dark in color, and not green as are the caterpillars in most of the hesperid genera. Chrysalis.—I can discover no account of any observations (1) Thymelicus brettus, Boisduval and Leconte, Plate XLVII, Fig. 40, ?; Fig. 41, ? (The Whirlabout). Butterfly.—The male on the upper side resembles Hylephila phylÆus, but may be distinguished by the broader and darker spots on the under side of the wings. The costal and outer margins of the secondaries are also generally more broadly bordered with fuscous than in phylÆus, a fact not shown in the specimen figured in the plate. The female is quite different from the female of phylÆus, as will be seen by a comparison of the figures of the two sexes. Expanse, ?, 1.15 inch; ?, 1.25 inch. Early Stages.—These are only partially known. The caterpillar feeds on grasses. The insect is very rare in the North, a few specimens having been taken in New England and Wisconsin. It is found commonly in the Carolinas, and thence southward to the Gulf, and is abundant in the Antilles, Mexico, and Central America. (2) Thymelicus Ætna, Boisduval, Plate XLVI, Fig. 28, ?; Fig. 29, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 42, chrysalis (The Volcanic Skipper). Butterfly.—Both sexes are well represented on the upper side in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, with the light spots of the upper side repeated. Expanse, ?, 1.00 inch; ?, 1.25 inch. Early Stages.—What we know of these is well stated in the pages of Dr. Scudder's great work. The caterpillar usually feeds on grasses. The species ranges from New England, Ontario, and Wisconsin on the north to the Gulf, and as far west as Iowa and Texas. (3) Thymelicus mystic, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 22, ?; Fig. 23, ? (The Long-dash). Butterfly.—No description of the upper side is needed, the figures in the plate being sufficient to enable identification. On the under side the primaries are fulvous on the costa at the base. The remainder of the primaries and the secondaries are dark ferruginous, with the light spots of the upper side all repeated Early Stages.—These have been elaborately described by Scudder. The caterpillar feeds on grasses, making a tubular nest for itself among the leaves. The insect ranges through southern Canada and New England to Pennsylvania, and westward to Wisconsin. Genus ATALOPEDES, Scudder Butterfly.—AntennÆ short, less than half the length of the costa; club short, stout, crooked just at the end; the palpi as in the preceding genus. The cut shows the neuration. The only mark of distinction between this genus and the two genera that follow is found in the shape of the discal stigma on the wing of the male, which is described as follows by Dr. Scudder: "Discal stigma in male consisting of, first, a longitudinal streak at base of middle median interspace, of shining black, recurved rods; second, of a semilunar field of dead-black erect rods in the lowest median interspace, overhung above by long, curving scales; followed below by a short, small striga of shining black scales, and outside by a large field of erect, loosely compacted scales." Egg.—Hemispherical, covered with a network of delicate raised lines describing small polygons over the surface; minutely punctate. Caterpillar.—Cylindrical, tapering backward and forward; head large; the neck less constricted than in the genus Eudamus or in the genus Thanaos; dark in color. Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is slender, cylindrical, a little humped upon the thorax, with the tongue-sheath free and projecting to the end of the fifth abdominal segment. (1) Atalopedes huron, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 4, ?; Fig. 5, ?; Plate VI, Figs. 43, 47, chrysalis (The Sachem). Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings in both sexes is well Early Stages.—These are described in full with painstaking accuracy by Scudder in "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on grasses. The species ranges from southern New York to Florida, thence westward and southward into Mexico. Genus POLITES, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ and the palpi are as in the preceding genus; the neuration of the wings is also very much the same. This is another genus founded by Dr. Scudder upon the shape of the discal stigma in the wing of the male. His description of this feature is as follows: "Discal stigma of male consisting of an interrupted, gently arcuate or sinuate streak of dead-black retrorse scales or rods, edged below, especially in the middle, by a border of similar, but dust-colored, erect rods, and followed beneath by an inconspicuous large area of loosely compacted, erect, dusky scales." Egg.—Approximately hemispherical, the height, however, being greater than in the egg of the preceding genus; reticulated, the lines forming hexagonal figures upon the surface. Caterpillar, etc.—Of the stages beyond the egg we know as yet comparatively little. The caterpillar feeds on grasses. (1) Polites peckius, Kirby, Plate XLVII, Fig. 24, ?; Fig. 25, ? (Peck's Skipper). Butterfly.—This little species, the upper side of which in both sexes is correctly shown in the plate, has the under side of the wings dark brown, with the light spots of the upper side greatly enlarged, especially upon the disks of the wings, fused, and pale yellow, thus contrasting strongly with the rest of the wings. Expanse, ?, 1.00 inch; ?, 1.25 inch. Early Stages.—These are not thoroughly known as yet. The larva feeds on grasses. Peck's Skipper ranges from Canada southward to Virginia, and west to Kansas and Iowa. (2) Polites mardon, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 26, ? (The Oregon Skipper). Butterfly.—On the under side the wings are pale gray, with the light spots of the primaries and a curved median band of spots on the secondaries whitish. Expanse, ?, 1.10 inch; ?, 1.20 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The only specimens I have, including the types, were taken in Oregon and Washington. (3) Polites sabuleti, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 42, ?; Fig. 43, ? (The Sand-hill Skipper). Butterfly.—Small, the male on the upper side looking like a diminutive and darkly bordered phylÆus. On the under side the wings are paler than on the upper side; the still paler spots of the discal areas are defined outwardly and inwardly by elongated dark spots. Expanse, 1.00-1.10 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The habitat of this species is California. Genus HYLEPHILA, Billberg Butterfly.—The antennÆ are very short, scarcely one third the length of the costa of the fore wing; the club is robust and short, with a very minute crook at the end; the palpi are as in the two preceding genera. The neuration of the wings is represented in the cut. Early Stages.—As yet but partially known. The larva feeds on grasses, and the mature form has been figured by Abbot, a copy of whose drawing is given by Dr. Scudder in Plate 77 of "The Butterflies of New England." (1) Hylephila phylÆus, Drury, Plate XLVI, Fig. 18, ?; Fig. 19, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 39, chrysalis (The Fiery Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side is correctly shown in the plate. On the under side the wings are pale yellow, with a few small, round spots on the margin and disk of the hind wings, a black patch at the base, large black marginal spots, and a central, interrupted, longitudinal black streak on the disk of the primaries. Expanse, 1.15-1.25 inch. The insect ranges from Connecticut to Patagonia, over all the most habitable parts of the New World. I have taken it frequently in southern Indiana, where I often have collected in recent years. Genus PRENES, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ are short, not half the length of the costa. The head is broad, and the antennÆ are inserted widely apart. The club is moderate, terminating in a fine point which is bent back at right angles, forming a distinct crook. The abdomen is long and slender, but does not project beyond the hind margin of the secondaries. The fore wings are pointed at the apex and are relatively longer and narrower than in the preceding genus. The neuration is illustrated in the cut. Early Stages.—These have not yet been studied. (1) Prenes ocola, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 34, ? (The Ocola Skipper). Butterfly.—Accurately depicted in the plate. The under side is like the upper side, but a shade paler. The under side of the abdomen is whitish. Expanse, 1.45-1.60 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. This is a Southern species, found commonly in the Gulf States, and ranging northward to Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, and Indiana. Genus CALPODES, Butterfly.—Rather large, stout; head broad; antennÆ as in the preceding genus, but stouter. The neuration, considerably enlarged, is accurately delineated in the cut. Egg.—Hemispherical, ornamented with irregular, more or less pentagonal cells. Caterpillar.—Cylindrical, slender, tapering forward and backward from the ninth segment, rapidly diminishing in size posteriorly; the head relatively small, the neck not much strangulated; spiracles surrounded by radiating blackish bristles. Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is relatively slender, gently convex both on the ventral and dorsal aspects, with a curved delicate frontal tubercle. The tongue-case is long and projects for a considerable distance beyond the somewhat short cremaster. (1) Calpodes ethlius, Cramer, Plate XLV, Fig. 3, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 48, chrysalis (The Brazilian Skipper). Butterfly.—There can be no mistaking this robust and thick-bodied species. The wings on the under side are dull olive, blackish at the base of the primaries, with all the spots of the upper side repeated. Expanse, 2.00-2.15 inches. Early Stages.—The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the canna. It is common in the Gulf States, and ranges north to South Carolina. A stray specimen was once taken at West Farms, New York. Southward it ranges everywhere through the Antilles to Argentina, in South America. Genus LERODEA, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ are about half as long as the costa; the club is robust, slightly elongated, with a distinct crook at the extremity; the palpi have the third joint erect, minute, and bluntly conical. The neuration is represented in the cut. Early Stages.—These are not known. (1) Lerodea eufala, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 33, ? (Eufala). Butterfly.—The plate shows the upper side of the female. The male is not different, except that the fore wings are a little more pointed at the apex. The under side is like the upper side, but a shade paler. The lower side of the abdomen is whitish. When seen on the wing the creature looks like a small Prenes ocola. Expanse, 1.10-1.20 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. This butterfly is found in the Gulf States. Genus LIMOCHORES, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ are about half as long as the costa; the club is robust, elongate, with a very short terminal crook; the palpi have the third joint erect, short, bluntly conical. The male has a linear discal stigma on the upper side of the fore wing, as shown in the cut. Egg.—Hemispherical, somewhat flattened on the top, the surface broken up by delicate raised lines into pentagonal cells. Caterpillar.—Largest on the fourth and fifth abdominal segments, tapering to either end. The larvÆ feed on grasses, and construct a tube-like nest of delicate films of silk between the blades. Chrysalis.—Comparatively slender, strongly convex on the thoracic segments and on the dorsal side of the last segments of the abdomen. On the ventral side the chrysalis is nearly straight. The cremaster, which is short, is bent upward at an oblique angle with the line of the ventral surface. (1) Limochores taumas, Fabricius, Plate XLVII, Fig. 20, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 44, chrysalis (The Fawny-edged Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is excellently portrayed in the plate. The female is without the tawny edge on the fore wing, the entire wing being olivaceous, with three small subapical spots and a median row of four spots beyond the end of the cell, increasing in size toward the inner margin. On the under side in both sexes the wings are uniformly dull olivaceous, with the spots of the upper side repeated. The costa of the male is edged with red on this side, as well as on the upper side. Expanse, ?, 1.00 inch; ?, 1.20 inch. Early Stages.—The reader who wishes to know about them may consult the pages of "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on grasses. The insect ranges from Canada to the Gulf, and westward to Texas, Colorado, and Montana. (2) Limochores manataaqua, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 30, ? (The Cross-line Skipper). Butterfly.—The male on the upper side is dusky-olive, with a black discal streak below the cell, which is slightly touched with Early Stages.—These have been described by Scudder. The insect occurs in New England and Canada, and ranges westward to Nebraska. (3) Limochores pontiac, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 16, ?; Fig. 17, ? (Pontiac). Butterfly.—This fine insect is so well represented in the plate as to require but little description. The wings are pale red, clouded with dusky on the under side, the spots of the upper side being indistinctly repeated. Expanse, ?, 1.15 inch; ?, 1.25 inch. Early Stages.—Little is known of these. The insect ranges from Massachusetts to Iowa and Nebraska, and seems to have its metropolis about the southern end of Lake Michigan. (4) Limochores palatka, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 21, ? (The Palatka Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male needs no description. The female closely resembles the female of L. byssus, which is shown in the plate at Fig. 20, but differs from the female of that species in having the median spots on the primaries much reduced in size, the band of spots being greatly interrupted beyond the end of the cell. On the hind wing the female has the entire surface of the secondaries inside of the broad outer band fulvous, as shown in the figure of the male, and not simply marked by a transverse narrow band of spots. On the under side the fore wings are bright fulvous, clouded with black at the base and near the outer angle. The hind wings are uniformly dull reddish-brown. This species has been identified by Dr. Scudder with a species named dion by Edwards, but which is a very different thing. Expanse, ?, 1.50-1.65 inch; ?, 1.90-2.00 inches. Early Stages.—We know nothing of these. The insect is confined to Florida, all the specimens which I have seen coming from the region of the Indian River. (5) Limochores byssus, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 20, ? (Byssus). Butterfly.—Allied to the preceding species. The discal stigma of the male upon the fore wings is much longer than in L. palatka. The outer margin of the secondaries is not as sharply defined as in that species, but shades insensibly into the lighter greenish-fulvous of the basal part of the wing. The female on the upper side is distinguished from the female of the preceding species by the restriction of the discal band of spots on the hind wing to a few small light-colored spaces beyond the end of the cell, and by the regular continuation of the band of yellow spots across the primaries from the subapical spots to the submedian nervule near the middle of the inner margin. On the under side the primaries and the secondaries are very bright, clear orange-red, with the base and inner margin of the primaries brightly laved with blackish. The median series of spots in the male are very faintly indicated on the fore wings, but are more strongly indicated on those of the female. Expanse, ?, 1.45 inch; ?, 1.65 inch. Early Stages.—We know little of these. The insect is found in Florida. (6) Limochores yehl, Skinner, Plate XLVI, Fig. 40, ? (Skinner's Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is shown in the plate. On the under side the wings are lighter, the secondaries uniformly pale cinnamon-brown, marked with a semicircle of four yellowish round spots, with a small spot on the cell toward the base. Expanse, 1.25-1.35 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The species has been taken in Florida, and is as yet not common in collections. The figure is that of the type. Genus EUPHYES, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ have the club stout, elongate, furnished with a short crook at the end; the palpi are densely scaled; the third joint is slender, bluntly conical, projecting beyond the vestiture of the second joint. The neuration is shown in the cut. Egg.—Hemispherical. Caterpillar.—The head small, body cylindrical, tapering for Chrysalis.—Thus far undescribed. (1) Euphyes verna, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 32, ? (The Little Glass-wing). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is correctly delineated in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, inclining to purplish-red. The spots of the upper side are repeated, but in addition about the middle of the hind wings there is a semicircle of pale spots. Expanse, ?, 1.15 inch; ?, 1.35 inch. Early Stages.—We do not know much of these; what little we do know may be found recorded in the pages of "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on grasses. It ranges from southern New England to Virginia, westward to Kansas, and northward to the province of Alberta. It is quite common in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. (2) Euphyes metacomet, Harris, Plate XLVI, Fig. 31, ? (The Dun Skipper). Butterfly.—The male is dark in color on the upper side, and on the under side the wings are a shade lighter, the lower side of the abdomen being generally paler. The female has some faint traces of translucent apical spots near the costa, and two minute translucent spots on either side of the second median nervule near its origin. On the under side the spots of the upper side reappear. There is a faint trace of a semicircle of pale spots about the middle of the hind wing. The female specimens vary on the under side from pale brown to a distinctly purplish-brown. Expanse, ?, 1.15 inch; ?, 1.30 inch. Early stages.—Next to nothing is known of these. It ranges from Quebec to the Carolinas, and westward to Texas, New Mexico, and the British possessions east of the Rocky Mountains, as far north as the latitude of the northern shores of Lake Superior. Genus OLIGORIA, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ are as in the preceding genus; the palpi have the third joint minute and almost entirely concealed in the thick vestiture of the second joint. The neuration is represented in the cut. Early Stages.—We know very little of these, and there is here a field for investigation. (1) Oligoria maculata, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 35, ? (The Twin-spot). Butterfly.—The upper side of the male is as shown in the plate. The female closely resembles the male, but the spots on the fore wing are larger. On the under side the wings are brown, almost as dark as on the upper side. The primaries are whitish near the outer angle. The spots of the upper side of the primaries are reproduced on the lower side. The hind wings have three conspicuous pearly-white spots about the middle, two located one on either side of the second median nervule, and one removed from these, located between the upper radial and the subcostal nervule. Expanse, ?, 1.40 inch; ?, 1.50 inch. Early Stages.—But little is known of these. This is a Southern species, found abundantly in Florida, and ranging northward into Georgia and the Carolinas. A specimen is reported to have been taken near Albany, New York, and diligent collecting may show that it has a far more northern range than has heretofore been supposed. Genus POANES, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ are short; the club is stout, bent, acuminate at the tip. The third joint of the palpi is slender, cylindrical, short. The neuration of the genus is shown in the cut. Early Stages.—Nothing is known of these, and they await investigation. (1) Poanes massasoit, Scudder, Plate XLVII, Fig. 21, ?; Fig. 22, ? (The Mulberry-wing). Butterfly.—The upper side of the wings in both sexes is correctly shown in the plate. On the under side the fore wings are black, with the costa and the outer margin bordered with reddish, with three small subapical light spots and two or three median spots. On the under side the hind wings are bright yellow, bordered on the costa and on the outer margin for part of their distance with reddish-brown. The female on the under side is more obscurely marked than the male, and the hind wings are more or less gray in many specimens, lacking the bright yellow which appears upon the wings of the male. There is considerable variation on the under side of the wings. Expanse, ?, 1.15 inch; ?, 1.20 inch. Early Stages.—Not known. The species ranges from New England westward as far as Nebraska, and its range does not appear to extend south of Pennsylvania, though it has been reported from Colorado, and even from northern Texas, in the West. Genus PHYCANASSA, Scudder Butterfly.—AntennÆ short; club straight, with a small crook at the end. The palpi are as in the preceding genus, but a trifle longer. The neuration is shown in the cut, and is very much like that of the preceding genus. Early Stages.—These are wholly unknown. (1) Phycanassa viator, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 14, ?; Fig. 15, ? (The Broad-winged Skipper). Butterfly.—Accurately delineated in the plate. On the under side the wings are as on the upper side, but paler, and the secondaries are traversed from the base to the middle of the outer margin by a pale light-colored longitudinal ray, which is more or less obscured in some specimens, especially of the female. The light spots of the upper side appear indistinctly on the under side. Expanse, ?, 1.45 inch; ?, 1.60 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. It is not uncommon in the Gulf States, and has been found as far north as New Jersey, northern Illinois, and Wisconsin. (2) Phycanassa howardi, Skinner, Plate XLVI, Fig. 38, ? (Howard's Skipper). Butterfly.—The figure in the plate gives the upper side of the male, in which the discal streak is composed of light-colored scales of the same tint as the rest of the wing, in this respect resembling the allied P. aaroni. The under side of the wings is described by Dr. Skinner as follows: "Superiors with tawny central area and border same as upper side. There is a large triangular spot extending into the wing from the base. The tawny color above this spot is of a darker hue than that below and outside of it. Inferiors very light brown, generally with four or five very faint tawny spots in the central area." Expanse, ?, 1.50 inch; ?, 1.60 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The home of this species is Florida. (3) Phycanassa aaroni, Skinner, Plate XLVI, Fig. 37, ? (Aaron's Skipper). Butterfly.—This small species, the male of which is figured in the plate, may be easily recognized from the figure there given. On the under side the fore wings are black at the base; the middle area of the wing is tawny, paler than on the upper side, and bordered as above, but the border below is cinnamon-brown and not fuscous. The hind wings on the under side are uniformly light cinnamon-brown, without any spots. The female is like the male, but larger, the colors somewhat lighter and the markings not so well defined. Expanse, ?, 1.00 inch; ?, 1.25 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The specimens thus far contained in collections have all been taken about Cape May, in New Jersey, in the salt-marshes. Genus ATRYTONE, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ have a stout club, somewhat elongate, and furnished with a short crook at the end. The palpi are very much as in the preceding genus. The neuration is shown in the cut. There is no discal stigma on the fore wing of the male. Egg.—The egg is hemispherical, somewhat broadly flattened at the apex, covered with small cells, the inner surface of which is marked with minute punctulations. Caterpillar.—The caterpillar feeds upon common grasses, making a loose nest of silk for itself at the point where the leaf joins the stem. The head is small; the body is cylindrical, thick, tapering abruptly at either end. Chrysalis.—Covered with delicate hair; the tongue-case free. (1) Atrytone vitellius, Smith and Abbot, Plate XLVI, Fig. 6, ? (The Iowa Skipper). Butterfly.—The male on the upper side is as shown in the plate. The female on the upper side has the hind wings almost entirely fuscous, very slightly yellowish about the middle of the disk. The fore wings have the inner and outer margins more broadly bordered with fuscous than the male, and through the middle of the cell there runs a dark ray. On the under side the wings are bright pale yellow, with the inner margin of the primaries clouded with brown. Expanse, ?, 1.25 inch; ?, 1.45 inch. Early Stages.—Very little is known of these. The species ranges through the Gulf States, and northward in the valley of the Mississippi as far as Nebraska and Iowa. It seems to be quite common in Nebraska, and probably has a wider distribution than is reported. (2) Atrytone zabulon, Boisduval and Leconte, Plate XLVII, Fig. 37, ?; Fig. 38, ? (The Hobomok Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side of both sexes is shown in the plate. The color on the disk of the wings is, however, a little too red. On the under side the wings are bright yellow, with the bases and the outer margin bordered with dark brown. Expanse, ?, 1.25 inch; ?, 1.50 inch. Early Stages.—The caterpillar feeds upon grasses. The life-history has been described with minute accuracy by Dr. Scudder. The species ranges from New England to Georgia, and westward to the Great Plains. It is very common in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the valley of the Ohio. Dimorphic var. pocahontas, Scudder, Plate XLVII, Fig. 39, ?. This is a melanic, or black, female variety of zabulon, which is (3) Atrytone taxiles, Edwards, Plate XLVII, Fig. 31, ?; Fig. 32, ? (Taxiles). Butterfly.—The fore wings on the under side of the male are bright yellow, black at the base, slightly clouded on the outer margin with pale brown. The hind wings on the under side in this sex are still paler yellow, margined externally with pale brown, and crossed near the base and on the disk by irregular bands of pale brown. In the female sex the fore wings on the under side are fulvous, marked much as in the male, but darker, especially toward the apex, where the subapical spots and two small pale spots beyond the end of the cell near the outer margin interrupt the brown color. The hind wings on the under side are pale ferruginous, crossed by bands of lighter spots, and mottled with darker brown. Expanse, ?, 1.45 inch; ?, 1.50 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The range of this species is from Colorado and Nevada to Arizona. (4) Atrytone delaware, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 24, ?; Fig. 25, ? (The Delaware Skipper). Butterfly.—No description of the upper side of the wings is necessary. On the under side the wings are bright orange-red, clouded with black at the base and on the outer angle of the fore wings. Expanse, ?, 1.25-1.35 inch; ?, 1.35-1.50 inch. Early Stages.—Very little is known of these. The butterfly is found from southern New England and northern New York as far south as Florida and Texas, ranging west to the Yellowstone and southern Colorado. (5) Atrytone melane, Edwards, Plate XLVI, Fig. 7, ?; Fig. 8, ? (The Umber Skipper). Butterfly.—The male on the upper side somewhat resembles A. zabulon, var. pocahontas; the female likewise closely resembles specimens of this variety. The wings on the under side are ferruginous, clouded with blackish toward the base of the inner angle, the light spots of the upper side being repeated. The hind wings on the under side are reddish, with a broad irregular curved median band of pale-yellow spots. In the female the band of spots is far more obscure. Expanse, ?, 1.30 inch; ?, 1.50 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. The insect is found in southern California. Genus LEREMA, Scudder Butterfly.—The antennÆ are as in the preceding genus; the palpi have the third joint erect, short, conical. The neuration is represented in the cut. The male has a linear glandular streak on the upper side of the fore wing. Egg.—Hemispherical, covered with more or less regularly pentagonal cells. Caterpillar.—The caterpillar feeds upon grasses. The body is slender, tapering forward and backward; the head is small. Chrysalis.—The chrysalis is slender, smooth, with a tapering conical projection at the head, and the tongue-case long and free, reaching almost to the end of the abdomen. (1) Lerema accius, Smith and Abbot, Plate XLVIII, Fig. 8, ?; Plate VI, Fig. 46, chrysalis (Accius). Butterfly.—The male on the upper side is dark blackish-brown, with three small subapical spots, and one small spot below these, near the origin of the third median nervule. The female is exactly like the male, except that it has two spots, the larger one being placed below the small spot corresponding to the one on the fore wing of the male. The wings on the under side are dark fuscous, somewhat clouded with darker brown, the spots of the upper side reappearing on the under side. Expanse, ?, 1.40 inch; ?, 1.50 inch. Early Stages.—Very little has been written upon the early stages. The butterfly ranges from southern Connecticut to Florida, thence westward to Texas, and along the Gulf coast in Mexico. (2) Lerema hianna, Scudder, Plate XLVI, Fig. 9, ?; Fig. 10, ? (The Dusted Skipper). Butterfly.—The upper side is accurately represented in the plate. The wings on the lower side are as on the upper side, a trifle paler and somewhat grayer on the outer margin. Expanse, ?, 1.15 inch; ?, 1.25 inch. Early Stages.—Unknown. It ranges through southern New England, westward to Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska, in a comparatively narrow strip of country. (3) Lerema carolina, Skinner, Plate XLVI, Fig. 36, ? (The Carolina Skipper). Butterfly.—On the upper side the butterfly is as represented in the plate. The spots are repeated on the under side of the fore wing, but less distinctly defined. The costa is edged with brownish-yellow. The hind wings on the under side are yellow, spotted with small dark-brown dots. Expanse, ?, 1.00 inch. The female is unknown. Early Stages.—Wholly unknown. This species has thus far been found only in North Carolina, and is still extremely rare in collections. The figure in the plate represents the type. I have seen other specimens. I place it provisionally in the genus Lerema, though it undoubtedly does not belong here, and probably may represent a new genus. Lacking material for dissection, I content myself with this reference. Genus MEGATHYMUS, Riley This genus comprises butterflies having very stout bodies, broad wings, strongly clubbed antennÆ, very minute palpi. The caterpillars are wood-boring in their habits, living in the pith and underground roots of different species of Yucca. The life-history of the species represented in the cuts has been well described The genus Megathymus is referred by some writers to the CastniidÆ, a genus of day-flying moths, which seem to connect the moths with the butterflies; but the consideration of the anatomical structure of this insect makes such a reference impossible. The genus properly represents a subfamily of the HesperiidÆ, which might be named the MegathyminÆ. The species represented in our cuts is Megathymus yuccÆ, Boisduval and Leconte. There are a number of other species of Megathymus that are found in our Southern States, principally in Texas and Arizona. They are interesting insects, the life-history of which is, however, in many cases obscure, as yet. Conclusion We here bring to a conclusion our survey of the butterflies of North America. There are, in addition to the species that have been described and figured in the plates, about one hundred and twenty-five other species, principally HesperiidÆ, which have not been mentioned. The field of exploration has not by any means been exhausted, and there is no doubt that in the lapse of time a number of other species will be discovered to inhabit our faunal limits. The writer of these pages would deem it a great privilege to aid those who are interested in the subject in naming and identifying any material which they may not be able to name and identify by the help of this book. In laying down his pen, at the end of what has been to him a pleasurable task, he again renews the hope that what he has written may tend to stimulate a deeper and more intelligent interest in the wonders of creative wisdom, and takes occasion to remind the reader that it is true, as was said by Fabricius, that nature is most to be admired in those works which are least—"Natura maxime miranda in minimis." |
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