478 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



the tropics. Though shades of orange, brown, and even black are found amongst 

 them, the colors which preponderate are brilliant blue and green, of every shade, and 

 of the brightest metallic lustre, the under side being usually ornamented with one or 

 two delicate lines of pale color on a dark ground ; whence the name of " hair-streaks " 

 has been given by collectors to these butterflies. There is generally a blotch of some 

 bright color near the anal angle, which attains a more pronounced development on the 

 lower side of the wing. The insects are for the most part only moderate in size, the 

 largest scarcely exceeding two inches in expanse. Among the grandest of the group 

 are T. coronata, T. imperialis, and T. regalis, which are Brazilian species, and, as their 

 names imply, are the regnant beauties of the Theclan court. They are brilliant blue, 

 with dusky borders, the under side magnificently ornamented with red, orange, gold, 

 and lilac. At present they are rather scarce in collections. 



T. halesus is a fine species found in the southern states, extending also as far 

 west as California. It is of a deep metallic blue, with black shadings, and is marked 

 beneath with spots of green and gold. Other species allied to it, and probably 

 undescribed, are found in Mexico, one of which may prove to be T. juanita. T. 

 chrysalus is another beautiful form from southern Utah and Colorado, which had, 

 until about seven years since, eluded the vigilance of collectors. The color in this 

 species is bright violet purple, with orange patches. It is one of the most striking 

 insects of our fauna, appearing only to frequent mountainous districts. T. M- 

 album, of the gulf states, is bright mazarine blue, with black border, and a white 

 dash beneath in the form of the letter M, whence its name. The remainder of our 

 species are dull-colored insects, mostly brown, with orange and blue markings. T. 

 spinetoriim is of these most conspicuous for its rarity and beauty. The under side is 

 streaked with lines of orange, edged with white, on a purplish-brown ground. It has 

 only been taken on about six occasions in the mountains of California, chiefly in the 

 neighborhood of Shasta, its favorite plant being Arceuthobium campylopodium, a 



species of mistletoe growing upon pine trees. A few Thedas, 

 such as T. rubi, of Europe, T. affinis, of the Rocky Mountains, 

 and T. dumetorum, of California, are bright grass-green on the 

 lower side, so that when the insect is at rest, and its wings 

 vertically folded, it cannot be distinguished from the herbage 

 to which it clings. Others, again, like T. niphon and T. eri- 



FIG. 606. Thecla niphon. 



phon, both of our own fauna, have the lower side brownish, 

 mottled with darker shades, like a decaying leaf. 



Europe possesses several fine species, the brightest colored being T. quercus, in 

 which the wings are shaded with bright violet-purple. It is a common insect, being 

 found flying in oak woods, sometimes in great abundance. It is, however, difficult to 

 capture, as it rarely descends to the ground. Indeed, this peculiarity may be remarked 

 of nearly the whole of the species. T. W-album, T. betidce, and T. pruni are also 

 well known European forms. T. marsyas has the fore-wings very acute at the apex, 

 of a brilliant silvery blue, almost dazzling in the sunlight, while beneath the color is a 

 sober quaker-drab, with very slight ornamentation. This beautiful species is very 

 common, in one or other of its forms, from Mexico southward to Brazil. It flies mostly 

 in sandy places ; and in some districts it is frequent on the dunes of the sea-shore, 

 alighting on the low herbage which scantily covers them. As it then folds its wings, 

 hiding the blue surface, it is impossible to distinguish it, as the dull coloration of the 

 under side harmonizes exactly with its sandy resting-place. Africa produces but few 



