MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



483 



believed to be a dimorphic form of the hitter species. L. misippus resembles greatly 

 in color the common milk-weed butterfly (Danais archippus), but it is of course very 

 different in structure both in the larval and imago stages. It is one of our most 

 abundant species. 



L. Camilla and L. Sibylla are European. They are brownish black, with Avhitc 

 markings, and are remarkable for their graceful flight. It is related by Mr. Haworth 

 that " there was an old aurelian of London so highly delighted at the inimitable flight 

 of Camilla that, long after he was unable to pursue her, he used to go to the woods 

 and sit down on a stile, for the sole purpose of feasting his eyes with her fascinating 

 evolutions." 



Adelpha, or Jfeterockroa, is a large genus containing nearly seventy species of 

 brownish butterflies, with white bands, and some spots of orange and black, the under 

 side being white with streaks and bands of orange of various shades. They are nearly 

 all Central and South American, and are by no means rare. One very fine species, 

 and perhaps the largest of the group, A. californica, is abundant in all parts of 

 California, where its larva feeds on oak. The butterfly is fond of alighting on 

 drainage or putrescent matter, and, when so settled, it may be easily captured ; 

 but, otherwise, it is a strong and wild insect, and darts away at the slightest cause 

 for alarm. 



Victorina has five species, all of which are large and showy insects, V. superba, 

 from Mexico and Central America, being particularly so. Ili/polimna holds a large 

 number of fine butterflies, in which the prevailing color is brilliant purple or blue, 

 with large whitish ocelli, or other marks. The best-known species is H. bolina, which 

 is remarkably variable, no less than fourteen separate forms having been described. 

 It is somewhat singular that this species, whose home appears to be India, should 

 have found its way to the West Indies and even to Florida. 



J3atesia is a genus of large insects, over four inches in expanse, the upper side of 

 the wings being brilliant steel-blue, with blackish markings ; the under side of the 



lower 



pair, 



o 



in one 



species, IB. 



prola, being wholly bright brick- 

 red. A lovely genus of more 

 subdued colors is Ageroma, these 

 butterflies being mostly of gray- 

 ish tints, mottled with black or 

 brown in streaks or squares. 

 They are common in the tropics 

 of America, are strong fliers, and 

 are remarkable for their habit of 

 sitting with the head directed 



o 



downward, and the wings out- 

 spread upon the trunks of trees, 

 as well as for a singular noise 

 which they make when upon the 

 wing. Mr. Darwin thus alludes 

 to one of the species: "I was much struck with the habits of Papilio (Ageronia) 

 feronia. This butterfly is not uncommon, and generally frequents the orange 

 groves. Although a high flier, it very frequently alights on the trunks of trees. 

 On these occasions its head is invariably placed downwards, and its wings are ex- 



FJG. t>os. JKatesia. 



