LEPIDOPTERA. 4O5 



wild gooseberry. This is a Canadian species ; but it is also 

 found in the mountains of New England and of New York, 

 and in the northern portions of the Western States, extend- 

 ing as far south as Iowa. 



The Hop-merchant, Polygonia comma (P. com'ma). 

 As in the preceding species, the silvery mark of the 

 hind wings is in the form of a C or a G (PI. VI, Fig. 3) : 

 but the general color of the lower surface of the hind wings 

 is very different, being marbled with light and dark brown ; 

 and the green spots so characteristic of faumis are repre- 

 sented here by a few liliaceous scales on a submarginal row 

 of black spots. 



Two forms of this species occur. In one, P. comma dryas, 

 the hind wings above are suffused with black on the outer 

 half, so that the submarginal row of fulvous spots is ob- 

 scured, and on the lower side the wings are more yellowish 

 than in the other form. The latter is known as P. comma 

 harrisii (P. c. har-ris'i-i). 



The larva feeds upon hop, elm, nettle, and false-nettle. 

 It is often abundant in hop-yards, and the chrysalids are 

 commonly known as hop-merchants, from a saying that the 

 golden or silvery color of the metallic spots on the back of 

 the chrysalis indicates whether the price of hops is to be 

 high or low. This species is found in Canada and the 

 northern part of the eastern half of the United States ; its 

 range extends south to North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, 

 and Indian Territory. 



The Gray Comma, Polygonia progne (P. prog'ne). 

 In its general appearance this butterfly closely resembles 

 P. comma, but it can be readily distinguished by the form 

 of t>ie silvery mark, which is L-shaped and tapers towards 

 ':he ends. 



The larva feeds on currant, wild gooseberry, and rarely 

 elm. This species occurs in Canada and in the northern por- 

 tion of the United States except in the extreme West. 



The Violet Tip, Polygonia interrogationis (P. in-ter- 



