THE CRESCENTS. 



tubercles on their backs. B. montinus is interesting be- 

 cause it is found only on, or near, the summits of the White 

 Mountains; the underside of the hind wings is much darker 

 than in myrina and the silver spots are not so large or so 

 numerous. 



See Plate XXIX and discussion concern- 



Phyciodes Melitaa harrisi. The wings of the Silver 



nycteis 



Crescent are tawny-orange, lighter on the 



under side, and marked with black; the hind wing, below, 

 is largely silvery white; the usually imperfect "crescent" 

 is along the margin. The larva?, which feed on sunflowers 

 and other Compositas, are brownish-black with a rather 

 conspicuous orange stripe along each side; many rather 

 short, black, hairy spines. Although the larvae hibernate, 

 they do not seem to construct a shelter; probably they 

 crawl into a "ready-made." 



The variable Pearl Crescent has two 

 broods: those adults which come from 

 over-wintered larvae are (among other 

 differences) brighter and with more distinct light markings 

 on the under side (variety marcia, Plate XXIX) than those 

 which develop during the summer. By chilling the pupae 

 we can cause some of the summer brood to be marcia. 

 The larvae feed on asters and are black with yellow spots 

 above, yellow side-stripes, and yellowish spines. The 

 slightly angulated chrysalis has brownish creases on a 

 light ground-color, and, on the middle of the abdomen, 

 a slight transverse ridge. 



Phyciodes batesi differs from tharos by having heavier 

 black markings above and by the lack of conspicuous 

 dark markings on the lower side of the hind wings, these 

 being almost uniformly pale yellow. There are many 

 other species in the West. 



Melitaea 



The adult Baltimore (Plate XXIX) is 



found in swampy meadows during lune 

 phaeton . 111, 



and July. The wings are nearly black, 



marked with red and pale yellow. The larvae, which feed 

 chiefly on Scrophulariaceae, are dark orange, ringed with 

 black, and covered with short hairy spines. They hatch 



119 



