PURPLES AND THE VICEROY. 



the leaves of a variety of woody plants, especially willow 

 and wild cherry. When young, it is much given to eating 

 each side of the outer end of a leaf and using the midrib, 

 strengthened with silk, etc., as a perch on which to rest. 

 When about half grown, it rolls the uneaten portion 

 together, lines it and fastens it to the twig with silk, and 

 passes the winter in this snug retreat. Scudder describes 

 the chrysalis as "grotesquely variegated with patches and 

 streaks of pale salmon, dark olivaceous, inky plumbeous, 

 and yellow-brown, the lighter tints prevailing." The name 

 Limenitis is often used instead of Basilarchia and this 

 species is sometimes called Ursula. There are apparent 

 intergrades between this and the following species. 



Basilarchia 



Plate XXVII gives a sufficient descrip- 

 tion of the upper side of the Banded Purple; 

 the under side is dark brown with similar 

 markings and some orange spots in addition. The larva 

 feeds on birch, willow, poplar, etc.; it is somewhat like 

 astyanax (but has a saddle of pale buff) and has similar 

 habits. Like some other young butterflies, it loosely 

 fastens a small ball of leaf-scraps near its feeding place; 

 this is supposed to distract an enemy's attention from it- 

 self. This Canadian species reaches into northern United 

 States in the high altitudes. 



Plate XXVII shows the Viceroy, which is 

 Basilarchia also ca n e d disippus, in three of its stages. 



Anosia plexippus is believed to have a 

 taste which birds do not like and, as that species has a 

 very striking appearance, any species which resembles it 

 would be likely to be unmolested by them. B. archippus 

 is said to "mimic" A. plexippus for the sake of this pro- 

 tection but that implies more than we know, all of which 

 is that the two look marvelously alike and that archippus 

 has departed widely from the appearance of its relatives. 

 Plate XXVII was arranged to illustrate vividly this case 

 of "mimicry," arthemis being taken as 'an example of 

 the relatives of Basilarchia. Equally striking instances 

 of the same phenomenon are known in tropical butterflies. 

 The larva, which feeds on willow and poplar, varies greatly 

 in its coloration. 



127 



