THE CANADIAN KNTOMOLOCJIST. 313 



BUTTERFLIES ON GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, 

 NORTH CAROLINA. 



EY THEODORE L. MEAD, OVIEDO, FLORIDA. 



Grandfather Mountain is one of a group of mountains rising to a 

 height of over 6000 feet, in Western North Carolina and Eastern Ten- 

 nessee, and forming the topmost crest of the Alleghanies. The rocks are 

 chieily granitic, and the crags and peaks naturally of a grayish cast, but 

 rendered more sombre by innumerable blackish foliaceous lichens 

 (Umbilicaria sps). At the bases of the summit crags the forest begins ; 

 black spruces and balsam firs, alternating with open meadow-like fields 

 of the sand myrtle (Leiophyllum buxifolium), characterize the upper levels, 

 and enormous hemlocks from 5000 feet down ; but everywhere is a wealth 

 of magnificent deciduous trees that can hardly be matched elsewhere on 

 this continent. Flowers are abundant all summer long, and the native 

 grasses are supplemented by cleared fields upon the mountain sides and 

 in the valleys, where grass is grown for hay and pasturage. The whole 

 region one would suppose to be a paradise for mountain butterflies, and 

 especially Satyridae, which are well represented in the foothills and lower 

 valleys of the Alleghanies. 



To my surprise, I did not see a single Satyrid of any species during my 

 stay, July to September, either at Linville (3,800 feet) or at any higher 

 point. 



The butterflies were in general of northern type, and with rare ex- 

 ceptions were far more characteristic of Ontario than of the Carolinas. 

 A single Argyjinis Diana was the only suggestion of the rich butterfly 

 fauna of West Virginia to the north of us, while the only Grapta was 

 Faicmcs, abundant all along the roadsides from 4000 to 5000 feet elevation. 

 Although this colony of Faumis must have been isolated from the great 

 body of the species for thousands of years — perhaps since the receding 

 ice of the glacial epoch, the butterflies in no way differ from those found 

 in the Catskills and elsewhere. 



The other common butterflies of this region are Papilio Troilus, 

 Philenor and Turnus, with occasionally a black female Glaucus ; Colias 

 Philodice flying with about one fifth of its number of Keewaydin and 

 Eurytheme, which are very variable and show all manner of intergrades ; 

 Terias Lisa, Danais Archippus, Argynnis Aphrodite, the females of which 

 with worn males, abound on flowers of fireweed ( Erecht kites), and a 

 Liatris, in mountain meadows at 5000 feet and over in August, appearing 



