488 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, 



stout, with a pear-shaped swelling at the free end, which 

 presses against the median ventral line about y% of an inch 

 from anterior extremity of pupae, being much shorter and 

 stouter actually and in proportion to that of either Carolina or 

 celeus. Along its sides, the ' ' tongue case ' is coarsely and 

 deeph r marked with alternate, sharp file-like elevations and 

 depressions. The color is shining black-brown. 



Abbott gives the food plants as chionanthus, privet, and 

 lilac, all of the olive family. I have twice found the full- 

 grown larva on heliotrope, one of the Borraginaceae, and have 

 good evidence that they feed also on the crape myrtle (Lager- 

 strcemia, one of the L/ythracese), and, as above stated, have 

 taken in numbers, from the egg up to full-grown larva, on 

 Hclianthus animus, thus giving it a wide range of food plants. 



The moth is not uncommon here, and is often taken at dusk 

 on honeysuckle; though it is by no means abundant. It comes 

 also to light, and I have taken fine specimens in my hall- way, 

 attracted by the electric light. In South Carolina I have taken 

 it abundantly on blossoms of " jimsoii weed ' ( Datura strain - 

 oniu-ni). On the wing, it is readily distinguishable from P. 

 cdcns by its larger size and more stately movements, lacking 

 the quick, restless, darting flight of cclcus; while the readily 

 discernable white spaces aud maculations as well as its larger 

 size, distinguished it easily from the more uniformly colored and 

 smaller P. Carolina, which resembles it more in manner of flight. 



A $4O-DOLLAR BUTTERFLY. Entomologists went to Convent Garden 

 from all parts of the country, says the London Globe, when the celebrated 

 collection of butterflies and moths made by the late Samuel Stevens r 

 F. L. S., F. E. S., was sold by his nephew, the well-known auctioneer. Mr. 

 Stevens had continued his work of collecting, breeding and buying for 

 sixty years, and many specimens are already historic, having come from 

 other noted collections. The prices established a record. The "large 

 copper" butterfly, long since become extinct, always attracts bidders, but 

 , given for an exceptionally fine male, creates a record, and even for 

 one of the females 6 55. was bid. A specimen of the common " painted 

 lady" also fetched ^8 ; while another of the same species cost its buyer 

 6 los. A handsome "red admiral," which is perhaps nearly as often 

 seen as the "small tortoisesheli," was sold for 5 los , while a "pea- 

 cock" with twenty eyes on its wings went for 5. 



