150 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Three specimens of this rare species were captured here last season. 

 The one that came into my possession was brought by a friend, and laid 

 about fifty eggs while in the box. With all the care I could bestow 

 upon them only two reached maturity. A large majority perished during 

 hybernation. Several sickened and died after the last moult ; probably 

 in a state of nature not more than two per cent would reach the imago 

 state. 



NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES. 



BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. 



I am able to complete the history of M. phaeton, part of which I 

 communicated to the Can. Ent. in Jan'y, 1869, vol. 1, p. 59. 



The eggs are laid in large clusters of from 200 to 400 each, upon the 

 under side of leaves of Chelone glabra. They are sub-conical, truncated, 

 ribbed on upper half, yellow when laid, but soon turn to crimson. In 

 19 or 20 days, as Mr. Scudder informs me, they hatch. As the eggs 

 found by me (13th June) had been deposited some days, I could not 

 verify that point. The young larvae at once begin to construct a web, 

 usually on the topmost leaves of the stem, and feed on the green leaves 

 enclosed ; as these are consumed, the web is extended down the stem, 

 covering fresh leaves. The first moult takes place at six days, and the 

 second at about the same time from the first. The third at a further 

 interval of nine to ten days. Between the first and third the larvae live 

 much outside of the web, but the moult takes place within. Before the 

 third moult a substantial web is constructed, and after the larvae have 

 passed this moult, they become lethargic, and so remain till early the 

 following spring. This period of lethargy commences, at this place, 

 about the 15th of July. The web last constructed is often upon a 

 different plant from that on which the larvae feed, and in nearly all cases is 

 supported by adjoining stems being incorporated. 



With the first warm days of April the larvae leave the web and scatter 

 about the swamp in search of the young stems of Chelone, They moult 

 twice and reach maturity about the 5th of May. The chrysalis period is 



