130 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



to swift flight." Dr. Skinner, in Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XIV., 

 page 20, has already pointed out, that in this region the flight of the 

 female " is exceedingly rapid, and generally in a straight line for about 

 one hundred feet ; then they do not alight on a flower or a bush, or flutter 

 about like the male, but suddenly drop like lead in the long grass. It 

 would be almost impossible to tell the exact spot where they alight, as 

 they drop so suddenly, but on approach near it they are off like a shot 

 again." Our observation, and that of a number of competent observers, 

 consulted by us, substantiate the accuracy of the latter description of the 

 habits of the female. It is more especially true of fresh females, which 

 are being sought by the males. 



Argynius cybelc. — Common. Mr. Scudder, on page 560, says : — 

 " The eggs are laid upon the leaves and stalks of the food plant, and not, 

 as stated by H. Skinner, dropped from a distance upon the herbage." 

 Dr. Skinner did not say or infer that this is the invariable habit of the 

 insect, but simply recorded a single observation with the following com- 

 ment : — " It remains to be seen whether this species always drops its eggs 

 from a height, or only behaves in the peculiar manner occasionally while 

 ovipositing." On page 562, Mr. Scudder asks:—" Is it possible that the 

 female ever deposits by hovering in the air as Mr. Skinner reports ? '' 

 Affirmative testimony, such as Dr. Skinner has given, is certainly, in a 

 case of this kind, of greater value than any amount of negative testimony, 

 and it should be added that Mr. G. H. Parker, now Instructor in Zoology 

 in Harvard College, was present and also observed the actions of the 

 female cybelc, described by Dr. Skinner. Messrs. E. M. and S. F. Aaron 

 have both also observed the same thing.* 



Argyniiis aphrodite. — Very rare. 



Argymiis inyrina. — Common in restricted localities. In the Proceed- 

 ings of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia, 1887, page 5, Dr. Skinner has described an interesting 

 variation of both sexes of this species, found in Fairmount Park. These 

 specimens are in the collection of Dr. Strecker. 



* Since the above was written the authors have been favored with an opportunity 

 at Westville, N. J. , of observing Argynuis myrina following this same strange course in 

 ovipositing. During this season also Mr. Aaron has detected A. hellona in the same 

 habit, and he is strongly of the opinion tliat strange motions frequently observed in A. 

 diana in Tennesse are to be accounted for in the same way, though at the times of 

 observation they seemed quite unaccountable. 



