166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



being covered with silvery spots, while the larvae are spined, as are 

 those of Vanessa and Grapta, whose species are the earliest to ap- 

 pear in spring. V. antiope is the large purple species that flies from 

 March to October ; its gregarious larva? feed on the willow and 

 elm. Grapla pi'ogne -with notched red and brown wings, is com- 

 mon in May and September, in woods and about houses ; its 

 solitary larvaj feed on the currant. G. comma inhabits the north- 

 ern part of the State. All the species have silvery comma -or 

 semicolon-like markings on the under surface of the secondaries. 



Satyriis has the wings broad and rounded, with eye-like spots 

 near the outer margins, and it is of a soft brown color. It is seen 

 it flies, rising and falling gi'acefully over fields and through 

 woods. S. eurythris inhabits pine woods. It flies towards the 

 last of June, and is the first species of the genus to appear. The 

 others ai-e August species. S. alope flies in fields about clumps o? 

 golden rod, S. caiitlius by rivers and in low places. Neonympha 

 semidea is found only on the summit of Mt. Washington. It must 

 be looked for upon Mt. Katahdin. The larva? are smooth green, 

 often striped, with forked tails, and feed on grass. They are rarely 

 found and should be especially sought for. By their larval forms 

 and skipping flight these wood Satyrs lead to the small sized — 



Lycaenidce. Lycaena Americana is our common little copper but- 

 terfly. Its larva is green, oval, flattened, and feeds on sorrel. The 

 pupa is short and thick, and is fastened by a loop to the under 

 surface of stones. 



The Azure butterflies Polyommaius pseudargiolus, and P. comyn- 

 tas and P. lucia, are pretty species which occur frequently in May, 

 and sometimes in April, on sunny days. Gumyntas is an August 

 species and has not been found in Maine yet. Thecla contains 

 coppery brown species with a slight tail to the secondaries, which 

 fly early in forests. T. mopsus and niphon are our two common 

 ones ; they may be easily captured when alighted in paths. Our 

 largest one is T. falacer, which has an orange colored spot on the 

 inner angle of the secondaries, and two unequal tails. It is rare 

 and found in August. 



We come now to butterflies with stout bodies, and large heads, 

 whose antennae have the knob as if untwisted and bent to one side, 

 approaching the form of the antenna? of the Sphinges. Moreover 

 their flight is swift and strong, while they genei'ally skip witli a 

 jerking flight. Their colors are a soft rich brown, with yellow 

 square spots. Such are the — 



