202 W. H. Edward's Descriptions of Diurnal Lepidoptera. 



six points, often partly obsolete, each preceded by a distinct dark-grey 

 crescent, these last uniting so as to make a crenated line. 



Secondaries have a discal streak ; three black spots in a row half 

 way between the streak and base, one being on either margin, the third 

 midway between them ; a transverse row of eight clear black spots 

 across the disc, the two next costa largest, much in advance of the 

 others, and over against the streak, with which and the 8th spot they 

 form a direct line; the 3rd is separated from the 2ud by a considerable 

 space, the 4th is turned obliquely ; the 7th is long and lunular aud back 

 of the line ; the 8th very near the margin, elongate ; along the margin 

 is a row of six blackish dots, palest at outer angle, that next anal angle 

 double, the one preceding largest and conspicuous; each spot sur- 

 mounted by a crescent as on primaries. 



Body above blue, beneath white ; palpi white ; antennae black ring- 

 ed with white ; club black, tipped with ferruginous. 



From upwards of 100 males taken on the Kanawha River, March 

 and April, 1865 and April, 18G6. 



Female. Paler and dull-colored, the hind margin and apex of pri- 

 maries with a broad blackish border ; costa of both wings a little ob- 

 scured by same color. 



From two 9 taken near Philadelphia. These resemble the $ of 

 Lucia on the upper side, but are unicolored below. 



I have myself taken but one female of this species, and this is ab- 

 normal, resembling the male almost exactly in color as well as mark- 

 ings, the only difference being that the disc of secondaries is paler than 

 the margin. The under side is almost white, and the spots are large 

 and clear colored. The second and third terminal segments of the ab- 

 domen are black above. Unfortunately, in both seasons, I left the Ka- 

 nawha before the females would naturally be flying, which would be 

 two weeks or more after the first appearance of the males. Probably 

 they are equally abundant with the males, as is the case with the 

 females of pseudargiolus, but like the latter they may be found in dif- 

 ferent localities from the males. 



Violacea appears in the first warm days of spring. I took it in 1865 

 on the 17th March. It is gregarious, frequenting in great numbers the 

 edges of the creeks and wet places in the road. I have thrown the net 

 over a dozen or more at once, and have attracted them by the decoy of 

 a dead specimen pinned to the ground. Occasionally one or two may 

 be seen about the flowers of the peach tree, which blooms at the same 

 season, but they are not partial to flowers. 



