FAMILY BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES. 67 



other below the spiracles, including one on the third thoracic seg- 

 ment ; a row of smaller spines, two to a segment, occurs at the 

 base of the prolegs. Length 1 inch. 



Chrysalis. — Very pale bluish white, marked with velvety black 

 and pale orange ; little conical orange tubercles mark the position 

 of the spines of the caterpillar, black dots or small dashes are 

 sprinkled over the body especially on the abdomen, and larger 

 dashes divided by orange nervules cross the middle of the wings 

 in a continuous series. Legs orange marked with black. Tubercles 

 of eighth abdominal segment distinct. Length nearly f inch. 



The eggs are largest below, taper above to a very broad 

 and depressed summit, the sides vertically ribbed on upper 

 half, at first yellow, afterwards purplish; they are laid in 

 large irregular clusters, several layers deep, upon the under 

 surface of a leaf of the food-plant, and hatch in about 

 twenty days. During the season in wdiich they are born 

 the caterpillars feed in society, living in a web with which 

 they line and envelop their food-plant, the snake-head, 

 CJi el one glabra, and less commonly other Scrophulariaceous 

 plants. After moulting three times, which the caterpillars 

 do under and within their webs, the whole colony hiber- 

 nates within the web, made more dense for the purpose, 

 which, contracting as the w^inter dries the foliage, becomes 

 a compact rounded mass as large as an egg, filled with 

 caterpillars, cast skins, and filth. In the spring the cater- 

 pillars make their way out, disperse, and no longer con- 

 struct webs but feed openly, frequently choosing other food- 

 plants, Lonicera or Viburnum, Caprifoliaceous plants. 

 The chrysalis hangs from fourteen to eighteen days. The 

 butterfly is extremely local, often confining its wanderings 

 to an acre of ground, and is only found near or in swampy 

 places; it flies heavily — indeed it is our most sluggish but- 

 terfly — and is single-brooded, appearing early in June and 

 flvinor for more than a month. 



