78 THE COMMONER BUTTERFLIES. 



tains. It is single-brooded and a little later in appearance 

 than its companion-species, first appearing about the 

 beginning of July; the butterflies are seldom abundant 

 before the end of the first week in July, and disappear by 

 the middle of September; the eggs are not laid, apparently, 

 before the middle of August. The males have no percep- 

 tible odor. 



ARGYNNIS ALCESTIS— THE RUDDY SILVER SPOT. 



Buttterfly. — The ground color of the under surface of the 

 hind wings is a nearly uniform and pure deep cinnamoneous, 

 with no distinct band of buff between the outer rows of silvery 

 spots. Expanse 3 inches. 



Caterpillar. — Head black, yellowish behind. Body spinous, 

 velvety black; spines corneous, black above the yellowish base. 

 Length If inches. 



Chrysalis. — Ked, brown, or drab, irregularly mottled and 

 creased with black; abdominal segments drab, edged in front 

 with black. Length 1 inch. 



The eggs, which are short stigar-loaf-sha2:)ed, much 

 higher than broad, with about eighteen vertical ribs, are 

 presumably laid on the food-plant and hatch in from 

 twenty-five to thirty days. Nearly all the caterpillars, 

 after devouring their egg-shells, go at once into hiberna- 

 tion, but some have been known (in captivity, in a region 

 south of their native home) to feed and moult once or 

 twice before winter; they feed readily on violets. The 

 chrysalis hangs for three weeks or more. The butterfly is 

 fond of the open country and is found only in the West, 

 occurring in the Mississippi Valley from Michigan to Mon- 

 tana north of lat. 40°. Its seasons are all similar to those 

 of our eastern species of Argynnis. The male has been 

 credited with no odor. 



