FAMILY SKIPPERS. 163 



and perhaps Galactia, and its liabits are in general like 

 those of the other species of the genus. In the spring the 

 chrysalis state lasts but nine days m the Southern States, 

 probably longer in the Northern. 



THANAOS ICELUS— THE DREAMY DUSKY-WING. 



(Nisoniades icelus.) 



Butterfly. — Upper surface of wings very dark grayish brown, 

 the fore wings heavily flecked with cinereous, especially on the 

 apical half and in a large roundish patch next the costal margin 

 between the two dark bands which traverse the wing and which 

 it shares with JY. brizo, but the inner of which is usually less dis- 

 tinct than in that species; between the outer band and the mar- 

 gin is a uniform series of small round brown spots ; otherwise as 

 in iV. bri2o. Expanse 1^ inches. 



Caterpillar. — Head light reddish brown, with slightly raised 

 summits. Body naked, pilose, pale green dotted with white, 

 giving a gray-green appearance, and with a pallid lateral stripe. 

 Length nearly f inch. 



Chrysalis. — Anterior portion of body reddish or yellowish 

 brown, the abdomen pale flesh-color, the rest as in the other spe- 

 cies. Length fully ^ inch. 



Found everywhere in our district in damp wooded re- 

 gions, especially among the hills, rarely flying at all in 

 companies. It is single-brooded and hibernates as a full-fed 

 caterpillar, changing to chrysalis in the spring, remaining 

 in that state at least tw^o or three weeks and appearing on the 

 wing about the middle of May; it becomes quickly abun- 

 dant and flies until and into July. The eggs are very pale 

 green with from ten to fourteen vertical ribs, highest above, 

 and are laid singly upon the upper surface of leaves, those 

 tolerably young but fully expanded being preferred; they 

 hatch in about ten days. The caterpillars feed upon aspen, 

 willow, and witch-hazel, and make nests like the other spe- 

 cies, but wdth the attaching strands of silk unusually long, 

 shortening them wdien they wish to change their skin 



