Genus Nathalis 
lit on the straw hat of one of the dignitaries. The naturalist, ac¬ 
costing him, said: “Friend, do you know what rests upon your 
head?” “No,” said he. “A butterfly.” “Well,” said he, 
“ that brings good luck.” “ Yes,” replied the naturalist; “and 
the insect reveals to me the wonderful instinct witn which nature 
has provided it.” “ How is that ?” quoth the city father. “ It is 
a cabbage-butterfly that rests upon your head.” 
Genus NATHALIS, Boisduval 
“ The butterflies, gay triflers 
Who in the sunlight sport.” 
Heine. 
Butterfly .—The butterfly is very small, yellow, margined with 
black. The upper radial vein in the fore wing is wanting. The 
subcostal has four nervules, the third and fourth 
rising from a common stalk emitted from the 
upper outer corner ofthe cell, thefirstand second 
from before the end of the cell. The precostal 
vein on the hind wing is reduced to a small 
swelling beyond the base. The palpi are slen¬ 
der ; the third joint long and curved; the second 
joint oval; the third fine, spindle-shaped, and 
pointed. The antennae are rather short, with a 
somewhat thick and abruptly developed club. 
Early Stages .—Very little is known of these. 
Three species belong to this genus, which 
142.—Neura- 
tion of the genus Na¬ 
thalis , enlarged. 
is confined to the subtropical regions of the New World, one 
species only invading the region of which this volume treats. 
(1) Nathalis iole, Boisduval, Plate XXXII, Fig. 21,6; Fig. 22, 
$ (The Dwarf Yellow). 
Butterfly.— This little species, which cannot be mistaken, and 
which requires no description, as the plate conveys more infor¬ 
mation concerning it than could be given in mere words, ranges 
from southern Illinois and Missouri to Arizona and southern Cali¬ 
fornia. Its life-history has not yet been described. Expanse, 1.00-- 
1.25 inch. 
The identification of this species with N. felicia, Poey, which 
is found in Cuba, is doubtfully correct. The two species are 
very closely allied, but, nevertheless, distinct from each other. 
281 
