Genus Polites 
represented in the plate. On the under side the wings are paler, 
with the light spots of the upper side faintly repeated. Expanse, 
$ , 1.15 inch; $ , 1.35 inch. 
Early Stages .—These are described in full with painstaking 
accuracy by Scudder in “The Butterflies of New England.” The 
caterpillar feeds on grasses. 
The species ranges from southern New York to Florida, 
thence westward and southward into Mexico. 
Genus POLITES, Scudder 
Fig. 169.— 
Neuration of 
the genus Po¬ 
lite s, enlarged. 
Butterfly. —The antennae and the palpi are as in the pre¬ 
ceding genus; the neuration of the wings is also very much 
the same. This is another genus founded by Dr. 
Scudder upon the shape of the discal stigma in the 
wing of the male. His description of this feature is 
as follows: “ Discal stigma of male consisting of an 
interrupted, gently arcuate or sinuate streak of dead- 
black retrorse scales or rods, edged below, especially 
in the middle, by a border of similar, but dust- 
colored, erect rods, and followed beneath by an 
inconspicuous large area of loosely compacted, erect, 
dusky scales.” 
Egg .—Approximately hemispherical, the height, 
however, being greater than in the egg of the preceding genus; 
reticulated, the lines forming hexagonal figures upon the surface. 
Caterpillar , etc .—Of the stages beyond the egg we know as 
yet comparatively little. The caterpillar feeds on grasses. 
(1) Polites peckius, Kirby, Plate XLV 1 I, Fig. 24, $ ; Fig. 
25, ? (Peck’s Skipper). 
Butterfly. — This little species, the upper side of which in 
both sexes is correctly shown in the plate, has the under side of 
the wings dark brown, with the light spots of the upper side 
greatly enlarged, especially upon the disks of the wings, fused, 
and pale yellow, thus contrasting strongly with the rest of the 
wings. Expanse, $, 1.00 inch; $, 1.25 inch. 
Early Stages .—These are not thoroughly known as yet The 
larva feeds on grasses. 
Peck’s Skipper ranges from Canada southward to Virginia, 
and west to Kansas and Iowa. 
353 
