LEPIDOPTERA 757 



wings are more yellowish than in the other form. The latter is the 

 typical form of P. comma comma. 



The larva feeds upon hop, elm, nettle, and false-nettle. It is 

 often abundant in hop-yards, and the chrysalids are commonly known 

 as hop-merchants, from a saying that the golden or silvery color of 

 the metallic spots on the back of the chrysalis indicates whether the 

 price of hops is to be high or low. This species is found in Canada and 

 the northern part of the eastern half of the United States ; its range 

 extends south to North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Indian 

 Territory. It is double-brooded in the North, and at least three- 

 brooded in the South. 



The gray comma, Polygdnia progne. — In its general appearance 

 this butterfly closely resembles P. comma, but it can be readily dis- 

 tinguished by the form of the silvery mark, which is L-shaped and 

 tapers towards the ends. It is much grayer below with a finer striate 

 pattern in the male. 



The larva feeds on currant, wild gooseberry, and rarely elm. 

 This species occurs in Canada and in the northern portion of the 

 United States except in the extreme West. 



The violet tip, Polygdnia inter rogatidnis. — This butterfly (Fig. 

 960, 8.) is somewhat larger than the preceding species of Polygonia 

 and differs in the form of the silvery mark, which consists of a dot 

 and a crescent resembling a semicolon. It received its scientific name 

 from the Greek note of interrogation, which is identical with our 

 semicolon. On the upper side, the outer margins of the wings and 

 the tails of the hind wings are tinged with violet, this fact suggested 

 its common name. 



This species is dimorphic ; and the two forms differ so constantly 

 and in such marked manner that they were described as distinct 

 species. In P. interrogationis interrogationis the upper surface of the 

 hind wings is not much darker than that of the fore wings, and there 

 is a submarginal row of fulvous spots in the broad ferruginous brown 

 border. In P. interrogationis umbrosa the outer two-thirds of the 

 upper surface of the hind wings is blackish, and the submarginal 

 fulvous spots are obliterated, except sometimes faint traces near the 

 costal margin. 



This species is found in Canada and throughout the United States 

 east of the Rocky Mountains. 



IV. THE SOVEREIGNS 



The members of this group differ from other Nymphalid^ in that 

 the first three veins of the hind wings separate at the same point 

 (Fig. 966) ; in the other nymphs the humeral vein arises beyond 

 this point. The club of the antennas is very long, and increases in size 

 so gradually that it is difficult to determine where it begins. In its 

 thickest part it is hardly more than twice as broad as the stalk. 

 The palpi are slender, and the wings are rounded. 



The larvae present a ver\^ grotesque appearance, being ver}^ ir- 

 regular in form, and strongly mottled or spotted in color. 



