ART. 11 NOTES ON THE MELITAEID BUTTERFLY CLARK 7 



EUPHYDRYAS PHAETON PHAETON, var. SUPERBA Strecker 



The variety superha of this butterfly appears to recur rather fre- 

 quently, all of the specimens being very much alike. It is perhaps 

 worth while to give a list of all the recorded captures of this inter- 

 esting variety. These are the following: 



Long Island, New York, 1S75; male; Rev. George D. Hulst. The type specimen 



(Strecker, Butt, and Moths of North America, 1878, p. 125). 

 East Williamsburgh, just outside the city limits of Brooklyn, New York, June, 



1879; Rev. George D. Hulst (Hulst, Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc, No. 3, 1880, 



p. 77). 

 Webster, New Hampshire, June 12, 1895; W. F. Fiskc, (Fiske, Ent. News, 



vol. 7, March, 1896, p. 87). 

 Milton, Massachusetts; W. D. Denton; male (Newcombe, Psyche, vol. 14, No. 



5, October, 1907, pi. 2, fig. 5, colored). 

 Milton, Massachusetts; H. H. Newcombe; male; from the same locality as tliC 



preceding and like it, but with the white more diffused and less distinct 



(Nev/combe; see preceding reference). 

 Newton ville, Massachusetts, June, 1897; female; A. H. Clark (Clark, Pnic. 



U. S. Nat. Mus.. voL 45, June 13, 1913. p. 363. pi. 32^ (pi. 2, figs. 13, 14). 



EUPHYDRYAS PHAETON SCHAUSI, var. MAGNIFICA, new variety 



If the southern form of this butterfly is recognized as distinct from 

 the northern, the southern variety corresponding to the northern 

 superha will require a new name. We suggest that it be called vari- 

 ety magnifica. We have secured two specimens of this variety, as 

 follows : 



Cabin John, Maryland, June 13, 1926; female; A. H. Clark (pi. 2, figs. 9, 10). 

 Cabin John, Maryland, June 27, 1926; female; A. B. J. Clark (pi. 2, figs. 11, 

 12). Type, Cat. No. 33131, U.S.N.M. 



In the earlier capture (pi. 2, figs. 9, 10) the left wings were of the 

 extreme type, but the right wings were not so much modified. The 

 later capture (pi. 2, figs. 11, 12) was symmetrical. 



Season. — The first butterflies were found on the wing on June 1 1 , when 

 26 were captured in a short space of time, all perfectly fresh and 

 evidently only very recently emerged. None of our pupae had up to 

 this time hatched. On this date the caterpillars seemed to be as 

 abundant as ever, and a mass of eggs was found indicating that this 

 insect begins to lay very shortly after its emergence. 



From this time on the butterflies were common; but after the 1 st 

 of July the numbers began to decrease, though fresh individuals still 

 represented a large proportion of each catch. 



On July 11 an intensive search resulted in the capture of only 3 

 specimens, 1 male and 2 small females, and none were found after 

 that date. 



By a curious coincidence our latest capture in Massachusetts was 

 also on July 11, on which date we took a male at Newtonville. But 

 they are knoAvn to fly a little later in the North. 



