114 BULLETIN 15 7, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Notes. — The two females at hand from the District (pi. 18, figs. 

 1, 2) are unusually large, the fore wing measuring 40 mm. and 42 

 mm. as compared with 39 mm. in the largest female available from 

 eastern Massachusetts. Though the color below is somewhat paler 

 than in the darkest Massachusetts specimens, the black markings in 

 and about the cell on the fore wings above are heavier, and the 

 olivaceous color extends to the outer end of the cell on the costal 

 margin. The male scarcely differs from northern examples. The 

 fore wing measures 33 mm. Like the females, it is pale below. 



Although they are properly referable to A. a. aphrodite^ the speci- 

 mens from the District region show a very decided approach to 

 A. a. alcestis. 



While along the eastern seaboard from New England to North 

 Carolina this species does not appear until the first of July or later, 

 a month or more after the first appearance of A. cyhele.^ at Waynes- 

 burg, Ohio, Clement W. Baker found the two species to appear at 

 about the same time. In 1930 he took the first male of A. aphro- 

 dite on June 5 and the first female on June 14, while he took the 

 first male of A. cyhele on June 4 and the first female on June 8. 



Genus EUPTOIETA Doubleday 



EUPTOIETA CLAUDIA (Cramer) 



Variegated Fritillary 

 Plate 21, Figures 1, 2 



Occurrence. — Frequent, but not very common. It is found in 

 moist open fields near streams. It is occasional in the meadows be- 

 tween Conduit Road and the canal 2 miles beyond Cabin John, in 

 the damp portion of the fields across Blair Eoad from the Hyslop 

 estate at Silver Spring, and in the National Zoological Park in the 

 grassy spots along Rock Creek. I saw one in the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution grounds in September, 1910, and Hugh Upham Clark saw 

 one in the back yard of the house at 1818 Wyoming Avenue, on 

 September 24, 1930. 



Eahits. — The variegated fritillary has a rather fast flight, pro- 

 gressing by a series of quick flaps alternating with rather long 

 glides, during which the wings are rigidly extended horizontally. 

 It usually flies about 3 feet above the ground, and maintains a con- 

 stant level. Its flight is direct for some distance when it turns to 

 one side or the other so very suddenly that the eye commonly fails 

 to follow it. It is very quick in all its actions, and two belligerent 

 males will tumble about in a most bewildering way until, their dif- 

 ferences settled, each glides calmly off in a different direction. 



