BUTTERFLIES OP THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 91 



presumably winter is always passed in the adult form. But this 

 can not be regarded as a determined fact, as this insect often passes 

 the winter in Europe as a chrysalis, and in certain years it may do 

 the same here. 



Remarks. — The painted lady is undoubtedly the most generally 

 familiar of all butterflies. It is found from the boreal or even 

 subarctic regions southward to Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Trini- 

 dad, though it is very rare in northern South America, throughout 

 Europe and Africa, in Asia southward to the higher districts of 

 India, and the high altitudes in the Malay Archipelago. In Aus- 

 tralia and New Zealand it is replaced by a closely allied species 

 {Pyiymneis kershaioi) . 



In some years in Washington its caterpillars are not uncommon on 

 hollyhocks in gardens throughout the city. 



The painted lady was abundant in 1926, when it was much more 

 numerous than the American painted lady {Pif-ranveis virginiensis) . 

 In 1927 it was frequent, though scarcely common, and was out- 

 numbered by its relative. In 1928, 1929, and 1930 it was, so far as I 

 have been able to learn, wholly absent from this region. 



I do not believe that this butterfly ever survives the winter within 

 the boundaries of the District. Early in spring it is to be found 

 only along the river, and in the small dull form. My impression is 

 that the District is repopulated every year, or almost every year, 

 by the progeny of overwintering females, which from somewhere 

 nearer the sea wander up along the shores of the bay and of the 

 river, and that these brightly colored individuals, the young of the 

 overwintering females, scatter far afield. As this butterfly has a 

 peculiar fondness for sea beaches and shores generally, such a 

 procedure would be quite natural for it. 



In July and the first half of August, 1924, this was the commonest 

 butterfly in Essex County, Mass. It was most abundant in fields, 

 in gardens, along the roadsides, along the beaches, and in the tree- 

 less areas near the shore. But it was also common in bogs deep in the 

 woods and frequent in the woods themselves, especially along roads. 



Genus VANESSA Fabricius 



VANESSA ANTIOPA CRETA Verity 

 CAMBEBWEUCi BE1A.UTY ; MOXIKNING ClOAK 



Plate 9, Figures 1, 2 



Occurrence. — Frequent, though never very common, in deciduous 

 woods, especially on hillsides and in the higher areas, and occasional 

 in low open fields about willows. 



