70 BULLETIN 15 7, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



of leaves of low isolated plants growing in the woods, seldom has the 

 wings mutilated, though their upper surface may be very badly 

 rubbed. 



So far as I have seen the mating of this butterfly takes place only 

 along the borders of grassy areas adjacent to woods or bushes. 



I once had an opportunity of watching part of the courting per- 

 formance of this butterfly, which took place late in the afternoon. 

 A male, startled from the grass, flew to the trunk of an alder on 

 which it perched transversely, with the wings perpendicular to the 

 trunk. On the same trunk but on the opposite side, a female was 

 resting, also perched transversely. Her wings were closed above 

 the back, and the fore wings were partially withdrawn so that only 

 one of the eye spots was visible. Immediately after alighting the 

 male turned completely around and walked in a series of rapid jerks 

 around the trunk in the direction of the female, constantly opening 

 his wings to an angle of about 90° and snapping them shut again. 

 When his wings were closed the fore wings were drawn out so that 

 both the eye spots were exposed. The female, approached from be- 

 hind, showed no interest. When nudged by the male she simply 

 moved slightly. The male finally ceased opening and closing his 

 wings and moved to a position directly alongside and above the 

 female, both of them remaining motionless. 



Season. — This butterfly first appears during the first week in July, 

 or rarely during the last week in June (in 1930 on June 29), but it 

 does not become common until between July 15 and 20, when it rather 

 suddenly appears in considerable numbers. It remains common dur- 

 ing the first half of August, after which its numbers decrease. The 

 males disappear about the first and the females about the middle of 

 September. My last record is September 15, when I saw a much bat- 

 tered though still very active female at Silver Spring. The females 

 first appear four or five days after the first males. Of the six speci- 

 mens in the Schonborn collection two were taken on July 9 and one on 

 July 11. 



About Boston this insect appears, according to Mr. Scudder, on 

 July 10 or 12. It continues to emerge through July, remains abun- 

 dant throughout most or all of August, and may be found until the 

 middle of September. In southern New England it appears, as in 

 the District, early in July. 



About Boston I have found that the males disappear very early 

 in September when the females are still common, but at Ipswich, 

 Mass., I have taken fresh males as late as August 28. 



Although casual individuals appear in the District somewhat 

 earlier than in the vicinity of Boston, the main emergence takes place 

 here about a week later. 



