BUTTERFLIES OP THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 63 



&'. None of the veins of the fore wings swollen at the base. 



c\ Antennae abundantly clothed with scales Nymphalinae (p. 71). 



(?. Antennae naked, without scales Danainae (p. 115). 



a^ Palpi greatly elongated, longer than the thorax, forming a con- 

 spicuous beaklike process Libytheinae (p. 128). 



Subfamily Satyrinae 



KEY TO THE3 SPECIES 



a*. No broad yellow band inclosing two large eye spots crossing 

 the outer half of the fore wing. 

 6\ Smaller, the fore wing about 20 mm. long; fore and hind 

 wings each with two conspicuous circular black spots nar- 

 rowly ringed with yellow and showing two small patches 

 of silver scales near the center situated near the angles 

 of the wings on both surfaces (pi. 1, figs. 1, 2; pi. 2, fig. 1). 



Neonympha eurytus (p. 63). 

 &'. Larger, the fore wing about 27 mm. long; foi'e wing below 

 with a row of four black spots narrowly ringed with light 

 yellow-brown, dark yellow-brown, and whitish near the 

 outer margin ; hind wing below with five similar spots, 

 the first separated from the others, and a small double 

 spot near the anal angle ; these spots are repeated, less 

 well defined, and usually without the white centers, on 



the upper surface (pi. 1, figs. 3-6) , Satyrodes eurydice (p. 65). 



a". Outer half of fore wing crossed by a broad yellow band in- 

 cluding two conspicuous black eye spots with blue and 

 white centers (pi. 3, figs. 1-4) Cercyonis alope (p. 68). 



Genus NEONYMPHA Westwood 



NEONYMPHA EURYTUS (Fabricius) 



Wood Nymph 

 Plate 1, Figures 1, 2 ; Plate 2, Figure 1 



Oocurrence. — More or less frequent, sometimes rather common, in 

 open deciduous woods, especially where there is an undergrowth of 

 bracken {Pteris aquilina). It is most numerous in the woods along 

 the Potomac River from Cabin John to Great Falls and along the 

 Eastern Branch, occurring more sparingly in the woods along Rock 

 Creek, Paint Branch, and the other smaller streams. From time to 

 time it appears locally in considerable abundance. 



Like its local relatives, the wood nymph is found only in a certain 

 type of surroundings — in this case damp, though not wet, deciduous 

 woods — and is more or less numerous, sometimes even common, wher- 

 ever the proper conditions obtain. 



Habits. — This butterfly has a jerky, dancing flight, skipping about 

 2 or 3 feet above the ground through the more open portions of the 

 woods, and especially in the glades and along the woodland roads. 



