36 BULLETIN 15 7, V. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



pink fading to white near the black border, and the hind wings 

 light yellow-olive. Almost as interesting was a female of the 

 amphidttsa form with the spots in the border of the fore wings 

 orange. 



It was evident that the habits of these two butterflies, the yellow 

 and the orange clovers, were less alike than they had been earlier in 

 the season. Possibly it was the absence of flowers from broad 

 grassy areas that emphasized a difference always existing, but 

 usually not conspicuous, or possibly it was due to the freshness and 

 therefore abundant energy of the orange, which contrasted with the 

 battered condition and lesser energy of the yellow, individuals. 



There was now a partial segregation of the species. The yellow 

 clovers busied themselves about the flowers and were relatively 

 scarce in the grassy regions bare of asters. The orange were much 

 more active, paying little attention to the flowers or visiting them in 

 a hurried nervous way, stopping at each only for a very little while. 

 About the extensive aster patches the yellow outnumbered the 

 orange more than ten to one, while in the grassy areas the orange 

 butterflies were about as numerous as the yellow, coursing back and 

 forth with a stronger higher flight just as they do earlier in the 

 season. 



Everywhere in the grass, but especially along the roadsides, flut- 

 tered the pearl crescents {Phyciodes tharos)^ much less numerous 

 than formerly, all rubbed and battered, as alert as ever in spite 

 of broken wings, but not aggressive. Fewer in numbers and equally 

 dilapidated were the tailed blues {Everes comyntas). They and 

 the pearl crescents still were to be seen flitting about the puddles 

 or sitting on muddy spots, now as widely sej)arated individuals. 



In the grass the sachem {Atalopedes campestris) was not uncom- 

 mon; all caught were battered males. Equally numerous, but less 

 conspicuous, were much worn least skippers {Ancyloxypha numitor). 



At long intervals just above the grass tops there skimmed a buck- 

 eye {Junonia lavinia), curiously inconspicuous against the varied 

 background, or a gray darter {Pyrgus tessellatus) skipped about in 

 a most erratic way. 



Three female cybeles {Argynnis cyhele) were seen, searching for 

 violets near the woods. All were much broken, but one was fairly 

 fresh. There were no regal fritillaries, though I have previously 

 seen them in this field even later in the season. 



On some asters growing in a damp spot with an abundance of 

 the false nettle {Boehmei^ cylindrica) was a fine red admiral 

 {Pyrameis atalanta) of the large blackish form. 



Along the borders of the woods and hedgerows and about an 

 extensive partly shaded muddy patch the hop merchant {Polygonia 



