130 BCrLLETIN^ 15 7, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Northwest Branch just west of Blair Koad at Silver Spring, and in 

 1929 I found it at Cabin John. 



Habits. — This species flies with the greatest activity and in the 

 greatest numbers on hot and sunny days. It is most active from 

 about 10 a. m. until aJbout 3 p. m., when it seems suddenly to disappear. 

 The flight about the food plants is rapid, nervous, and highly ir- 

 regular, with frequent rests. As it dodges and skips about the alder 

 branches it suggests a small and very active satyrid of the Satyrodes 

 eurydice type. Its flight about the exterior of the alder thickets has 

 been compared to that of Orgyia antiqua. Mr. Schaus has noticed its 

 similarity to the flight of a riodinid. If badly frightened, it flies off 

 very rapidly in a straight ascending line, or an ascending spiral, mak- 

 ing an angle of about 30° with the ground. 



It is very fond of flying up and down paths through alder thickets, 

 or through the near-by woods. When so engaged the riodinidlike 

 character of its flight is very obvious. 



When resting the butterfly sits on the upper surface of a horizontal 

 leaf with the head outward and the tail toward the center of the 

 plant. 



Emery said that it may be seen perched upon a branch of alder 

 enjoying with the ants the honey exuding from the bodies of the 

 aphids. It is fond of sucking moisture from damp mud along the 

 side of streams. I have noticed that when sitting in the sunlight 

 on the mud it turns so as to be at right angles to the sun's rays and 

 then, like a satyrid, tilts its wings so that the sunlight falls per- 

 pendicularly upon them. 



The hind wings are never moved alternately up and down in the 

 manner so characteristic of most of the lycaenids. 



Seasons. — Nothing definite is known regarding the number or the 

 succession of the broods of this butterfly within the District. The six 

 specimens in the Schonborn collection are dated August 9, 11, 17, and 

 18. The National Museum contains two specimens collected by Dr. 

 Harrison G. Dyar on June 26, 1909, and one taken by Dr. August 

 Busck on June 25, all three in Washington. The six specimens which 

 I have caught were taken on May 30 (2), June 17 (2), August 28, and 

 September 10 ; I also saw it on August 1. Theodor Pergande found 

 caterpillars on July 8, August 8 and 23, September 18, and on Octo- 

 ber 2, and Mr. Edwards received caterpillars from Washington as 

 late as October 4. 



There should be a brood in the last half of April and early in May, 

 another in the last half of June, a third in the middle of July, a 

 fourth in the middle of August, and a fifth in the second and third 

 week of September. 



Remarks. — This butterfly is most easily secured in quantities and 

 in good condition by gathering the caterpillars and raising them. 



