204 BULLETIN 15 7, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Habits. — This butterfly is much less active than the silver-spotted 

 skipper, with a less rapid and lower flight, seldom rising more than 

 a yard above the ground. It feeds especially on clover, butterflyweed, 

 and other low-growing plants, though often on the buttonbush and on 

 tall garden plants. 



It first appears early in May and becomes common late in May 

 and early in June, its numbers then decreasing until the second brood 

 appears about the first of July. This second brood seems to be only 

 a partial brood, for the butterfly is never so common in the summer 

 as it is in spring. 



Caterfillar. — The caterpillar resembles that of the silver-spotted 

 skipper, but has a black head and a light dorsal stripe. The body is 

 speckled with orange dots, giving it a granulated appearance. 



It feeds especially on species of beggar's lice (Meibomia) , but also 

 on other plants of the pea family as well as on plants of other 

 groups. 



Genus CECROPTERUS Herrich-Schaeflfer 



CECROPTERUS CELLUS (Boisduval and Le Conte) 

 GOLD-BANDE3) SkIPPEK 



Plate 50, Figures 3, 4 



Occun'ence. — Ernest Shoemaker captured a specimen of this hand- 

 some butterfly in the District on June 25, 1889, and another at Dif- 

 ficult Run, Fairfax County, Va., on June 23, 1920. On July 30, 

 1930, Dr. G. W. Rawson and the author found an example of this 

 species feeding on a buttonbush at CoUington, Md., in a bog across 

 the highway from the railroad station. 



Remarks. — The gold-banded skipper has a wide range throughout 

 the South, but is nowhere very common. It is to be sought for along 

 the sides of streams and in the immediate vicinity of swamps. 



Genus THORYBES Scudder 



THORYBES PYLADES (Scudder) 



Northern Smoky Skippek 

 Plate 31, Figure 4 



Ocaan^ence. — Common in suitable localities throughout the District 

 and the surrounding country. 



This butterfly especially frequents open meadows and fields with 

 an abundant growth of clover, usually keeping fairly near the borders 

 of the woods. It is also common in glades and clearings and along 

 the sides of woodland roads wherever leguminous weeds abound. 



It appears in the second week of May, and becomes very common 

 in the first half of June. The numbers then decline, but it persists 



