BUTTERFLIES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 221 



Habits. — ^Although the two are frequently found together late in 

 summer and in autumn, this species by preference frequents drier 

 areas than Ancyloxypha nmnitor., and especially areas in which the 

 grass is rather low and sparse. But it is by no means so character- 

 istic of dry fields and barren hillsides here as it is farther north. 



It is very fond of flowers, especially the flowers of small plants 

 that do not rise above the grass tops, but it will sometimes rise to the 

 lower flowers of the buttonbush and of the thistles. 



Broods. — This little butterfly is three brooded. The first brood, 

 in which the individuals are not very numerous, appears about the 

 first of May, becoming most plentiful toward the end of the month 

 and flying until the middle of June. The second brood appears very 

 shortly after the first of July, and a few individuals of this brood 

 are still on the wing when the third brood appears early in August. 

 The numbers of this last brood gradually increase until about the 

 middle of September, after which the butterflies gradually decrease 

 in abundance, finally disappearing early in October. 



It reaches its maximum abundance and widest distribution in the 

 middle of September, when it is found in greater or lesser numbers 

 in practically every grassy area. 



POLITES VERNA (Edwards) 



Plate 49, Figure 7 



Occurrence. — Common everywhere in damp woods and in damp 

 open fields. Mr. Shoemaker has it from the District, and there is 

 a specimen in the Schonborn collection taken on July 1. 



Season-. — This species is single brooded. It appears just before 

 the first of June and slowly increases in abundance, being most 

 numerous in the last half of June and the first half of July, after 

 which its numbers slowly decrease, although it may still be found 

 in the first week in August. My earliest and latest dates are June 

 1 and August 3. 



Remarks. — This species was originally described from Washington 

 by W. H. Edwards, and his record was cited by Mr. Scudder. 



Notes. — This is the only one of the smaller skippers which is com- 

 mon in the last half of June and early in July, when the great 

 silver-spotted skipper {Epargyreus tityrus) is also at its maximum. 



POLITES MANATAAQUA MANATAAQUA (Scadder) 



Plate 49, Figures 3, 4 



Occurrence. — Uncommon. Mr. Shoemaker has taken this butter- 

 fly in the District, and there is a female in the Schonborn collection. 

 There is a male in the National Museum collection captured in 



