224 BULLETIN 15 7, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



RemarJcs. — In this region this butterfly probably has only a single 

 brood. As Mr. Sprague has noticed, it is unusually shy for a small 

 skipper. 



ATRTTONE VESTRIS (Boisduval) 



Plate 21, Figures 4, 5 



Occurrence. — Fairly common in damp open fields. 



Mr. Shoemaker has specimens taken in the District on June 9, 

 1910, and I have specimens from Beltsville taken on June 29, 1929, 

 and July 23, 1928, from Cabin John, caught on June 1, 1930, and 

 August 27, 1926, and from the District without date. 



Remarks. — This species is single brooded, but is found on the wing 

 from the latter part of May until the first week in September. 



ATRYTONE PONTIAC (Edwards) 



Plate 54, Figures 1 to 6 



Occurrence. — Confined to boggy meadows with sphagnum adjacent 

 to woods; very local, but abundant where found. I secured a large 

 series in the bog just east of the railway station at Beltsville, Md., 

 where it occurs in equal abundance on both sides of the road, on 

 July 4, 1929 and 1930, July 15, 1928, and July 29, 1929 and 1930, 

 and others at Riverdale on July 23, 1928. 



Season. — This skipper appears in the last week in June and flies 

 until about the end of July. It is most abundant in the middle of 

 July. There is only a single brood. 



Remarks. — This skipper is much less alert and active than most of 

 its relatives. It usually keeps in the grass and has a weak and rather 

 slow flight with the skipping motion less evident than is usual in 

 this group. It frequently hovers in the grass after the fashion of 

 Poanes massasoit. As a rule, it does not fly very far, seeming to tire 

 easily. It is unsuspicious and not easily frightened, so that it is 

 readily captured. It is very fond of flowers, especially of those of 

 the buttonbush {Cephalanthus occidentalis). It is also fond of sun- 

 ning itself on grass blades with the fore wings erect and parallel 

 and the hind wings extended horizontally. The females are very 

 much less numerous than the males, and are also more sluggish. 



When mated pairs are disturbed, the female flies off carrying 

 the male. 



The specimens taken on July 15 were all somewhat worn, but the 

 females were very much less worn than the males. Those taken on 

 July 23 were very much battered, and those taken on July 29 were 

 mostly females. The females probably appear about a week later 

 than the males and are still to be found after the males have dis- 

 appeared. 



