494 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 



caught. Their flight was wholly different from the norinul flight of 

 the species, and indeed from that of any other of our lycienids, but 

 suggested that of the species of Spalgis. Two explanations suggest 

 themselves : First, that the butterflies had been blown away and lost 

 and were trying to discover a food supply; and second, that they 

 rejjresented a special variety characterized by this unusual type of 

 flight and adapted for disseminating the species. The strong con- 

 tinuous flight would seem to negative the flrst alternative. The 

 probability is that these individuals were " travelers," corresponding 

 to similai" individuals developed in many other species where, how- 

 ever, they commonly show departure from the nornuil in color as 

 well as in the type of flight. 



i\f r. Scudder quotes Mr. Emery as sa^ang that this butterfly is never 

 to be seen about flowers, but may sometimes be seen perclied upon 

 the upper surface of a leaf, or, more commonly, upon a branch 

 of alder among the woolly plant lice enjoying with the ants the 

 honey exuding from their bodies. 



I have noticed that when resting this butterfly seems to prefer to 

 sit upon the upper side of horizontal leaves of willows or other trees 

 or bushes rather than upon the leaves of alder. When upon the alder 

 leaves or stems or upon the aphids it seems to be always nervous and 

 alert, ready to fly off at the slightest hint of danger. It always sits 

 upon the leaves head outward, with its tail turned toward the inner 

 portion of the tree or bush. 



Broods. — Mr. Scudder wrote that the first brood of butterflies of 

 the year appears in Xew England about the beginning of the last 

 week in May, and continues upon the Aving until after the middle of 

 June. The second brood appears early in July and becomes ajbund- 

 ant by the middle of the month. Search at Granby, Mass., on July 

 28 brought to light onh^ caterpillars in the second stage; a fresh 

 specimen and fuU-groAvn larva were taken by liim as far north as 

 Sudbury, Ontario, on July 13, showing that cA'en there the second 

 brood ap[)ears at this early date. Fresh specimens may be found 

 during the Avhole of July, and rubbed ones during August. Mr. 

 Fletcher found a much-worn fenuile ovipositing at Ottawa on 

 August '2, and they continue upon the wing until the third brood 

 appears, about the middle of xVugust, from which time fresh speci- 

 mens coutinue to come out until the end of Septcuibei*. 



In the central region of its distribution there are, according to Mr. 

 Scuddei', probably four broods. Mr. Edwards recognized three in 

 West Virginia, one from Aj)iil 17 to May 5, the second from June 

 14 to July 4 (on this latter date he took 24 in 1868 and saw large 

 numbers more), and a tliii'd the last of July. Mr. Scudder notes 

 that when compared with the history farther north and considering 



