﻿Sept. 1895] Davis. Insects at Staten Island, N. Y. 141 



wood paths and, spreading its wings, displays its beautiful colors, or flying 

 up into some tree, particularly a red maple, crawls about the terminal 

 branches. There are few signs of spring when this moth arrives, the 

 wood paths are brown, and the contrast of its bright colors with the 

 dead leaves is one of the memorable sights of the season. 



A little later Thee la augusta makes its appearance in considerable 

 numbers, seeking the sheltered, sunny places, and often alighting on 

 the sweet-ferns, the huckleberry bushes and the pines. It is said that 

 the food-plant of this Indian colored butterfly is unknown, and it is to 

 be regretted that Staten Islanders have not been more industrious in 

 gaining this point of information, for probably nowhere in the vicinity 

 of New York can it be so easily obtained. 



On the 8th of May, 1881, while in company with Mr. Leng, six 

 or seven Theela niphon and a single Theela damon {sniilaeis) were col- 

 lected at Watchogue. Perhaps these two butterflies have appeared 

 since, but every spring the sandy stretch of road where they occurred 

 on that May day has been visited without seeing them again. Wood 

 fires are altogether too frequent, and possibly the colony was thus de- 

 stroyed, as have been many rare plants. The growing fraternity of 

 tramping naturalists should utter upon every opportunity their protest 

 against burning the woods. Many ignorant boys set fire to the dry 

 leaves for "the fun," as they say, of seeing them burn, and thus much 

 that is interesting and beautiful in the country is permanently destroyed. 



Papilio aj'ax was seen on June 30th, 1889, near Old Place creek, 

 but it was in its customary haste. Nisoniades brizo is one of the most 

 common butterflies of the vicinity, and Euptoieta elaiidia one of the 

 rarest. 



Early in April Cielndela modesta commences to fly on the sand 

 dunes. This beetle is, as a rule, quite local, confining itself to certain 

 dunes, but stragglers are to be met with elsewhere. During the sum- 

 mer a few are seen, and in September and October they make their 

 second general appearance. 



Cicindela generosa is also quite plentiful on certain sandy stretches. 

 It has been taken in company with C. vulgaris as early as the 9th of 

 April and as late as the middle of October. Cieindela repanda also 

 puts in appearance during the first days of April, coming earlier than 

 hirtieollis by over a month. Omophron americaniim may be washed 

 from the banks of Old Place brook, and the funny little protective-col- 

 ored Elaphriis niseariiis has been found running in the muddy ditches 

 by the side of the road. 



