26 Journal New York Entomological Society. lvoL ix. 



The larva was found May 27 in grass at Washington, D. C. It 

 was nearly full grown and spun in June. The moth emerged Septem- 

 ber nth, the same season. 



NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THECLA DAMON 



By E. Daecke. 



Ascending the mountainous elevation ordinarily called the Orange 

 Mountains a little distance above Montclair about the first part of 

 May, we find quite a different flora from that of the valley. Arriv- 

 ing at the top we find plateau-like stretches sparsely covered with 

 cedar bushes. The fresh verdure of the grass is here and there inter- 

 rupted by large patches of rose-colored mountain pink. Columbine 

 with its beautiful bell-shaped drooping flowers ornament bare rocks and 

 moss-covered ledges. Dense patches of bluets and mountain cress 

 {Sisymbrium and Arabis), here and there a little bunch of violets, the 

 little creeping potentilla and the omnipresent Leontodon taraxacum 

 scattered throughout the soft and flowery carpet to complete the pic- 

 ture which is one of the homes and haunts of Thecla damon. 



This little Thecla is one of the best judges of fine scenery. The 

 red cedar which is the food-plant of Thecla damon is common on 

 many places in the Oranges, but Thecla damon will not be found 

 wherever cedar abounds. I searched the Orange Mountains for miles 

 and came across many groves of cedar but found Thecla damon only 

 on one spot and I dare say the prettiest and most picturesque spot of 

 the whole mountain range. 



When I took this insect first I found it very difficult to capture. It 

 would skip swiftly from flower to flower, and as soon as it found itself 

 persecuted it would suddenly drop with folded wings into the grass, 

 the green underside of its wings being a perfect protection from 

 being discovered. Another time I visited this spot in search of 

 Thecla damon. I failed to find a single specimen. It was the right 

 season, a beautiful day and early in the afternoon. So I began to in- 

 spect the cedar bushes and found that this insect was hovering quite in 

 abundance about the cedar tops, but out of reach of my net. In order 

 to locate them I knocked against the cedar trees to scare them up, but 

 only secured three or four specimens that day. Another time I 

 came better prepared. I had a 4- feet extension to my net, but there 



