82 OUTLINES OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



are laid in a mass, and tlie head of the larva bears a pair of branching 

 horns. 



In Vanessa the edges of the wings are scalloped and angular in 

 outline. The palpi are large, and project in front of the head like a 

 beak. The beautiful Antiopa butterfly {Vanessa antiojta, Linn), which 

 has deep purple, buff-bordered wings, and whose larva are very de- 

 structive to the Lombardy poplar and elm, nnd the red Admiral (F. 

 atalanta, Linn), distinguished by broad, orange-red stripes, passing ob- 

 liquely across the upper wings and bordering the outer edges of the 

 lower ones, and whose larvjie feed on the nettle, belong to this genus. 



The genus Orapta may be recognized by the very jagged outline of 

 the wings. The upper pair, besides being notched, are deeply hollowed 

 out on the outer edge, and the lower pair are furnished with two short 

 "'tails." The upper surface is pale reddish brown, mottled with large? 

 irregular spots of dark brown. Some species have a narrow border of 

 pale blue. The under side is of duller colors, with a single silveiy or 

 golden mark. These butterflies may be popularly termed the "Punctu- 

 ation" butterflies, since, from the punctuation-like marks on the under 

 side of the wings, the various species have been named Grnpta comma, 

 Grapta interrogationis, etc. 



The genus Hipparcliia contains the "Wood butterflies," so named 

 from the fact of their being usually found in groves and thickets, and 

 also from their wood-brown colors, relieved by eye-like spots. 



The family Lyc^enid^ contains the small coppery red and the 

 blue butterflies often seen fluttering about pools of water and muddy 

 places by road-sides. 



The larva:' feed on grass, are smooth, short and thick, and secure 

 themselves with a loop in an upright position, when about to transform. 

 The genus Theckla may be recognized by the two threadlike tails which 

 ornament each of the hind wings. 



The Hesperidje comprise a large number of black and brown, 

 dull-colored butterflies, mostly of small size, and which differ in so 

 many respects from the other Rhopalocera that they seem to fur- 

 nish the connecting link between the true butterflies and the moths. The 

 body is generally short and thick, and in repose only the fore wings 

 are held erect, and these not pressed together, while the hind wings 

 are laid flat upon the back. The antennse end in a little hook. They 

 fly with rapid, jerky motions, often alighting. Hence they are popu- 

 larly denominated "Skippers." The larvae are spindle-shaped, with a 

 rough surface, a small, distinct neck and a large head, which is usually 

 somewhat heart-shaped and marked with two or more conspicuous 

 spots. Tiiey live in cases which they form by folding leaves and fast- 



