238 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



and the nails of the four hind feet are divided so as to appear 

 double. This group may be called Vanessians (Vanessad.e). 

 In the butterflies belonging to the genus Vanessa, the wings 

 are jagged or tailed on the hind edges. The under side of 

 the hind wings, in many, is marked with a golden or silvery 

 character in the middle ; the feelers are long, curving, and 

 contiguous, and form a kind of projecting beak. The head of 

 the chrysalis is deeply notched or furnished with two ear-like 

 prominences; the sides are very angular; on the middle of the 

 thorax there is a thin projection, in profile somewhat like a 

 Roman nose ; and on the back are two rows of very sharp 

 tubercles of a golden color. The caterpillars are cylindrical, 

 and armed with branching spines; they live in company, at 

 least during the early period of their existence, and do not 

 conceal themselves under a web or within a folded leaf. 



Vanessa Antiopa. L. Antiopa butterfly. 



Wings purplish brown above, with a broad buff'-yellow 

 margin, near the inner edge of which there is a row of pale 

 blue spots. Expands from 3 to 3} inches. 



This butterfly passes the winter in some sheltered place in a 

 partially torpid state. I have found it in mid-winter sticking 

 to the rafters of a barn, and in the crevices of walls and stone- 

 heaps, huddled together in great numbers, with the wings 

 doubled together above the back, and apparently benumbed 

 and lifeless ; but it soon recovers its activity on being exposed 

 to warmth. It comes out of its winter quarters very early in 

 spring, often before tlie snow has entirely left the ground, but 

 with ragged and faded wings ; and may be seen sporting in 

 warm and sheltered spots in the beginning of March, and 

 through the months of April and May. Wilson, in his beau- 

 tiful lines on the blue-bird, alludes to its early coming in the 

 spring, 



" "When first the lone butterflj' flits on the wing." 



The caterpillars of the Antiopa butterfly live together in 

 great numbers on the poplar, willow, and elm, on which the 

 first broods may be found early in June. They are black, 



