ARGYNxNIS I. 



firmed this conjecture, and out of the kirge number that have since been taken the 

 males have been of the known tyjje and tlie females black, with no tendency in 

 either to vary in the direction of the other. 



When my attention was called to the species, I found it not very uncommon, 

 always upon or near the Iron weed, which is very alnuidant and grows in rank 

 luxuriance upon the rich bottom lands of the Kanawdia river, frequently reaching 

 a height of eight to ten feet, and, in August, covered by heads of purple flowers that 

 230ssess a remarkable attraction for most butterflies. Both sexes are conspicuous, 

 the males from the strong contrast of color, ami the females from their great size 

 and the habit of alighting on the topmost flowers and resting with Avings erect and 

 motionless. It is an exceedingly alert and wary sjX'cies, diftering in this from our 

 other Argynnides. At the slightest alarm it will fly high into the woods, near 

 which, ujion the narrow bottoms or river slopes it is invarial)ly found. It is a true 

 southern species, sensitive to cold, not to be looked for in the cooler part of the morn- 

 ing, but flving down from the forest when the sun is well up. From eleven to three 

 o'clock is its feeding time. 



Altogether, nearly 50 of both sexes were taken in 18G4, between the 20th and 

 30th August, the males all worn and corresjjonding with Say's figure, the females 

 in large proportion fresh irom chrysalis. In 1865 nearly one hundred were taken 

 in same locality with like results. In the two years following they were extremely 

 rare. On the 4th July, 1807, a ])erfect male, very dift'erent in shades of color from 

 the poor sjiecimens hitherto seen, was taken, and two others were seen shortly after, 

 but in the absence of flowering plants it was impossible to approach these last. 



In July, 18()(j, ]\Ir. James Hidings, while on an entomological excursion in 

 Georgia, captured three jierfect males near Atlanta, from one of which our figure 

 was drawn. These Avere all by the road side in the sandy, flowerless pine forest, and 

 had alighted on logs or tree trunks. No females were seen by Mr. Ridings. 



We may be sure, therefore, that the males emerge early in July and are in 

 flight till last of iVugust, and the females I'rom early in August till last of Septem- 

 ber. And that the range of the sj)ecies is from Georgia to the lower j^art of AVest 

 Virginia, but how far west we have no knowledge, except from Say's mention of 

 Arkansas and Missouri. It probal)ly may be found along New River (as the up- 

 per part of the Kanawha is called) which flows from the mountains of North Caro- 

 lina, and oft'ers a channel by which many southern species of butterflies, and insects 

 of other orders, find their way to the warm valley of the Kanawha. 



The contrast between the sexes in the present species has no parallel among 

 North American butterflies. In the instance of Papilio Turnus there are females 

 of two colors, one of wliich resembles the male in color and markin;;s, and the other 

 (Glaucus), while tlifiering in color, retains the markings. And in Turnus there are 

 many cases where the two colors are mingled in the same individual, giving them a 



