OR APT A II. 



and Sa()/rus arc known and settle the question of identity between either of these 

 species and Oa/biyii. The larva of Comma is ilhistrated in our lilate. That of 

 Scdi/rus is described by Mr. R. H. Stretch, as "dead black with a greenish -white 

 dorsal band from third to last segment," and he has furnished me with an ad- 

 mirable drawing which justifies his description. 



On the other hand the larva of C album is described by Mr. Westwood as be- 

 ing " of a brownish red color, the back being reddish in front with the hinder 2>art 

 white," and the accompanying plate represents the first sis segments as red, the re- 

 mainder white, and is altogether quite unlike any known American species. 



Neither Faaiius nor Comma are subject to any wide variation, as I can assert 

 from a long familiarity with both species, nor do the specimens of Satyrus that I 

 have seen, numbering pei-haps twenty, vary to any gTeater degree. On the other 

 hand, 6'a/Z»«TO varies so as to resemble not oidy these three distinct species, but 

 has an overplus of variation suificient to include resemblances to as many more. 

 Unquestionably these several species and all others of tlio genus have sjirung from 

 one ancient form which may not unlikely have been near one of the many phases 

 of the present C album. But one variety after another became permanent, each 

 throwing off new varieties of its own, in time also to l)ecome permanent, till now 

 we have many groups all allied but all distinctly separated. AVe have in North 

 America at least nine well marked species of Grajita divisible into four groups, 

 namely, that o( Proffne, o{ Silrnns, of Comma and oi latmus. 



There is a difference of ojjinion about the vahie of this genus, many Eui'opean 

 lepidopterists considering it not properly sej)arable from Vanessa. But if '"the co- 

 descendants of the same form must be kept togetlier in one gi'oup separate from the 

 co-descendants of any other form," (Darwin's Descent, 1 p. ISl.) tiien no genus is 

 better founded than Grapta. The several species differ decidedly from the true 

 Vanessans not only in tlie shape of the wings, but so far as is known in the j)re- 

 paratory stages. The larvse are solitary, not gregarious, as are the true Vanessans. 

 This difference of itself is generic and there could be no surer token of distinct 

 ancestrv. 



