GRAPTA III. 



ginous streaks; the pattern of markings as in male but faint and nearly lost in the 

 ground color; some individuals light, the yellow predominating; in others the 

 ferruginous streaks give color to the whole surface; sub-marginal black spots less 

 conspicuous, and sometimes on disc of primaries wanting; marginal lunules as in 

 male but less distinct; silver spot as in male, but sometimes a mere line not 

 thickened at extremities. 



Mature Lakva. Length 1.25 inch. Color pale green marked with 

 greenish white at the base of each spine with lines of same color across each seg- 

 ment; head dull pink covered with short spines and having at upper angle on each 

 side a large branching spine pink at base, black at tip; a black patch on either side 

 of face ; mandibles black ; body furnished with seven rows of many branching yellow 

 spines, each branch tipped with black; under side green; legs reddish brown, pro- 

 legs green; spiracles black; on the 8th to 11th segments inclusive an orange spot 

 immediately anterior to each spiracle. 



Chkysalis delicate white, not much clouded, the wing cases and whole front 

 having a sheen of bronze; the abdominal tubercles bronze. Or the general color 

 is pale brown, clouded with darker shades, not metallic except on the tubercles; 

 the palpi cases are long and sharp, and the prominence on back of head is pointed. 

 In size and general form the chrysalis resembles that of Comma. 



I have occasionally taken this species at Coalburgh, W. Va. and in the Catskill 

 Mountains and was formerly inclined to regard it as a variety of either Comma or 

 Interrogationis. During the season of 1870 I was fortunate in obtaining two 

 of its larvfe and from them the butterflies. They were feeding on the hop, 

 in July, and in habit resembled the larvae of Comma, remaining concealed on 

 the under side of a folded leaf, and eating from the outer extremity so long 

 as enough remained to aflbrd protection. These larvae were nearly mature and 

 shortly after changed to chrysalids. In this state they continued ten days and 

 yielded one male and one female butterfly, the white chrysalis producing the female. 



This species is between Comma and Interrogationis. The shape is that of the 

 latter as is also the shade of color of upper side. On the under side of the male 

 the markings are rather nearer Comm,a but with a difference in coloration. The 

 under side of the female differs materially from that of either species. 



Note. — While the foregoing description was passing through the press, be- 

 tween the 10th and 18th May (1871), I took eight larvte of Drgas from the hop, 

 from half grown to mature. The younger ones were dull white, with an interrupt- 

 ed supra-stigmatal blackish line; as they approached maturity this disappeared and 

 the color changed to green. Between 20th May and 2nd June emei-ged 6 <?, 1 2. 



