GRAPTA V. 



other. They are dimorphic forms of Interrogationis, and to distinguish them 

 from ordinary varieties, I have given them hoth specific names, indicating their 

 relationship). 



(Since discovering the dimorphism of Interrogationis, I incline to ihinkGrap- 

 tas Comma and JJrt/as will prove to be but one sjiecies also. The case would 

 not however be strictly parallel with Interrogationis, but might prove to be a modi- 

 fication of seasonal dimorphism. I obtained in May, of this year, seven specimens 

 of Dryas, and all that I have before seen have been bred or taken in the early 

 part of the season, at the same time with Comma, while from great numbers of the 

 larvaj obtained m the Autumn I have had nothing but Comma. The early brood 

 only therefore may prove to be dimor2)hic). 



Interrogationis is abundant over the whole eastern part of the United States 

 and in Canada.. How far west it is found I anf unable to say, certainly how- 

 ever, as far as Iowa, and from Missouri to Texas. But it has not been found in 

 Colorado by Mr. Mead, who has collected extensively in that State. In West 

 Virginia, I have found the variety Umhrosa the most common, but in the Catskill 

 Mountains the proportions were reversed. Mr. Lintner states that the results of 

 his collecting in Middle New York show the greater abundance also of the 

 variety Fabricii. On the other hand. Dr. Harris says, that in IMassachusetts, the 

 male " is often black-winged," meaning Umbrosa. The southern specimens are 

 larger than those from the north, differing one-half inch in expanse of wing. 



The larva; feed ujion the hop, elm, nettle, false-nettle, (Brehmeria) and, at 

 Coalburgh, may usually be found in different stages of growth from about 20th 

 May till September. I have frequently seen several females at once flying in and 

 out my hop-vines, alighting on the ends of the shoots or on the tender leaves to de- 

 posit their eggs. The butterflies are then always battered and worn, evidently a 

 long period having elapsed since they emerged from chrysalis. The eggs are 

 usually laid singly, but sometimes three or four may be seen on the same leaf. 

 Two or more may also occasionally be found standing one on end of the other per- 

 pendicular to the surface of the leaf, and I have seen four, five and as many as 

 eight in one stalk (see j)late) The larva; are easily I'aised in confinement and 

 will submit to a change of food, as from hop to Boehmeria, without the slight&st 

 hesitancy. Like its congeners this species hybernates and ajjpears in the early 

 Spring. 



When it Ls considered hew many eggs are laid, and that so short a time in- 

 tervenes between the egg and the imago, it is surjarising how few butterflies of this 

 species are the result. From eggs that were laid on my vines in July and August, 

 amounting, I am sure, to many hundreds, very few larvfe were hatched, and gradu- 

 ally these became more and more scarce, so that at last I could with difficulty dis- 



