16 LYC^NA TI., III. 



molested by tliem; indeed, the ants seemed to try and defend the larvo3 from 

 him. Of all these larvaj none were infested by lehneuuions, and all produced 

 butterflies." This last observation is very interesting. 



Rev. H. C. MeCook informed me that in the spring of 1877 he saw a small 

 green larva on Cimicifuga racemosa, and " a black ant attending it, stroking the 

 tail incessantly, moving away, and returning to go through the same process. 

 He watched this for two hours, and saw that the pur])0se of the ant was at least 

 friendly, but was at a loss to explain these strange manipulations." Mr. Saun- 

 ders (Can. Ent. x. 14) relates that he had observed ants running over larvte of 

 L. Scndderii, and that the discovery of the larvi^ was made easy by the presence 

 of the ants. 



I have observed similar organs in larva? of L. Comyntas and L. Melissa, both 

 of which species I have bred from the egg. The organs of Comipitas are of same 

 shape as in Pseudar<jiolus, both the cone and the tube and its tentacles ; and on 

 introducing ants, the behavior of the larva was as in the other species. As to 

 Melissa, I am not able to say whether the tentacles precisely agreed in shape 

 with those figui-ed on our Plate, but they stood erect upon the dome in same 

 manner, and the fluid appeared on 11. Guenee figures the tentacles of Bcetica 

 as spindle-shaped, and instead of standing erect they droop about the dome and 

 are quite feathery. 



In the allied sub-families, Tliecla and Chrj'sophanus, no such organs have been 

 discovered, and I apprehend a sufficient generic distinction, if one were needed 

 between two groups wdiose preparatory stages are so dilferent, will here be 

 found, especially between Lycfcna and Chrysoplianus, which some collectors still 

 persist in uniting in one genus. 



