lUIT'J'lCUFLTES AT TIIK WHITE MOUNTAINS. 127 



sand, between roots of grass under the surface of the ground, appearing on 

 the wing in June. The liistory of O. seniidca is probably siinihir ; Init 

 C). jutta requires only one year for its changes, hibernating as a full grown 

 caterpillar. The cj^yi; of Oeneis is provided witli numerous coarse and 

 wavy longitudinal ribs, and this stage lasts from ten to twentv days. The 

 caterpillar at birth has a large head and a regularly and considerably ta})er- 

 ing body with rather brightly colored longitudinal stripes ; sometimes at 

 least it hibernates in this condition. The mature larva feeds on sedjjes and 

 grasses, and perhaps on Juncus, has a smooth, rounded and banded head, 

 the last segment of the body moderately and bluntly forked, and the sides 

 and back regularly ornamented with longitudinal series of short oblique 

 stri})es ; its transformations take place under ground, and no silk or scarcely- 

 more than a thread or two is used in pupation. The chrysalis is stout, 

 smooth, without prominences, and the cremaster destitute of booklets ; 

 in the case of O. bore it lasts from three to six weeks, in O. semidea 

 probably about the same. 



EXCURSUS I— THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMP- 

 SHIRE, AS A HOME FOR BUTTERFLIES. 



On the path, straight out of the rock side, 



Wherever could thrust 

 Some burnt sprig of Ijold hardy rock-flower 



Its yellow face up, 

 For the prize were great butterflies lighting, 



Some five for one cup. 



Browning.— r/(e Englishman in Italy. 



There is no spot in New England where an aurelian can obtain such 

 successful results in a brief time as in the high valleys of the White 

 Mountain region. Not only are many butterflies which elsewhere are 

 rare, or abundant only in very restricted localities, to be obtained here, 

 but they occur in the greatest profusion, more than making amends for the 

 less favorable weather Avhich is apt to interfere with collecting in moun- 

 tainous localities. From the latter part of ]\Iay until late in September 

 one is always rewarded for a few days' collecting. 



Perhaps it is because my visits have mainly been to that spot that I 

 have found the "Glen" the most favorable region. Here, in a valley 

 running north and south, at an elevation of about 2,000 feet, following 

 in one direction the valley of the Peabody, and in the other that of the Ellis, 

 in a densely wooded region with high mountains on either side sloping 

 down to the narrow valley, with considerable clearings in the river bottom, 

 where cultivated patches, pastures, swampy tracts, hillsides overgrown 

 with shrubbery, and damp and sliJided forest roads are to be met with, 

 nearlv all the conditions for abiuidant insect-life are to be found at their 



