NVMrHAI.IXAK: THE TR115K VAXKSSIDI. 307 



and elevated to a very proininent compressed tidiercle behind the middle. Dorsum 

 of abdomen not carinate, but with a dorsal row of very larije, sharp, cf)nical tubercles, 

 those of the fourth seijnRMit usually the largest; cremaster louir, rather slender 

 tapering. 



TIk' hutterflit's composing this group are coinmonly of the mediiirn, or a 

 little above the medium size ; and are among the showiest and best known 

 insects in the temperate zone, or the regions where entomology has been 

 most cidtivated. Tlie wings are decidedly angular and excised, with a con- 

 siderable costal ciu-\ e in the fore Avings ; they vary considerably in design 

 and color, but are generally very dark wnth fulvous markings, or tlie 

 reverse, upon the upper side ; the under surface, especially of the hind 

 wings, is generally marbled with shades of brown, or irrorate with trans- 

 verse threads of alternating darker and paler colors ; sometimes they are 

 ornamented with ocellated spots w'hich often assume tlie brilliant shades of 

 })eacock's pliunes ; often there is a very small, central, silvery mark on the 

 hind wdng. 



The insects are found almost equally in both hemis[)heres, and, relatively 

 speaking, find their maximum of development in tiie temperate zones, 

 althoufjh some of the genera are richlv endowed in the hotter regions of 

 the Old World. Thev are of an audacious nature, with a bold, vigorous 

 and capricious Hight. 



The eo;o;s are rather tall, ovate, broader below than above, and fur- 

 nished with a limited number of very prominent longitudinal ribs, most 

 elevated above ; they are laid either singly or in masses, and the caterpillars 

 are accordingly solitary or gregarious: if gregarious, retaining this habit 

 throughout the larval existence, or, again, changing when half grown ; 

 while associated, they spin for themselves a common web, and even the 

 solitary species often weave nests, though more of leaves than web. The 

 caterpillars may be readily distinguished by their invariably cylindrical 

 body, covered with a regular series of spinous thorns of equal or nearly 

 equal length, beset witli bristles, even the head being oftimes crowned by 

 a similar pair ; the row's of spines on the thoracic and abdominal segments 

 are not continuous. The pupae are strongly angulated and tuberculated, 

 more so than those of any other butterfly ; * and from the golden or opa- 

 line spots that frequently ornament the conical tubercles, and sometimes, 

 es[)ecially in parasitized specimens, the whole body, have won for this con- 

 dition of all butterflies the fanciful name of chrysalids. 



These insects are usually at least double-brooded and ordinarily hiber- 

 nate in the imago state (in woodpiles and old buildings, under stones and 

 beneath the limbs of trees), although in some species the chrysalis also sur- 

 vives the winter. The butterflies that hibernate do not mate imtil spring, 

 to judge from numerous obser\ations both in this country and in Eiu-ope. 



* An unknown Cuhan species in the (.'aniliridire nui>enni has a furUcd spine on the liaek. 



