NYMPH ALINAE: POLYGONIA PROGXE. 371 



continues from ten to sixteen days*, according to the observations of 

 Harris, Gosse, Fitch, Packard, Lintner, Sprague and Edwards. The 

 earliest butterflies from these chrysalids generally appear in the first days 

 of July, sometimes as soon as the 24th of June ; they are, however, sel- 

 dom abundant before the second week in July and continue to be seen 

 until about the 10th of August, or in northern New England later than 

 thi.>>. The eggs of this brood of butterflies are laid in July, generally in 

 the latter half, and in northern New England up to the middle of Auo-ust, 

 and, hatching in foiu- or five days, the larvae change to chrysalids from 

 about the middle of August until early in September ; this stage lasts as 

 long as in the first brood, and the butterflies appear again generally about 

 the 22d or 23d, sometimes as early as the 18th of August, become abun- 

 dant by the first of September, and continue to emerge from the chrysalis 

 at least until the 8th of September. They may be found in much o-reater 

 abundance than the first brood all through September, but by the middle 

 of Octol)er nearly all of them have sought their winter quarters beneath a 

 tree-limb or in some sheltered crevice. Mr. Lintner intimates that the 

 chrysalis may also occasionally hibernate and disclose the butterfly early in 

 the spring : I have never taken fresh specimens in the sprino-, but the 

 guofo-estion is worth careful investicration. 



Habits and flight. Though much less active than P. faunus, this 

 wary and agile insect is rather difficult to secure. It is often seen sipping 

 the sweet juice of drying or decaying fruit. It frequents lanes and open- 

 ings through light woods and even dusty highways ; at the least alarm it 

 darts into the thicket, returning soon, however, to reconnoitre and, if the 

 enemy is still in view, settling only at a safe distance. It is in the 

 habit also, along woodland roads, of " alighting in the dust to enjoy the 

 hot sunshine or may be seen sipping moisture from muddy spots. . . . 

 When alighted they usually keep perfectly quiet and if disturbed the wings 

 are spread widely open, at which time the insect is quite conspicuous ; but 

 when slightly alarmed, the wings are closed and then, on account of the 

 gray color which harmonizes perfectly with the surroundings, the butter- 

 flies are quite difficult to detect " (Maynard). According to the obser- 

 vations of Dr. Webber, it is fond also of pitching on apple trees, opening 

 its wings to catch the full rays of the sun. 



In hibernation the wings are placed back to back, the fore pair separated 

 from the hinder ones, the internal margin of the fore Aving being visible as 

 far toward the base as the inner limit of the broad pale band beyond the 

 middle of its under surface ; the antennae are hidden between the fore 

 wings and held perpendicular to the plane of the body. 



Gosse relates (Can. nat., 259) that he has observed on nearly every 

 one of these buttei-flies which he took in Canada little soft club-shaped 



• Dr. Le Barou had specimeus (of this the theruiometer remained at al)Out 100 deg. 

 brood?) disclose iu seven days, at a time when (Rep. nox. ins. 111., i : 60.) 



