NYMPHALINAE: EUGONIA J-ALBUM. 386 



Life history. Tlie data at hand rcf^arding this insect and our ignorance 

 of the hirval history do not permit us to speak with confidence re^-ardino- 

 Its seasons, nor be sure whether in the southern part of its range it is 

 single or double brooded. In the White Mountain region, where I have 

 most frequently seen it, it is certainly single brooded, and I am inclined 

 to think that the same is true of it further south. It hibernates as a 

 butterfiy (and occasionally as a chrysalis?). The butterfly is one of the 

 earliest to leave its winter quarters, specimens being seen occasionally by 

 the middle of March,* becoming abundant by the end of the first week in 

 April and flying until early in June. Mating takes place early in the spring, 

 but the eggs can hardly be laid before the leaves' are fairly out, and the 

 only information we have of the subsequent changes before the advent of 

 the butterfly is that a caterpillar at Scoharie, N. Y., found by Mr. Lintner, 

 changed to chrysalis on June 27 and emerged in thirteen days. All ob- 

 servers agree that this spring flight is much less extensive than the num- 

 bers which appear in the autumn, but exceptions are known when a chano-e 

 occurs from a year of plenty to the reverse ; the spring flight, the relics of 

 the abundant harvest of the previous year are then found to be commoner 

 than their next descendants. The first brood of the year makes its appear- 

 ance about the 10th of July or a very little earlier (rather later at the 

 AMiite Mountains) and becomes more and more abundant as the season 

 progresses. Specimens of the female examined at the White Mountains 

 in the latter half of July and all through August showed that the eggs 

 were completely undeveloped, so that the larger numbers one finds there 

 the latter part of August are not due to the advent of a new brood, but to 

 the fact that they continue to emerge from the chrysalis from their first 

 appearance in July until the end of August, the cause of which it is hard 

 to divine, since it is highly probable that the eggs are laid in masses, and 

 within a period the range of which is very limited, certainly not above 

 three weeks. Whether further south, where the time for development is 

 longer, the butterflies of the July brood lay eggs or not, is uncertain ; 

 it is only clear that though the first butterflies appear early in July, 

 they are far more numerous late in August and September and continue 

 on the wing through October and sometimes even into November. These 

 butterflies hibernate, selecting old buildings for their refuge and appearing 

 to have a desire for higher culture. Rev. Mr. Fyles discovered them in 

 an unused room in the upper story of the Missisquoi High School in 

 Canada. Professor S.I. Smith once found two specimens in a school house 

 in Norway, Me., in December or January, which, on being placed in a 

 warm spot in the sun, revived and flew about the room. Mr. Lintner has 



♦Since this was written Mr. F. H. Sprague window this afternoon (Feb. f2, 18^8). The 



writes me : •' It may interest you to know temperature was at 33 dog. at the time and 



that I saw a specimen of j-allnnn in pretty there were six inches of snow that had fallen 



good condition and quite lively flying by my the previous night." 



49 



