386 THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



sugo-ested that some of the second brood of chrysalids may continue in that 

 stage throughout the winter, although he has since had reason for doubt. 

 The Late appearance of many butterflies certainly renders it likely, although 

 it still remains to be established. 



Habits, flight, etc "This insect is one that is most difficult to catch. 

 It rests with closed wings, and the dull hues of the exposed under sides 

 closely resemble those of the fencing on which the insect usually settles. 

 As an intruder upon its haunts approaches it, it dashes away with a speed 

 that sets pursuit at defiance " (Fyles ) . It is to be found along the roadsides 

 in the White Mountains in peaceful company with Polygonia faunus, suck- 

 ing the juices from the droppings of horses and cattle. It is rather more 

 wary than its smaller companion, but resembles it closely in its actions. 



In sucking, or at rest on a horizontal surface, the wings are tightly closed 

 and erect, the front wings well forward, the antennae spread nearly at 

 right angles ; but alighting in the sun the wings are sometimes spread to 

 their full extent. Resting in cloudy weather on the ground, the wings are 

 held erect and tightly closed as before, the palpi nearly and the antennae 

 quite vertical, the latter diverging only 20° from each other ; the thorax 

 has an angle of about 140° with the abdomen. The same general attitude 

 in reverse is assumed when hanging from a horizontal surface. 



When settled for the night on a vertical surface, it rests with the head 

 downward, the wings tightly shut, the costal edge of the front pair at 

 rio-ht angles to the body, the antennae tucked together next the front 

 wings, attingent, the outer half scarcely projecting beyond the costa. 

 Some that were hanging thus on the window frame of my room were evi- 

 dently disturbed by the tremor occasioned by a cart passing on the road 

 fifty feet distant. 



Butterflies are not generally known to fly by night, but a curious in- 

 stance happened a dozen years ago when on a cloudy and unusually warm 

 nio-ht in September, butterflies of this species flew into the lantern of San- 

 katy Head Light, Nantucket, a powerful flash light, in such numbers as 

 to o-ive the keepers much trouble by obstructing the flow of oil in the lamp. 

 One of the keepers brought me a dozen of them alive, saying that hun- 

 dreds had flown into the lantern and there were many more outside. Yet 

 in a five years summer residence and collecting there I had never seen 

 the butterfly. Is it possible that the species regularly migrates and 

 by night? Attention should here be called to Mr. Thaxter's observations 

 (Can. ent., xii : 38) that he has seen " clusters of Vanessa j-album on 

 tree trunks at dusk in New Hampshire." 



Desiderata- Where so little is known of the history of a species, a 

 list of desiilerata seems superfluous, for notes of eveiy sort are desirable ; 

 yet it is worth while to invite enquiry into the effect that butterflies from 

 wintering chrysalids would have upon the time of appearance of the first 



