418 THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW EXGLANl). 



opening toward tlie apex of the leaf is closed ]>y ^ delicate film of silk, 

 attached at half a dozen points to the leaf, and thickest in the middle ; those 

 which contain more than one usually have the film denser, as if all had 

 partaken of the work ; in this position one might easily think one had 

 found the larva of V. atalanta, especially should a portion of the tip of the 

 leaf be devoured ; but the leaf is never pendant, as when the nest conceals 

 atalanta, and t)ie gate to keep out intruders is also wanting in the latter ; 

 the object of such a performance, at the critical moment of moulting, on 

 the part of a caterpillar which at other times lives in such disgusting 

 familiarity with the other members of the family, is apparent. 



A worn specimen of the European species, A. urticae, was taken on the 

 wing in June, 1873, at Watertown, Mass., by Mr. Outram Bangs, who 

 has shown me the specimen. It was also reported to have been taken in 

 Mexico (Entom., xx : 333), but Mr. Druce, the exhibitor, writes me that 

 it was an unfortiuiate typographical error for JMoscoivf 



EXCURSUS XII.— HOW BUTTERFLIES WINTER. 



No butterlly flits througli November's gloom. 

 No bird note quivers ou its frosty air. 



Louise Chandler '^lovrwrii^.—Aittomne. 



One would suppose that nature would have so arranged matters that 

 delicate creatures like butterflies, passing a portion of their lives in a 

 quiescent condition, would select the winter as the season in which to 

 pass this state, and not waste the precious moments of a too brief summer, 

 when flowers and succulent plants are abundant as food for butterfly or 

 caterpillar, in an enforced inactivity. Yet a very considerable proportion 

 of the butterflies of New P^ngland pass the winter in some other state than 

 that of the chrysalis. Some pass it in either of two or more states, ap- 

 parently as a precaution against the total destruction of the species. 

 Many pass the winter as caterpillars, some as eggs, and not a few as 

 butterflies themselves. Many of the Theclidi for instance pass the Avinter 

 in the egg state,* while on the other hand the Vanessidi, a group which, 

 whether in Europe or America, may be considered as almost character- 

 istically pertaining to the temperate zone, where the winter is pronounced, 

 pass the winter in the imago state. One reason for this is that there is 

 nearly always an autumn brood of butterflies which disport themselves in 



* The Rev. Mr. Ilollins of Enghiiul found erroneous. In New England we know tliat 

 Kustieus aegon and Erynnis comma i)assing several of the Theelidi (Tliecla liparojjs and 

 the winter in the egg state, and von Prittwitz Strymon titus certainly) and some of the 

 claims the same for several species of Theclidi Chrysophanidi winter in this condition, audit 

 and Coenonympha pamphilus, — besides two is not improbal)le that it may be o(H"asion- 

 others, subsequent observations on which ally the case in some of the Argynnidi. Tar- 

 have proved his conjectures about them to be nassius, an alpine genus, winters in this way. 



