562 



THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



This was undoubtedly because the caterpilhxrs not enjoyhig the long 

 and equal hibernation in a cold place were in a less natural and therefore 

 less healthy condition than the others. The earlier stages of those in the 

 cool room were also passed earlier in the season before the hibernators 

 were brought from their place of cold storage. 



Flight and posture. The flight of this butterfly is somewhat rapid, 

 rather wandering, with sudden slight changes of course from side to side, 

 usually at an elevation of from three to six feet. When at rest, the antennae 

 diverge at about right angles, the wings are tightly closed, the costal edges 

 of both pairs meeting and the anal angle of the hind wings touching the 

 surface of rest ; when walking, their antennae generally diverge from 100° 

 to 110°, although at the base, as far as the tip of the palpi, they divaricate 

 but slightly ; with this exception they are straight and raised above the 

 plane of the body at an angle of only 10°. 



Parasites. Dr. Riley has reared an Apanteles, A. argynnidis, from 

 this insect. 



Desiderata. Tlie northern limits of the distribution of this butter- 

 fly need careful revision, since the species has been so often confounded 

 with A. aphrodite. Its occurrence on the Saskatchewan in particular is 

 curious. So, too, its exact range in northern New England, from some 

 parts of which it appears to be absent, needs examination. Is the range 

 dependent upon altitude ? The same question arises here as in the other 

 species of Argynnis, — what the meaning may be of the first advent of the 

 butterfly so very long before oviposition, and what relation it has to its 

 pseudo-digoneutism in the South. There are several points in this con- 

 nection which it would be well to establish for several localities by repeated 

 observations : — 1. Whether there is any break or fluctuation in the advent 

 of butterflies fresh from the chrysalis ; 2. Until how late an epoch these 

 appear; 3. When pairing commences; 4. When oviposition begins; 

 5. Is this confined to the late appearing females? Other questions which 

 need answering are whether there is any lethargic period for the caterpillars 

 in spring and summer, to account for the long time during which fresh 

 butterflies appear ; or whether there is any difference in their arousing in 

 the spring? Is it possible that the female ever deposits by hovering in 

 the air, as Mr. Skinner reports? Parasites of the insect are unknown, 

 with the single exception noted above. 



