LYCAENINAE: MITURA DAMON. 867 



playing with its mates or pursuing the female, may generally be seen 

 around the tops of cedars, of a height of about twenty feet. Here each 

 takes up position ready to have a scrimmage with the first one that ven- 

 tures on the wing, and then three or four may often be seen whirling in 

 circles about the tree-spires with wonderful rajtidity, a play which ceases 

 almost as suddenly as it begins. 



Postures, ^^'hen walking, the body is inclined at an angle of about 

 20°, the tip trailing and the inner border of the hind wings parallel with 

 the surface ; the wings are elevated, closely compressed and the hind pair 

 scarcely at all concealed by the fore wings ; the antennae are spread at an 

 angle of G5°-70° and viewed from above appear straight, but they curve 

 a little downward and the clubs a little upward so as in general to droop 

 a little below the plane of the body. 



"When at rest, the wings are held in the same po.sition, but the antennae 

 diverge from 85° to 95°, and while retaining the same or a slightly less 

 curve, are in general parallel with the body or even raised a very little 

 above it ; the wings are often inclined from the vertical, sometimes as 

 much as 45° ; on alighting, the butterfly, of whichever sex, often rubs the 

 hind wings together. The action of the female in laying is described above. 



When at complete rest, the fore wings are dropped a little, although 

 never farther than would bring the costal edge of the hind wings to the 

 lowest median nervule of the fore wings ; the antennae then diverge as 

 much as 95° and are raised above the plane of the body at an angle of at 

 least 15°. 



Desiderata. The inland distribution of this insect, its food in the lar- 

 val state in the south, the history of the second brood, the proportion of 

 early chrysalids which hibernate, and the possible parasites of the insect 

 are desirable subjects of investigation. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.— MITUBA DAMON. 



General. Imago. 



PI. 23, fig. 7. Distril)Utiou in North America. PI. 6, fig. 17. Female, both surfaces. 



Enq, 18. Male, both surfaces. 



PI. 65 fl". 4. .Side view. ^ '• ^^- Male abdominal appeudages 



„ , .,, 39 : 14. Neuratiou. 



Caterpillar. 



PI. 17, fig. 3. Caterpillar at birth. 



75 : 30, 31. Full grown caterpillars. 



79 : 27. Front view of head, stage v. 

 Chrysalis. 

 PI. 84, fig. 30, 31. Side views. 



46 : 23. Androconium. 

 54 : 10. Side view with head and appen- 

 dages enlarged, and details of the struc- 

 ture of the legs. 



