LYCAENINAE: CIIRYSOPIIANUS TIIOE. 981 



Oviposition. The only eggs that I liavc seen were some laid on the 

 inside of the lid of a chip box (Saunders) ; and others laid by a female 

 confined over yellow dock ; the latter (about twenty) Averc nearly all laid on 

 the seed pods, the only exceptions being one on the stem and one on the 

 upper surface of a leaf — all near the summit of the plant. 



Food plant of caterpillar. According to Mr. Saunders, the cater- 

 pillar has been reared l)y Mr. Beadle on a species of Polygonum. French 

 and Miss Middleton say that it feeds on prickly ash ; the latter, howeyer, 

 adds Polygonum to the list and French in his latest publication gives neither, 

 but Rumex crispus only ; this last plant has also been given me by Mr. 

 Edwards as tliat on which it had been raised. 



Life history. The insect is double brooded, hibernating in the egg 

 state. At what date the eggs hatch is unknown, but the fii'st butterflies 

 of the year appear in the third week of June, the earliest date recorded 

 being the 16th; they lay their eggs early in July (mine July 1, Mr. 

 Saunders's July (3) and occasional butterflies are found almost to the end 

 of the month ; tlie second brood appears bj^the twelfth of August, becomes 

 common before the 20th and flies until the middle of September : the eggs 

 are laid in this month. 



Habits, etc. The butterfly may be "taken on low bushes and tall, 

 flowering shrubs, never on clover" (Emery), and is said to be particularly 

 fond of "certain Solidagos and Canada thistle'' (Edwards). 



Desiderata. This insect is so rare that compai-atively little is known 

 of its history, which would not be difficult to follow in places where it 

 occurs. Of the earlier stages we know next to nothing of the caterpillar, 

 and the duration of both egg and chrysalis has never been given. Even 

 the exact seasons of the butterfly need better determination and its flight 

 and attitudes should be described. We are not certain about its condition 

 in the winter time, and if, as probable, it is passed in the egg, it would be 

 interesting to know what sort of a spot is selected by the female for the 

 place of deposit, which can hardly be upon a Polygonum or a Rumex. 

 Further observations on the distribution are needed, especially in the west 

 and north. 



LIST OF ILLUSTBATIONS.— CHRYSOPIIANUS THOE. 



General. P1.34, fig. 37. Male abtloiiiiiial appendages. 



PI. 25, fig. 1. Distribution in North America. 39:23. Neuration. 



Egg- 



46 : 34. Androcoiiium. 



PI. 6o. fig.19. Side view; plain. 55:8. Side view witli head and appendages 



68: 13. Micropyle. enlarged, and details of the structure of the 



Chrysalis. '^^^l „ . . 



PI. 84, fig. 50. Side view. 61 = ^- NeunUion ot fore wing, J . 



t*. Jfeuration of fore wnig, ? . 

 Imago. 



PI. 5, fig. 9. Male, both surfaces. 



12. Female, upper surface. 



