1024 THE BUTTEHFLIKS OF NEW EXGLAXD. 



elapsed from deposition of egg to formation of clirvsiilis. a pei-iod shorter 

 than any known to INIr. Edwards with his nnsnrpassed cx[)erience in tiiis 

 line and quite unprecedented in literature. The chrysalis hangs the nor- 

 mal length of time, from eight to eleven days. Comparing this exceptional 

 brevity of the cycle with the ordinary intervals between the broods, the first 

 two of which appear to be fairly distinct, and in no case to overlap, it 

 would seem to follow of necessity that the butterfly does not lay eggs immedi- 

 ately after emerging, but waits long enough to make up for tlie heightened 

 activities of her progeny. The precarious nature of their food supply and 

 the special danger from the auts, to be mentioned further on, sufficiently 

 accounts for the precocity of these earlier stages of life. 



In the central region of its distribution there are pi-obably four broods, 

 for Mr. Edwards recognizes three in West Virginia, one from about April 

 17 to May 5, corresponding well in season to the first of the north ; the 

 second from about June 14 to July 4 — a rather sliort ])eriod, but corre- 

 sponding fairly well to the second of the north ; and a third the last of 

 July, which compared with the history farther north, and considering the 

 longer season in the south, must indicate a fourth brood not observed by 

 Mr. Edwards.* If this be the case it is probable that there is an added 

 brood in the extreme soutli, for Aljbot records a caterpillar in Georgia as 

 changing to chrysalis on April 14. which indicates a parent on the wing 

 in March, at the opening of the spring, and so an entire brood in advance 

 of the valleys of West Virginia. 



Habits, flight, etc. The butterfly makes short flights and if not 

 alarmed is not difficult of approach, Mr. Edwards relating how he has 

 bottled them dii'ectly from their resting place In the full sunshine. The 

 flight is rapid and nervous, partaking of the general nature of that of the 

 Chrysophanldi and much resembles, though swifter t]ian,that of Orgyia 

 antlgua, as Prof. S. I. Smith long ago remarked to ine and as Rev. ]\Ir, 

 Fyles observed a couple of years ago. As before stated it is extremely 

 local, apparently wandering rarely more than a rod or two from its birth 

 place. I\Ir. Emery states that "it is never found around flowers and is 

 usually seen seated upon the upper surface of a leaf, or more commonly 

 on a branch of alder among the wooly plant-lice, enjoying like the ants 

 the honey exuding from their body.'" This was written before its relation to 

 the plant-lice was known. It selects the leaves of alder for alighting to 

 those of any other tree, and, choosing i-ather those which are horizontal, 

 faces outward on alighting, with wings pai-tially ei-ect. When ovipositing, 

 according to JNIr. Fletcher, "the female runs all over the clusters of 

 aphides with a twitching walk, something like a wasp." 



Enemies. The greatest enemies of the caterpillar are apparently the 

 ants, who consider them, and justly, as poaching on their rightful domain. 



* Caterpillars were received by hira from 'Wasliington, D. C. as late as October 4. 



