1118 TUl'; BUTTKRFLIKS OK NEW f:NGLANIX 



and Mr. JNIorrison took a male certainly of this species in western Florida. 

 In the collection of Air. Strecker there is a spec'imcn which is reported 

 to have been l)roiight from Rio ! 



The albiuic female doubtless occurs throughout the entire region of the 

 buttei-fly as it is common enough in the east and is reported from Georgia 

 (Abbot) to Ottawa (Bowles), and was brought from Missouri (StoUey). 



In New England, this butterfly is everywhere the commonest species to 

 be found, excepting in certain years, when it seems to be affected by some 

 unfortunate circumstances. It is found alike in the White Alountain region, 

 where it ascends to the summit of the barren peaks, and on the shores of 

 Long Island Sound, but it is generally more abundant in the southern than 

 in the northern districts. ^ 



Mr. Edwards has expressed the opinion tiiat the butterfly is spreading 

 its territory westward. He says : 



In tho Mississippi valley tlie oranse species predominate, Isnt year by year pliilotUce 

 encroaclies on tlieir territory. Trofessor Snow states tliat it is becoming well known 

 about Lawrence, Kansas, though as yet by no means equalling eurytheme in numbers. 

 Mr. Dodge writes to same efl'ect from eastern Neljraska. . . . The rapid advance of the 

 species is probably owing to the fact that the food plant of its larva is thecoramou red 

 clover, which everywhere keeps step with the pioneer. The Coliades are not at all 

 forest species, and it is reasonable to suppose that, on the tirst settlement of the 

 country, the range of philodice was restricted to the savannahs ahmg the seaboard, or 

 to open spots where the native species of Trifolium or of Lupinus grew ; bntthat with 

 the introduction of a more palatable or less precarious food-plant, it has increased and 

 dispersed till it now occnpics half the continent. (^Butt. N. Anier. , ii.) 



I do not see that we have yet any facts to support this notion. Un- 

 doubtedly it will flourish further westward the more land is brought under 

 cultivation. Our knowledge of a wider western distribution is due simply 

 to better information. It does not appear to be more common in Georgia than 

 in Abbot's time. It was a very common species in central Missouri, when 

 Stolley collected there, at least as long ago as 1857, and its simple occur- 

 rence west of the Great Plains is proof enough that it is not extending its 

 territory, but only possessing it more fully. 



The species is reported to have been formerly taken in England, and 

 was described and figured by Stephens and Swainson as a peculiar form, 

 but which is now universally recognized to be our species. The manner 

 of its introduction is now past discovery. The wonder is that it did not 

 eiu'vive. This is what Stephens says of it in 1828, in his British Ento- 

 mology (Haust., i: 10-11) : — 



Very few British cabinets contain this interesting species, which, till last summer, does 

 not appear to have been captured in England for upwards of forty years. I have hitherto 

 seen but five specimens, four of which were in the rich collection of the late Mr. 

 Francillon, and one in that of the late Mr. Marsham; of these I have been fortunate 

 enough to obtain three, two males and a female, from which the accompanying 

 figures have been taken. In Lepidoptera Britannica reference is also made to the col- 

 lection of Mr. Swainson as possessing this species. The past season afforded no less than 



