SOME SINGULAR THINGS ABOUT CATERPILLARS. 



1427 



either side of the continent and in the interior five degrees further. In 

 the south it reaches at least as far as Guatemala, although apparently 

 absent from the Antilles. Two species occur in New England, one abun- 

 dant everywhere, the other found in the southern portions only and rare. 



The butterflies are above the medium size for Ilesperidae, with very broad, 

 ample wings of simple form and of a dark brown color ; the fore wings are 

 flecked with small or very small, irregular, white spots, mostly scattered 

 in a verv irregular, transverse line across the middle of the wins:. The 

 hind wings are crossed beneath by two rather narrow, parallel, inconspicu- 

 ous, darker bands. 



They are single or double brooded, wintering in the chrysalis state. 

 The butterflies frequent meadows and, being very strong bodied, fly with 

 remarkable dash and celerity. They are exceedingly numerous in individuals 

 and love the hottest sunshine, although they continue on the wing later in 

 the day than most buttei-flies. In repose all the wings are equally elevated. 

 The eggs, which hatch in a few days, are laid singly upon the under side 

 of leaves and the caterpillars live sluggishly in nests made much after the 

 fashion of those of the following genus. They feed on leguminous plants 

 — principally on clover and Lespedeza. 



The eggs are subglobular and furnished with a moderate number of slight 

 vertical ribs. The caterpillars are stouter than in the previous genera, form- 

 ing a passage to Thanaos, with a very strongly constricted collar and a 

 large head, the body pale with a few indistinct, longitudinal bands. The 

 chrysalids are slenderer than in the preceding genera, but rounded as there. 



EXCURSUS L VI.— SOME SINGULAR THINGS ABOUT CATER- 

 PILLARS. 



A pensy Aiit, ri^ht trig anj clean, 

 Came ae day whiJdiiig o'er the greeu ; 

 Where, to advance her pride, she 8aw 

 A Caterpillar moving slaw. 



'Good ev'u't ye, mistress Ant," said he; 



'How's a' at liame? I'm blyth to s'ye." 

 The saucy Ant view'd him" with scorn, 

 Nor wad "civilities return; 

 But gecking up her head, quoth she, 



"Poor animal I I pity thee ; 

 WTia scarce can claim to be a creature. 

 But some experiment of Nature, 

 Whase silly shape displeas'd her eye, 

 And thus unfinfsh'd was flung bye. 

 For me, I'm made with better grace. 

 With active limbs, and lively face; 

 And cleverly can move witH ease 

 Frae place to place where'er I please ; 

 Can foot a minuet or jig, 

 And snoov't like ony whirly-gig; 

 Which "ars ray jo aft grip ray hand, 

 Till his heart pitty-pattys, and— 



But laigh ray qualities I bring, 



.litici 



To stand up clashing with a thing, 

 A creeping thing the like of thee. 

 Not worthy of a farewell t'ye." 

 The airy Ant syne turned awa, 

 And left him with a proud gaffa. 

 The Caterpillar was struck dumb, 

 And never answer'd her a mum : 

 The humble reptile fand some pain, 

 Thus to be banter'd with disdain. 



But tent ueist time the Ant came by, 

 The worm was grown a Butterfly ; 

 Transparent were his wings and fair. 

 Which bare him flight'ring through the air. 

 Upon a flower he stapt his flight, 

 And thinking on his former slight, 

 Thus to the Ant himself addrest : 

 "Pray, Madam, will ye please to rest? 

 And notice what I now advise: 

 Inferiors ne'er too much despise, 

 For fortune may gi'e sic a turn. 

 To raise aboon ye what ye scorn: 

 For instance, now I spread my wing 

 In air, while you're a creeping thing." 

 Allan Ramsay.— The Caterpillar and the Ant. 



Some one has said that it is the unexpected that always happens. So, 

 to one who may be tolerably familiar with the structure of caterpillars, 



