1530 THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



abdominal segments there is a suprastigraatal series of crateriform annul! less than a 

 third as large as the ordinary spiracles and situated directly over them, generally cir- 

 cular, but sometimes transversely oval. Legs slender, arcuate, tapering; the claws of 

 a similar shape; prologs short, moderately stout. Spiracles round oval. 



Chrysalis. Head and prothorax together less than twice as broad as long, forming 

 a quadrangular mass well rounded at the corners, the central half roundly and con- 

 siderably protuberant in front, the width of the whole apparently not ranch less than 

 that of the tliorax; prothoracic spiracles large, tubercular, short, semilunate, lat- 

 erally projecting beyond the limits of the prothorax, posterior lip strongly produced, 

 crenulate, the whole interior filled with a rounded mass of short bristles. Position of 

 the mandibles marked by no tubercle whatever, but the front at their tips very bluntly 

 and broadly triquetral. The movable abdominal segments scarcely ridged at all, no 

 ridges being perceptible when they are closed. Preanal button obsolete, the position 

 marked by converging striae on a tumid field, but a iatero-ventral ridge reaches for- 

 ward from the lower outer angle of the creraaster, enlarging as it goes, until it dies out 

 before reaching the eighth abdominal segment, which is barely marked off from the 

 ninth; viewed from above the cremaster is equal, less than twice as long as broad, 

 well rounded at the tip; from the side it tapers gently, and is nearly straight but 

 slightly curved. Description from a specimen contracted in alcohol, sent by Prof. E. 

 A. Popenoe. 



This group, one of the most numerous in species among the Hesperidae, 

 finds its maximum of development in the north temperate regions of the 

 Old World; most of the species found in North America arc confined to 

 the western part, w-hose fauna bears a closer resemblance to that of the 

 Old World than it does to that of eastern North America. In the Old 

 World it extends from the polar region, or about 60° N. Lat., nearly 

 to the thirtieth degree and in the Alps is found to the height of 

 7200 feet. In the New World it extends on the east coast, including the 

 Antilles, at least from below the equator to the 55th degree and on the 

 western coast nearly as high. Species from the southern part of the Afri- 

 can continent have also been I'cferred to tliis group and they are no doubt 

 closely allied ; in any case it is one of the most widely distributed genera 

 of Hesperidae, a fact in accordance with the diversity of forms which com- 

 pose it. It is the only genus of Hesperidae which is well represented in 

 Europe and it is almost wholly absent from New England. Indeed it 

 never has been captured within its political boundaries, although two 

 species have been taken just without its limits. One of these species de- 

 cends from the high north, where it is common to both sides of the Atlan- 

 tic, while the other is very abundant in the southern states and reaches to 

 the tropics. No other species are known in North America, east of the 

 Mississippi. 



The butterflies are of small size and may readily be distinguished by their 

 checkered markings of white upon a dark brown ground — markings which 

 are generally disposed in transverse series, especially across the middle and 

 outer half of the wing, but so diversified in the numerous forms which com- 

 pose the group as to render it difficult to describe the pattern ; the under 

 surface of the hind wings is particularly variegated, lacking the regularity 



