1704 THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



Distribution (31: .3). This butterfly is a member of the Carolinian 

 fauna and presents some peculiarities of distribution, so far as we at 

 present know it, worthy of remark. With the single exception of a 

 statement by Dr. Hoy that it is found rarely in Wisconsin, we know it 

 only from various points along the sea-board. It appears to be most 

 common in Florida, wliere it has been taken at Indian River by Palmer 

 and at Appalachicola by Chapman, extends along the Gulf coast to Texas, 

 where it is reported from near the INIexican border by both Aaron and 

 Lintner, extends also south of our border not only on tlie mainland where 

 it was brought from Saltillo, Mex. by Palmer, but also in the Antilles, 

 being reported both from Cuba and Porto Rico. On the Atlantic coast it 

 has been reported from Georgia and West Virginia (Edwards), but not 

 yet from New Jersey, though I have colored this on the map. 



The only locality where it is known in New England, so far, is at 

 Farmington, Conn., where it was found by Norton. 



Life history. Dr. Chapman has reared the insect from eggs found 

 upon Paspalum ciliatifolium Michx. , one of the Gramineae. The caterpillar 

 "drew together the leaves of the grass, lining the cavity with silk; in 

 this it lay concealed when not feeding, and in it all the changes were 

 made." It feeds mostly at night. 



The only data for constructing the annual history of this species are a 

 few items mostly furnished by Dr. Chapman from notes made in western 

 Florida. An egg laid July 4 hatched on the 10th ; the caterpillar changed 

 to chrysalis August 5 and gave the butterfly August 15. It appears to 

 be an early butterfly in Florida, for good specimens were taken by Palmer 

 at Indian River at the end of March. As other specimens were taken by 

 him in Mexico early in July, we have tolerably good proof from these few 

 facts that the insect is triple brooded, appearing in March, July and the 

 latter part of August. 



Desiderata. The meagre account we have been able to give of this 

 butterfly, very common in the south, is sufficient indication of the need 

 we have of further details. That it may occur in many localities at the 

 north is indicated by its occurrence in Wisconsin and its being reported as 

 common in Connecticut, which shows that we have yet much to learn of 

 the distribution of this southern species. 



LIIST OF ILLU8TBATI0N8.— THYMELICUS BBETTU8. 



General. PI. 17, fig. 15. Female, half of upper surface. 



r].31,fig.5. Distribution in North America. 37:27. Male abdominal appendages. 



Imago. 43: 5. Discal stigma of fore wing of male. 



PI. 17, fig. 11. Male, both surfaces. 50 : 1. Scales of the discal stigma. 



