NYMPHALIDAE : ARGYNNIDI. 



1801 



seventh abdomiual enlarged, on thoracic segments tapering forward more I'apidly 

 than before; color uniform obscure greenish brown ; the spines as in the last stage, a 

 dull yellow tubercle forming the base of each; legs black, prolegs dull green. Leugtli, 

 7.G mm. 



Foiirlh stage. Head sub-conic, truncated, with a prominent vertex on either side, 

 between which and the apex is a rounded depression, the front tlatteued, the lower 

 angles rounded; color brown iu front, dull yellow behind; the ocelli black. Color of 

 body as in last stage, the upper surface with a silky gloss ; the spines longer and more 

 tapering, the basal third of each and the tubercle also orange ; the bristles shorter ; 

 legs and prolegs black. Length, 17.8 mm. 



Fifth staije. Head black. Color of Ijody uniform deep chocolate brown ; the spines 

 as before, except those of the two dorsal rows on first thoracic and last four abdomi- 

 nal segments, all of which are black; the bristles shorter; between the dorsal rows on 

 each segment are two whitish dots. Length, 25.4 mm. 



Last stage. Head small, but broader than the segment behind, sub-conic, truncated 

 and depressed at top, flattened in front, the lower corners rounded, the vertices promi- 

 nent, the surface sparsely pilose; color brown, behind fulvous. Body cylindrical, 

 fleshy, tapering at either extremity, each segment rounded; wholly velvety-black; 

 armed with six rows of long, tapering, sharp, glossy-black spines, from each of which 

 proceed several short, black bristles on the sides aud one at the top; length of most 

 of these spines, 5 mm. ; on the first thoracic segment the two dorsal spines measure 

 7.5 mm. and are projected forward over the head ; on each side of same segment is one 

 other spine, starting from the posterior edge of the segment and back of the line of 

 the dorsals, and these also are porrected ; the remaining spines of the six rows radiate 

 as if from a central axis, those of the stigmatal row being depressed so that their ends 

 are on a level with the feet ; the base of each spine deep orange or fulvous ; between 

 each pair of dorsals two whitish dots placed transversely ; legs and prolegs black. 

 Length, 03.5 mm. 



Chrysalis. Cylindrical, with an angular excavation below the mesonotum; the 

 whole surface finely corrugated; head-case square, transversely rounded, with some- 

 what prominent vertices ; mesonotum prominent, compressed, carinated, rounded at 

 summit and with a sharp tubercle at base on either side; two other tubercles just 

 below aud back of the head ; wing-cases much elevated above the surface, the outer 

 edges at base flaring; on the abdomen two dorsal rows of long, sharp tubercles, and 

 smaller ones, corresponding to theflrst lateral spines on the larva, on the three or four 

 middle segments ; color of the anterior portions and of the wing cases light brown, 

 streaked with darker shades ; of the abdomen dark brown mottled on the sides with 

 red. Length, 30.5 mm. ; greatest breadth, 11 mm. 



All the above descriptions of the early stages are copied from Edwards with slight 

 transpositions and alterations of phraseology. 



This butterfly appears to be an inhabitant of the hilly country of the 

 south, following the Alleghanies, and a comparatively narrow belt west- 

 ward at about the 38th parallel of latitude. How far west it reaches is 

 unknown. No one appears to have found it west of the Mississippi since 

 the time of Say, who says he has taken it in Missouri and the "Arkansaw" 

 of that day. 



It is a single brooded species, the males of which fly tlu-oughout July 

 and August and the females throughout August and September. The 

 eo-o's hatch in about fifteen days, the young larvae go at once into hiberna- 

 tion, and in the spring the successive stages of the caterpillar, which feeds 

 on violets, occupy more than a fortnight each, while the chrysahs hangs for 

 three weeks. 



