EASTERN UNITED STATES. 255 



a silken thread much as in the Papilionidse, but closer to 

 the object to which it is attached. The number of feet 

 and the manner of attaching the chrysalides would imply 

 close relationship with the Papilionidse, and some authors 

 place them next to that family ; but the head of the 

 adult closely appressed against the body, the larvse, by 

 their shape, retractile heads, short feet, and manner of 

 moving over a surface, suggesting the Limacodes group 

 of the Bombycidse, and the shape of the eggs somewhat 

 like those of the Hesperidse, all seem to indicate that 

 they should be placed below the Nymphalidse and the 

 Erycinidse. There are two subfamilies, Theclinse and 

 Lycseninse. 



SUBFAMILY THECLIK/E. 



These generally have a rather stout body, the palpi 

 very short, and the antenna? reaching to the middle of 

 the fore wings ; often the anal angle more or less pro- 

 duced, with one or two slender tails projecting from the 

 outer margin near the anal angle. 



95. Thecla Halesus, Cram. 



Expanse of wings from 1.4 to 1.6 inches. 



Male. — Upper surface bright glossy blue, the outer 

 fourth black, except towards the anal angle of the hind 

 wings, where the border becomes narrow ; a border of 

 about the same width on the inner margin ; a black 

 sex-mark in the cell of the fore wings. Hind wings 

 with two black tails, before the larger of which is a blue 

 lunule, with a smaller one each side; the anal angle 

 produced. 



Under side brown-black, with a red spot at the base of 



