EASTERN UNITED STATES. 289 



male Nigi*a has the under surface the same as in the 

 blue Violacea, but the upper surface is black. 



Form Pseudargiolus is the largest of the series, ex- 

 panding 1.4 inches. The upper surface p IG 

 of the male usually has a terminal border 

 to the hind wings of the same shade of 

 blue as the fore wings, the middle area 

 of the hind wings a little paler than this 

 border or the fore wings. The spots on 

 the under side are much smaller than on Lycasna p se udaj 



giolus, form Pseu 



any ot the preceding forms. dargioius, under 



Form Negleeta resembles Pseudargio- side - 

 lus, but is smaller, not expanding more than 1.1 inches; 

 spots on the under side small, as on Pseudargiolus. 



The Pacific form Piasus is of a deeper blue, the under 

 side bluish, with the border spots subobsolete. 



The winter forms of these butterflies deposit their 

 eggs in the clusters of flower-buds of dogwood (Corn us), 

 the young larvae obtaining their first food by boring into 

 the buds, but later eating their way into the ovaries. The 

 next brood of eggs are deposited on the flower-stems of 

 rattleweed (Cimicifuga racemosa), while the fall brood 

 are to be found on Actinomeris squarrosa, and probably 

 on A. helianthoides. In confinement they have been 

 known to eat several other plants; and it is probable 

 that where rattleweed does not grow, the second brood 

 of larvae feed upon something else. 



The eggs are .02 of an inch in diameter, round, flat 

 at base, the top flattened and depressed ; the surface 

 covered with a white lace-work, the meshes of which are 

 mostly lozenge-shaped, with a short rounded process at 

 each angle. Ground color delicate green. 

 k t 25 



