THE TRIBE OF THE FRITILLARIES 115 



used muscles by slowly opening and closing its wings, until 

 it finally flies away. 



THE TRIBE OF THE FRITILLARIES 



This is one of the most distinctive tribes of the family of 

 Nymphs. The clubs of the antennae are about twice as 

 long as broad and curiously spoon-shaped. The palpi 

 are large and bushy, with the last joint very short. Most 

 of the species are rather large and practically all are 

 beautifully mottled in various tones of brown, red, black, 

 and silvery gray. A large proportion of our midsummer 

 butterflies are members of this tribe. 



The Gulf Fritillary 



Agraulis vanillae 



In tropical America there is a genus of butterflies called 

 Agraulis. These are fairly large insects, approximating 

 the size of the Viceroy, which show most beautiful colors 

 in the tropical sunshine. One member of this genus has 

 come north to our Southern states, and is occasionally 

 found as far up as Virginia and southern Illinois, extending 

 below this from ocean to ocean. It reveals on its upper 

 surface the most exquisite tints of iridescent purples and 

 browns, suggesting by its form and color as thus seen a 

 tropical species. The lower wing surface, when the wings 

 are closed in their natural position, shows only a spangled 

 effect of silver- white and brown, which is very suggestive 

 of the under surface of our northern Spangled Fritillaries. 

 So this beautiful species may fittingly be called the Gulf 



