THE PROGNE BUTTERFLY. 301 



album) of Europe, for whicli it has probably been mistaken. 

 On a close and careful comparison of several specimens of 

 both together, I am satisfied that the American Comma is a 

 distinct species, and the hinder edges of the wings, which are 

 not so deeply indented, will at once serve to distinguish it. I 

 have therefore now named and described it for the first time. 

 The caterpillar lives upon the hop, and, as nearly as I can 

 recollect, has a general resemblance to that of the semicolon 

 butterfly. The chrysalis (Plate IV. Fig. 2, chrysalis from 

 which the butterfly has escaped) is brownish gray, or white 

 variegated with pale brown, and ornamented with golden 

 spots ; there are two conical ear-like projections on the top 

 of the head, and the prominence on the thorax is shorter and 

 thicker than that of the semicolon butterfly, and more like a 

 parrot's beak in shape. The butterflies appear first in the 

 beginning of jNIay ; I have obtained them from the chrysa- 

 lids in the middle of July, and on the first of September. 



Vanessa Pro(jne,* Fab. Progne Butterfly. 



Upper side tawny orange ; fore wings bordered and spot- 

 ted with black ; hind wings blackish on the posterior half, 

 with two black spots before the middle, and a row of small 

 orange-colored spots before the hind margin ; tails and pos- 

 terior edges of the wings powdered with reddish white ; 

 under side gray, with fine blackish streaks, and an angular 

 silvery character somewhat in the form of the letter L on 

 the middle of the hind wings. 



Expands from Ig to 2f inches. 



This butterfly appears in August, and probably also at 

 other times. Though very much like the preceding in 

 general appearance, it is readily distinguished from it by the 

 darker color of the hind wings and the angular shape of the 

 silvery character on their under side. This character is very 



* Mr. Kirby, whose work on the insects of North America abounds in mistakes, 

 has redescribed this old and well-kuown species under the name of Vantssa C. 

 argtnUum, 



