— 181 — 



These immediately deserted the leaf, with the exception of about a dozen, 

 and scattered over the cage attaching themselves in threes and fours to the 

 wire-cloth covering and various parts of the framework. 



The ensuing winter was exceptionally severe and an examination 



in March revealed the fact thai all the larvae under muslin covers on the 

 tree had perished and a large proportion of those in the cage had shared 

 their fate, in spite of my utmost care. 



In April when the leaves began to put forth I placed the leaf con- 

 taining the few survivors on the ground near the base of the tree and se- 

 cured it there. A few days later 1 was much gratified to observe that the 

 little caterpillars had awakened from their winter nap and were slowly 

 ascending the tree. Apparently they had not moulted immediately on 

 arousing from dormancy, as no exuviae were found on the leal. Expect- 

 ing to be absent from home for a few weeks, I did not re-take any ol 

 these larvae and of course soon lost track of them as they made their wax- 

 up into the tree. Limited as this observation was it proved, what had 

 heretofore been merely inferred, that some unerring and inscrutable in- 

 stinct guides this small and feeble larva back to ils fostering food plant 

 in the spring, from whatever direction the leaf on which it hibernated 

 had been blown. Undoubtedly many that survive the perils of the 

 winter, perish on the vernal journey, although it is probable that the 

 leaves bearing these dormant colonies being more heavily freighted than 

 the others, are not born to so great a distance by the wind. 



On my return home, about the first of [une, I. immediately made 

 search for these Apatura larvae, but was able to collect but three or four, 

 nearly full grown, of clvton and two of celtis. Considering the vast 

 numbers that were on the tree the previous autumn one is almost appalled 

 at the waste of life permitted by Nature. The unusual severity of the 

 winter may have been the cause of the remarkable scarcity of these but- 

 terflies in this locality the present summer. Hut in any case the lack of 

 correspondence in numbers between the production and development ol 

 these butterflies suggests an ill adjustment to conditions of environment. 



The President, remarking upon the interesting observations con- 

 tained in the paper, stated that the butterfly had not to his knowledge 

 been discovered in the State of New Yerk. although two localities for its 

 food plant. Celtis occidentalis were known — the one upon the Hudson 

 tiver. near Hudson, and the other, a solitary tree of large size on the line 

 of the N. V. Central & H. R. Rail road, near Niles Hill in Montgomerj 

 County, which for many years had been an object of interest to travelers 

 through the valley as "the unknown tree". 



Some general discussion upon insects and their habits followed, 

 when the club adjourned situ die. 

 Ent logfc i Americana. 25 December 18S0. 



