200 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



wings, and reddish antenna. Their caterpillars are gen- 

 erally green and smooth, and are found on the leaves of 

 different species of the pea- tribe {leguminosce). 



The CoLiAS Edusa, of a yellow color, more or less mixed 

 with green, is less common than the preceding species, but 

 is found in some of the Middle States during spring and fall,^ 

 and is identical with the Colias myrmidone of Europe. Its 

 caterpillar is dark green, with a white line upon each side, 

 and it lives upon clover. 



Colias Chrysotheme of New York, and Colias Cceso- 

 NiA of the Southern States, are very little different from the 

 former species. 



The genus Melitaa is distinguished from the preceding 

 by their wings being spotted with red and black colors, so 

 distributed as to make them look like a chess-board. Their 

 caterpillars are covered with short, velvet-like hair. 



The Melit^a Phaeton (Fig. 48) is quite a handsome 

 Figure 48. butterfly, but is un- 



fortunately very rare. 

 During many excur- 

 sions in Ivhode Island 

 and New York, we 

 have been able to find 

 only a few of this spe- 

 cies. 



The Phaeton. ^ 



The MELiTiEA Tha- 

 Ros, of the Middle, and Melitjsa Ismeria, of the Southern 

 States, are also not very common. 



The caterpillars of both genera, Colias and Melitcea, are 

 both comparatively harmless, and we can not complain of 

 much injury to vegetation being done by them. 



The genus Vanessa is much more common, and its larvas 

 much more numerous and rapacious. Its butterflies are 

 distinguished by their velvet-like, denticulated wings, orna- 

 mented with bright colors, and their long antennas. All 



