PINE BUTTERFLIES. 765 



percentage does not appear to be very large, althougli they are numerically numer- 

 ous, at least I judge so from the following observations. The normal color of the 

 pupa is pale green. All those pupating on the needles of the young pines or shrubby 

 plants in the underbrush were of this color, a close search failing to reveal an excep- 

 tion, while the larger proportion of those on the bark of the largo trees were blackish 

 brown. An examination of a number of these makes it probable that they are all 

 diseased, not a few containing a larva either dii)terous or hymeuopterous, certainly 

 the latter in one case at least (one pupa contained a large ichneumon nearly ready to 

 emerge, which was accidentally killed). It is somewhat strange that all these dark 

 pupie should occur on the bark of large trees. May it not be that their diseased con- 

 dition had prevented the secretion of silk, and that being thus prevented from drop- 

 ping to the ground in the usual way they had wandered part of the way down the 

 tree before the final change, their restlessness being due to the same cause ? 



Probable damage to the forest. — While the affected trees, at a casual glance, look 

 dead and are evidently considered by the settler to be killed, it is still an open ques- 

 tion whether they are really so. It is true the foliage is gone and the tree must have 

 an impaired vitality, but as long as the terminal bud remains untouched the tree 

 would partially recover itself in the ensuing spring unless again stripped of its 

 scanty covering. In this case it is probable death would ensue. What remedial 

 measures can be adoiJted it is too soon to say. Observations should be carried on for 

 the balance of the season, and I have suggested the propriety oi this course to Pro- 

 fessor Punipelly, who is at the head of the North Transcontinental Survey. 



That such an increase of this butterfly is extremely rare, or that if it does occur 

 frequently it is not fatal to the trees, is proved by the otherwise healthy condition of 

 the timber. The number of trees which may be put down as absolutely dead, but 

 yet standing, is very small, and the fallen trees are practically absent, even in the 

 worst districts. I am therefore in hopes that the plague is only temporary and the 

 damage more imaginary than actual. 



(Unfortunately my pupae were killed in transit by the breakage of a bottle of chlo- 

 roform, so that I have failed to raise their parasitic contents.) 



Technical notes. — Mr. Henry Edwards has given a good description of the pnpain the 

 Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, but was not acquainted with 

 the larva. I therefore add a description of the mature form. I have not Mr. W. H. 

 Edwards's figure of the male for reference, but know that it must be good. 



Mr. Strecker's figure of the female reminds me of specimens I have seen from Cali- 

 fornia, though it is roughly drawn, but it does not resemble a single female among 

 those taken on this trip. Indeed, when I first took the female I made the suggestion 

 that we had found a new species, as there was no trace ^f red on the secondaries 

 beneath, and the predominant color was black. Not having types before me for 

 comparison, I am unable to determine whether or not the insect now under considera- 

 tion is worthy of a special name, and I therefore add a full description of both sexes 

 for future reference. 



Description of imago. — Head and body black above, with white hairs, the latter 

 white beneath. Palpi yellowish, with fringe of black hairs ; antenna? black. 



Male. — Primaries pure white, with jet-black markings as follows: Fringes white ; 

 a black costal streak, narrowest at the base, extending to the discal vein, at which 

 point it is suddenly bent inwards and extends over the discal vein to the median nerv- 

 ules. A black apical patch deeply three-notched inwardly, and cut square oflF on 

 the second median nervule, containing five white spots ; the costal one small, the 

 second long and ovate, the third and fifth about the size of that on the costa, the 

 fourth minute. 



Secondaries pure white, with a few black scales at the base of the median vein; 

 and sometimes in specimens which are very dark beneath there are visible portions 

 of the submarginal band, as seen beneath. 

 Beneath, the primaries show the same general markings, but the white spots in 



