188 BUTTERFLIES 



The fresh butterflies are creatures of exquisitely modu- 

 lated coloring. The name Compton Tortoise has refer- 

 ence to the rich brown tones of the upper wing surface, 

 suggestive of those of fine tortoise-shell. In fresh speci- 

 mens much of the surface, especially in the middle and 

 along the front border, is overlaid with iridescent purple 

 scales. Near the front outer angle of each of the four 

 wings there is a distinct white spot, divided near the 

 middle by a darker line of the vein running through it. 

 The under surface is one of the best examples of mimicry 

 of gray bark to be found in any butterfly. The tones vary 

 considerably in different individuals, but in all the protec- 

 tion must be well nigh perfect when the insect is at rest 

 with closed wings upon the bark of a tree. The striking 

 angularity of the wing's border doubtless helps to conceal 

 it, and the habit of dropping motionless to the ground 

 when disturbed must also have protective value. Near 

 the middle of each hind wing there is a small white J which 

 led to the specific name J-album, 



This butterfly is essentially a member of the Canadian 

 fauna. It ranges from far north in Labrador, British 

 America, and Alaska, south as far as Pennsylvania, but to- 

 ward its southern limit it occurs only on the higher eleva- 

 tions of mountains like the Alleghanies. 



The Buckeye 



Junonia coenia 



Some genera of butterflies seem to belong almost ex- 

 clusively to the north temperate regions, seldom occurring 

 even in our Southern states. Others belong equally ex- 



