THE GOSSAMER-WINGS 241 



projections from the hind wings. When the face is viewed 

 from in front it is seen to be much narrower than its height. 

 At the insertion of the antennae the eyes are notched, and 

 they are also more or less surrounded with white scales. 

 Most of the caterpillars have oval, slug-shaped, smooth 

 bodies, with the under surface flattened, and very small 

 heads, which in many species can be extended by means 

 of an extensile neck. The chrysalids are held in place 

 by silken threads both at the tail and over the middle. 

 They are rounded, short, and stout. 



Notwithstanding their small size, the Gossamer-wings 

 are among the most spritely of all our butterflies. They 

 seem indeed winged sprites, playing everywhere, in fields 

 and open woods, along roads, lanes, and brooks, in door- 

 yards and gardens — wherever, in fact, a bit of open space 

 invites their presence. Not alone upon the wing but even 

 when at rest does their liveliness appear. For most of 

 these butterflies have the curious habit of keeping the 

 hind wings in motion after alighting, rubbing them 

 against each other in a vertical plane or "moving them 

 backward and forward when half expanded." These 

 habits are so fixed that when one sees a butterfly thus 

 engaged one can pretty certainly conclude it is a member 

 of this family. 



The Gossamer-wings are commonly separated into 

 three rather distinct tribes — the Hair-streaks, the Cop- 

 pers, and the Blues. The characteristic featiu'es are 

 these : 



Three branches arising from the radius of each front 

 wing. Under surface of hind wing commonly marked 

 with threadlike streaks : the Hair-streaks. 



Four branches arising from the radius of each front 



