168 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



sombre butterfly has a beauty of its own when perfect and carefully 

 mounted. Then, too, the life-liistories of many of the kinds are still 

 unknown, and a field for investigation lies open to tlie student. 



]>ut two only of our more common species of this genus 

 will Ije described here. Thanaos hrizo is ver}^ common in the 

 eastern and middle states, being found as far west as the Rocky 

 Mountains, and on warm snnny days in early spring may be found 

 along roads and paths tlirough the forests or the young growths of 

 oak. It often alights on the ground or on low herbage. This insect 

 is very sombre in coloring. The upper wings are dark Ijlackish- 

 l)ro\vn, witli two indistinct and ill-defined rows of dark bluish-gray 



Thanaos brizo. 



oval spots surrounded by black. The lower wings are brown, with 

 two faint rows of j^ellowish-brown spots near the lower margin. 

 Underneath, both wings have two rows of yellowish spots. 



Thanaos persius. 



ThanaoH per.sins is a common insect and widel}' distril)uted over 

 the continent. 'J1ie upper wings are bluish-gray, with three irregular 



