LYC.ENID.-E. 193 



and the sweet-smelling flowers to be found in such localities are a 

 great attraction to them. About twenty species are native of the 

 eastern half of our country. 



Thecla halesus. 



One of our most gorgeous insects belonging to this genus is 

 Tliecla Jialesus, and when gazing on its rich and brilliantly colored 

 wings, one can liardly believe it is other than an inhal^itant of tropi- 

 cal counti'ies. 



It is rather stout-bodied. The upper wings of tlie male are 

 intense shining l)lue changing to purple or greenish according to the 

 light in which it is held, with a heavy black band extending along 

 the outer margin and for a short distance along the up[)er margin 

 near tlie tip of the wing. A large black sex mark is located just 

 below the middle of the upper edge of the wing. The lower wings 

 are also blue, with a Avide black patch at the upper angle and a wide 

 band of black shading into greenish gra_y towards its up[)er part, on 

 the inner margin. There is one long pointed tail on each of the 

 lower wings, with a veiy short one scarcely moi'c than a point 

 just above it. Near the base of the long tail is a sliining metallic 

 greenish spot changing to bronze toward its iinier end, and also a 

 little spot of the same color near the base of the little tail. The 

 head is black, with three silvery dots above and two silvery lines 

 along the base of the palpi. The antennae are of the same color; 

 the body a brilliant shining blue shading to black toward the tip of 

 the abdomen. 



Tlie female is usually larger than the male, and much more sombre 

 in coloring. Tlie most striking difference, however, is in the tails or 

 delicate prolongation of the lower wings. The upjjer pair are of 

 moderate length, and about what one would expect in a butterfly of 



