SATYRID.E. 215 



one time liigh in air and again low down near the grass tops, and in 

 spite of his slow flight, kee})ing well clear of the net. If the net is 

 at last brought ver}' close to him. lie will try his last desperate scheme to 

 elude Ins pursuer, and shutting his wings quickly together will drop 

 into the grass, disappearing as if by magic. If it were not for tlie 

 cunning of these frail little creatures, they Avould doubtless have 

 cone to the wall lono- ng-o in the struggle for existence. 



The larva is cylindrical, tapering toward both ends, and has a 

 forked tail. It is yellowish green in color, and covered with fine 

 white hairs. When partly grown it passes the winter hidden among 

 the lower stems of the coarse swamp grass, upon whicli it feeds, and 

 the next summer completes its growth, changes to a green chrysalis, 

 and emerges a perfect fly. 



This butterfly witli its varieties is a plentiful insect over the east- 

 ern half of the country except in tbe extreme south. 



Satyrus iiephele. 



A more northern species tlian the preceding, and abundant in 

 the northern part of the United States and Canada, is Satyrux ncphele. 

 In this insect the upper side is dark brown, witliout the ochre patch 

 on the forward wings. Two small black eye-spots on the upper wing, 

 surrounded with a faint yellowisli brown ring, correspond with the 

 large eye-spots of the preceding species. On the lower wing there 

 is usually a single small black s[)ot. These constitute the only 

 markings of the upper side. On the under side the general color is 

 much the same. The spots on the fore wings are enlarged, pupilled 

 with wliite, and encircled with distinct rings of tan color. Several 

 smaller rings adorn the lower wings. The inner half of both sets of 



